Harvest 2024… Emirati media… vision, empowerment, and anticipation of the future

– From the reports section

Abu Dhabi, December 30 / WAM / During the year 2024, the UAE media sector has consolidated its position and influence in creating constructive content, empowering media professionals, and anticipating the future of the sector, through a series of local and regional decisions, participations, and events.
The year 2024 began with decisions and strategies that formed a new start for the media scene in the country, which was reflected in the sector’s performance throughout the year, as the National Media Office contributed to strengthening the presence of the Emirati media locally and regionally, translating its effective presence through a series of local and regional forums and participations, in line with the country’s position. And its international presence.
The UAE continued to enhance its successes at the media sector level, by hosting many events that constituted an opportunity to empower the sector, keep pace with the changes it is witnessing at the global level, and anticipate its future.
The office organized the Media and National Responsibility Forum and the Emirati Media Pioneers Forum, while the office, headed by His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office, participated in a series of regional meetings.
In detail, the office organized the “Media and National Responsibility” Forum as part of its efforts to coordinate and cooperate among members of the Emirati media system in traditional media and social networking sites, for purposeful, responsible discourse and content that takes into account the nation’s interests, security and stability, and exposes all claims of falsehood and misinformation and the spread of rumors and suspicious campaigns. Which is fueled by battalions of electronic flies.
In the same context, last November, the National Media Office organized the Emirati Media Pioneers Forum, as part of its keenness to preserve the country’s media memory, link the past of national media institutions to its present, while consolidating the exchange of experiences between the generation of pioneers and the current generations of media professionals.
The forum stressed the importance of promoting a culture of honoring and appreciating the contributions made by pioneers to the development of the media system in the country over more than 5 decades, and strengthening the position of the Emirati media as a reliable voice and a national platform that shows the values ​​and aspirations of society.
Under the slogan “Vision, Empowerment, Interaction”, the activities of the World Media Congress 2024 were held, organized by the ADNEC Group in partnership with the Emirates News Agency, WAM.
The event, in its third edition, represented an important turning point in anticipating the future of media. It attracted 25,567 visitors who participated in a busy schedule of events that included 96 discussion sessions, which addressed the most prominent issues and trends in the media, in addition to 4 main sessions presented by prominent international speakers.
During the event, the National Media Office, in cooperation with the Trends Center for Research and Consultation, issued a research study entitled “The Role of Media Regulatory Institutions in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges,” which sheds light on the significant impacts caused by artificial intelligence applications in the media sector, and the ethical challenges. And the regulatory issues faced by Arab media institutions in light of the acceleration of technological transformations.
At the level of regional and international attendance, the UAE participated with a delegation headed by His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office, in the extraordinary session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which was hosted by the Turkish city of Istanbul, last February.
The UAE stressed the importance of intensifying joint international cooperation in order to end the humanitarian crisis suffered by the brotherly Palestinian people, and achieve an immediate ceasefire, in a way that preserves the lives of civilians, provides them with the necessary humanitarian assistance, and contributes to avoiding expanding the scope of the conflict that threatens regional stability and security.
His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office, also participated in the 27th meeting of Their Excellencies the Ministers of Information of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which was held last May, in the Qatari capital, Doha, with the participation of Their Excellencies the Ministers of Information of the countries of the Gulf. The Council, and the presence of the Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.
During the meeting, the UAE presented several proposals for joint work, such as establishing a unified information database for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which contributes to facilitating the flow and exchange of information and media content between member states.
The UAE proposed conducting a comprehensive study on the future of artificial intelligence and its increasing impact on the media sector, the results of which are expected to contribute to supporting the optimal integration between artificial intelligence and media, which will serve the development of the media industry, ensure that it keeps pace with modern applications, and enhance the presence of Gulf content globally.
This December, the UAE hosted the twentieth session meeting of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Information Ministers, in the presence of His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Media Council, and His Excellency Salman Al Dosari, Minister of Information of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairman The Executive Office and Their Excellencies and Excellencies the Ministers of Information of the Arab countries that are members of the Office.
His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed stressed the importance of joint Arab media work in facing the current political, economic and security challenges, pointing out the necessity of presenting a media discourse that reflects the identity of the Arab peoples, expresses their ambitions, and promotes the values ​​of tolerance and coexistence.
His Excellency stressed the importance of creating Arab media based on knowledge and innovation, respecting diversity, facing challenges, and highlighting the region’s achievements and success stories.
In the same context, the second session of the “One Billion Followers Summit” constituted one of the most prominent events on the agenda of media events witnessed by the UAE during the year 2024, as it brought together 7,000 participants, including more than 3,000 content creators, influencers, and creators followed by more than 1.6 billion followers.
About 200 media content production companies, 100 digital production agencies, 100 CEOs, and 195 speakers from the most famous digital content makers from around the world participated in the event, presenting more than 100 diverse events, including 15 inspiring speeches, 20 workshops, 25 discussion sessions, and 15 An interactive dialogue, 4 debates, and 20 different events.
The summit culminated in its success by allocating a fund worth 150 million dirhams to support content makers and establishing a permanent headquarters for influencers to support their skills. It also witnessed the graduation of 90 content makers as part of the “Specialized Content Creators” and “Content Knight” programs in its fourth batch.
Last March, the Emirates Media Forum was held, the largest gathering of Emirati media institutions in its ninth edition, organized by the Dubai Press Club, and focused on the relationship between the media and the economy.
Under the umbrella of the “Arab Media Summit,” which was held from May 27 to 29, the Dubai Press Club organized the 22nd session of the “Arab Media Forum,” the second session of the “Arab Media Forum for Youth,” and the 23rd session of the “Arab Media Award.” And the “Arab Social Media Pioneers Award” ceremony in its fourth session.
During the summit activities, Dubai Media announced the launch of the Dubai Media Academy, in the field of training and honing skills, and the Dubai Media Council also launched the “Emirati Media Talent Pledge” initiative to discover and train Emirati media talents, especially media students, and prepare them in a better way. A distinguished career to join the labor market.
The summit witnessed the launch of the “Arab Podcast Program,” the first of its kind in the region, as a new initiative to contribute to supporting the podcast industry in its various countries, and to participate in producing audio content with the participation of elite writers, thinkers, major Arab content makers, and prominent media figures.
For its part, the Sharjah Government Media Office organized the activities of the 13th session of the International Government Communication Forum, which hosted more than 250 speakers and participants with expertise and experience, who discussed many important topics within 18 various platforms.
This year’s session of the forum included more than 160 diverse events, including main and side sessions, inspiring speeches, and a training program that included 40 capacity-building sessions, in addition to workshops and forums targeting youth, and platforms that displayed the latest research and academic theses in communication sciences.
In a related context, the seventh session of the Dubai International Media Content Market 2024 attracted about 800 global specialists and decision-makers in the fields of media production, entertainment, distribution and broadcast services, representing 50 countries, with the participation of 87 exhibitors.

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