Editors-in-Chief of major GCC daily newspapers share their perspectives on the prospects for print media in the Arab world.
The 20th edition of the Arab Media Forum (AMF), the region’s leading annual event for the media industry, hosted a panel discussion titled ‘Arab Media 2022: A Gulf Perspective’, which shed light on the challenges facing Arab print media in the digital age.
The panel, moderated by Sky News Arabia’s anchor Eissa Al Marzooqi, saw Editors-in-Chief of prominent daily newspapers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region sharing their perspectives on the prospects for print media in the Arab world against the background of the rapid proliferation of social media across the globe.
Muna Busamra, Editor-in-Chief of Al Bayan Newspaper (UAE), highlighted the importance of focusing more on GCC issues rather than covering breaking news all over the world. Busamra identified three approaches that can help GCC media outlets tap growth opportunities: training young talent to develop future media skills, focusing on positivity and building on the region’s successes in dealing with challenges. Busamra highlighted the Arab Media Forum’s (AMF) success in bringing together over 3,000 media stakeholders, which she said signifies the UAE’s success in ensuring a safe environment for events and accelerating recovery in the post-pandemic phase.
Walid Al Nosf, Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait’s Al Qabas newspaper, called on media in the GCC region to allocate larger budgets for developing their digital competencies, deploying the latest technologies to leverage new opportunities and reaching a wider and younger audience. Al Nosf highlighted the successful digital transformation achieved by Al Qabas Newspaper through a partnership with the British daily newspaper The Guardian.
Jameel Al Theyabi, Editor-in-Chief of Saudi Arabia’s Okaz newspaper, also underlined the importance of regional media outlets developing a stronger social media presence and providing reliable news, which will enable them to build on the trust earned by established traditional media over the years.
Moanes Al Mardi, Editor-in-Chief of Bahrain’s Al Bilad newspaper focused on ways to broaden the reach of media outlets by utilising social media platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Moanes said government support was crucial to promote the growth of Arab social media platforms.
Launched 20 years ago, the Arab Media Forum is one of the major events in Dubai Press Club’s annual calendar of events. The Arab world’s largest media gathering, AMF has emerged as the most comprehensive platform for knowledge exchange in the Arab media community. The annual platform, which attracts thousands of prominent thought leaders, has steadily evolved in scope and reach to encompass a broad international outlook.
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News Source: Dubai Media Office
