Dubai: The performance of the local media in coping with the regional developments on more than one front with a focus on Yemen will be the highlight of the third Emirates Media Forum (EMF), which begins on November 4.
The two-day forum, held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is organised in strategic partnership with DP World.
This year’ forum will focus on the national role played by the local media in the wake of the regional developments and the sacrifices made by Emirati martyrs that mark a crucial phase of the region’s history.
Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, will give the inaugural speech in the presence of UAE media leaders, editors in chief of local newspapers, prominent writers and intellectuals, prominent media persons, intellectuals, academics and media students.
The Dubai Press Club has unveiled the agenda of the 2015 media forum which serves as a unique platform for dialogue, examining the media landscape in the UAE, exploring the impact of regional and global context on the local news and looking forward to opportunities to develop the media sector in the UAE.
Mona Ganem Al Merri, director-general of the Dubai Government’s Media Office and Chairperson of the Dubai Press Club, said, “The UAE’s stand with the Yemeni people and supporting their right to restore legitimacy as clearly manifested in the UAE Armed Forces’ involvement in the Saudi-led Arab coalition’s Operation Restoring Hope will be the centre of discussions at the forum.”
She highlighted the state of solidarity between the UAE leadership and people as all leaders, politicians and people are standing shoulder to shoulder at such an exceptional phase of the UAE’s and the region’s history.
“We need to examine and assess the performance of our local media to further develop the content of our media and its performance, especially with the mounting challenges surrounding the region,” Mona said.
This year’s edition will see unique changes and additions in terms of the overall form, content and various events that will be held alongside the forum — all designed to reflect the national spirit and highlight the solidarity between the leadership and people.
The main session titled ‘The Emirati media and its responsible stand towards Yemen’s event’ will highlight the national role of all the national media organisations, the print, visual and audio media played to keep abreast of the ongoing events, especially the martyrdom of Emirati soldiers in Yemen.
Another session will examine the role played by the national English language media in view of the ongoing events in the region. Electronic media wars that aim to exploit or destroy information in order to create chaos will also be debated at the forum.
The forum will provide a space to discover young talents and help them step into the world of media industry, especially with the attendance of media elites, academics experts, researchers, students and entrepreneurs in the forum where educative and awareness programmes and training sessions will be organised.
The forum’s discussions are expected to transform into plans and programmes that will reflect positively on the media environment.
