The Al Arabiya Forum: 'The Challenges: Academia and Media'

The event will be held on Wednesday, 21 June, at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Dubai.

The day-long forum will focus on bridging the gap between academics and media professionals. Interactive debates will analyze the differences between the education in the region for the media sector and the practicalities of working in the field. Leading regional experts will have the opportunity to exchange knowledge and best practice to debate on these issues.

Dr. Nabil Al Khatib, Executive Editor at Al Arabiya channel, will lead the sessions, starting with "Meeting the demand for talent; role of academia", where the training and qualification provided by universities will be put under the microscope. During the next session: "The role of education in the future of Arab media", delegates will discuss the shortage of skilled individuals in the media industry.

Other sessions will address key questions such as "Why media demands are outstripping supply", "Unmediated media: future trends" and "Identifying solutions: talent search".

The event will also address the issue of poaching and job-hopping in the media industry and how this is fuelling a bidding war for talent. Delegates will consider measures that can be taken to contain and monitor this problem.

The final session will cover analysis of state-control in the regional media and its impact on journalistic freedom, and the phenomenon of self-censorship. Results and recommendations will be presented by Dr. Nabil Al Khatib at the forum's conclusion.