UNA, WAM organise virtual workshop on Global Media Congress

Representatives from more than 40 news agencies in the Member and 'Observer' states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) participated in the workshop.

The workshop spotlighted the expected positive outputs of the global event, which will be hosted by the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, next November under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and with the participation of the elite of media industry both regional and international.

For his part, Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of WAM, revealed in his speech that was delivered by Ali Yousef Al Saad, WAM Acting Deputy Director-General, that the Global Media Congress will bring together a global elite of media industry professionals in the fields of journalism, radio, TV, multimedia, digital marketing, and artificial intelligence, as well as innovation in social media content.

Referring to the expected outcomes of the congress, Al Rayssi emphasised that the congress, through its dialogue sessions and interactive discussions, will help identify opportunities and challenges for media institutions and companies, find effective solutions and innovations, and outline future features that serve in developing the various aspects of the media industry.

In his opening speech, Mohammed Abd Rabbo Al Yami, UNA Acting Director-General, said, "The Global Media Congress comes in light of the rapid developments in the global media scene, whether in terms of production technologies or in terms of the consumption of media and informational content."

Al Yami stressed in his opening speech that that news agencies must keep pace with these developments to preserve their role as a reliable news source and to strengthen their presence on the international news scene.

He indicated that the Global Media Congress represents an unprecedented opportunity for member news agencies to learn about international best practices in the field of media and communication, and to explore cutting-edge innovations, in terms of both content production and moderation, and the construction of media platforms.

The conference accompanying the Congress, which is held under the slogan "Shaping the Future of the Media Industry", was also showcased. It mainly covers three themes: investment and opportunities in media, innovation and the latest technologies in media, and youth and the future of media.

The conference is expected to witness innovation talks, product launches, workshops, and AI sessions with the participation of prominent international speakers.

In his presentation, Waugh said that the congress will be a safe haven for startups and will provide opportunities for individuals and companies to demonstrate their capabilities, pointing out that the startups will also have the chance to introduce their business ideas to key stakeholders, investors, and Venture Capital firms.

The workshops also witnessed discussions between the representatives of UNA member news agencies and the organisers of the Global Media Congress on the best ways to benefit from the event.