The Organizing Committee of the Arab Media Forum (AMF) announced the initial program details for the 14thedition of the region’s most prominent media event. The event is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at Madinat Jumeira, Dubai on the 12th and 13th of May 2015, under the theme “New Perspectives” and is expected to attract local, Arab and international media elites, journalists, intellectuals and academia.
The AMF Organizing Committee asserted that this year’s event, throughout its diversified discussion panels and activities, presents a new scope for Arab media and brings Arab media stakeholders face-to-face with their responsibilities toward their communities by attracting attention to inspirational models and positive interactions that also motivate and stir Arab media workers and boost innovation and creativity. The forum also encourages participants to adopt positive attitudes towards the important issues related to Arab media and anticipate challenges with sound strategic plans.
Among the prominent speakers, the AMF is hosting the Secretary-General of the Arab League Dr. Nabil Al Araby, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Dr. Iyad Madani, Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al Salem Al Humoud Al Sabah, UAE Minister of State for Foreign and Federal National Council Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash, the Former Secretary-General of the Arab League Amre Moussa and the General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi.
“Over the past years, developing the Arab Media Forum has always been our main concern. This responsibility kept growing bigger and bigger as the event kept maturing year after year. We are keen on presenting a highly professional event that goes beyond the obvious and anticipates the future of media in our region though an analytical approach and in collaboration with qualified politicians, journalists and intellectuals. We strive to make the forum a springboard for our Arab media to recognize its mission and stand up to public’s expectations,” commented Mona Ghanim Al Marri, Chairperson, AMF Organizing Committee.
Another highlight of the event would be the presentation of documentaries. In a 20 minutes session dedicated to highlight this new journalistic direction, the AMF will show, for the first time, clips from the BBC Arabic’s documentary “Slaves of the Caliphate” by journalist Nareen Shammo, who will talk about her experience of visiting and interviewing some women who had survived the tragedy of captivation, as she even tried to free some of the women in and around Mount Sinjar in Northern Iraq.
“In its 14th edition, the Arab Media Forum has cemented its position as a dynamic platform to discuss the present and future of the Media Industry. Hence, the topics for this year’s edition were carefully chosen to address regional and international status quo and changes in a manner that matches the rapidly evolving media industry and its future trends,” shared Muna Bu Samra, Director, Arab Media Forum and Dubai Press Club.