Titled 'Arab Media and Shock of Change' and 'Revolutions Re-draw Map of the Elite'

Dubai-UAE: 1 April, 2012

Dubai Press Club, organisers of Arab Media Forum, today announced details of two keysessions that will take centre stageon theinaugural day of the 11thArab Media Forum, the region's largest media gathering.

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, the event will run from 8-9 May at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai. Themed 'Arab Media: Exposure and Transition', the event is set to draw the participation of eminent media personalities, thought leaders and politicians from around the world.

The first session titled 'Arab Media and the Shock of Change' aims to highlight the impact of thephenomenal change in the geo-political map of the Arab world on the media landscape. In some cases, the transformation can be seen as a radical reversal of policies of television stations, newspapers and columnists, especially in countries that have undergone the change.These shifts have particularly occurred in government-owned and private media establishments that have for decades been run as bureaucratic machines.

In addition, the session will examine the audience's dilemma to identify a media outlet that champions people's causes and aspirations from the one that obstructs progress, or distinguish an outlet serving public interests from one promoting narrow vested interests. The situation is exhausting for viewers that seek accurate information and has even forced some to resort to the western media.

The session will also highlightthe community's expectation from the Arab media. It will look into the trust between the media and the community with the onslaught of new satellite channels and newspapers,as well as the growth of a technical environment that is capable of ending monopoly in the production and transmission of information.

Moderated by NaouferAfli from Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI), the session will feature panellists such as Dr. Al Mahdi Mabrouk, Tunisian Minister of Culture,Sawsa Al Shaer,writer at AlWatan newspaper in Bahrain,Abdellatif El Menawy, former Head of News Section atEgyptian TV,Mousa Barhouma, Editor-in-Chief ofthe electronic newspaper 'Fi Al Mersad',and RandaHabib, Director of Middle East and North Africa, French Press Agency.

The second session titled 'Revolutions Re-draw the Map of the Elite' aims to shed light on the radical changes that the Arab revolutions have driven intothe structure of the society. Not only have they overthrown regimes across a number of Arab states, the uprisings have also affected the political, cultural, social and economic power corridors. The socio-political changes have exposed the wide gap between the realities of life and the world of the elite.

The gap in the media landscapecalled for the introduction of new faces to fill up positions of decision makers. Individualstaking up these posts are being expected to deal with the challenging legacy carried overfrom the pre-Arab Spring era that is no longer applicable to the current reality. In addition, the session sheds light on the current status of elite groups, particularly those that have lost their credibility and influence.

Moderated by JamilAzar from AlJazeera, the session will host speakers including Dr. Al TaharLabib, Professor of Sociology, Dr. Tamim Al Barghouti, Palestinian poet and Political Science Professor,KhairiMansour, Writer and Author,Dr. Abdullah Al Ghathami,Professor of Criticism and Theory, King Saud University,Dr.GhanimAlNajjar, Professor of Political Science, Kuwait University, and Dr.Maryam Lootah, Professor of Political Science, UAE University.

Details on the remaining sessions including speakers and participants will be announced shortly. Dubai Press Club has opened registration for the event through its website www.arabmediaforum.ae

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© Press Release 2012