12th Arab Media Forum prepares to welcome Arab and Foreign media experts with the 12th edition of the Arab Media Forum (AMF) is drawing closer, the organizing committee of the event, held under the patronage of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is mobilizing efforts to bring about a good image that would match up to the quality and importance of the topics to be discussed in its agenda and reflect, at the same time, the constant political and socio-economic changes in the Arab countries and their direct impact on the media landscape in the Arab world.

Vice Chairman of the organizing committee Maryam Bin Fahad explained that the discussions of the 12th edition of AMF, running from 14th to 15th May under the theme “Media in Transition”, will bear a quantitative impact on the media industry and communities due to the changes caused by the sociopolitical transitions within a number of Arab states and which have equally changed the media landscape that resulted in some media outlets to have grown out of their traditional methods whereas others couldn’t keep pace with the technological developments. Moreover, Bin Fahad expressed hope that this year’s edition will establish sustainable dialogue based on the Forum’s outcomes and recommendations, paving the way for the media to move out of a turbulent phase to a more solid and stable one that addresses the pressing issues of the community.

“This edition of the AMF is characterized by comprehensiveness and breadth of views, Bin Fahad explained, “Further, in addition to the inaugural speech which will be delivered by the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar and the second day’s opening speech given by the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for the Arab States of the Gulf, the AMF discussions will tackle changes in the news industry in light of the unprecedented challenges in the history of journalism as well as the openness of the digital space. It will also discuss with media leaders the future of tomorrow’s news and reports and the status of Modern Standard Arabic in Arab Media that allowed other languages to overshadow it in public life. Moreover, the discussions will analyze such influential phenomena as fear of Islam, known as “Islamophobia”, and such controversial subjects as regulating electronic media and the pro-con views revolving around it.

The 12th edition of AMF will also allocate a first-of-its-kind session entitled Youth Take the Stage where the current status of young Emirati media professionals will be discussed in relation to the local media sector competitiveness in increasingly tough market set apart by the presence of major Arab and international media organizations. The AMF will also dedicate a session to deal with the growing phenomenon of satirical media in television and social media, its recession in print media and the new rivalry represented by influential artists featured in media programs and documentaries.”

Bin Fahad went on to affirm that the selection of about 70 speakers and more than 200 guests from outside the UAE was made based on their vast expertise, experience and professional contributions in Arab media; knowledge-based experiences that could enrich discussions through analyzing issues of concern to the media community. Additionally, the Forum will provide an opportunity for young media professionals to actively partake in discussions allowing the Forum to combine between visions and knowledge-base ideas and those driven by ambitions, the outcome of which to benefit the media industry and the Arab community.

Last year, the Arab Media Forum 2012 themed ‘Arab Media: Exposure and Transition’ discussed the effect of political turmoil on the media industry in the Arab world, highlighted by the outcomes of the fourth Arab Media Outlook (2011 – 2015) which reviewed changes in the media landscape in 17 Arab countries.

The 11th edition of the Arab Media Forum discussion panels saw the participation of 70 experts and the attendance of over 3,800 media persons from Arab and foreign countries.