GMC to feature role of media in building tolerant societies

The session on media and tolerance is part of an elaborate campaign WAM is planning to underscore the vital role of the media across the world in spreading the message of harmony and tolerance and fighting hate and violence in all their manifestations. The session will take place on the International Day of Tolerance, November 16, and will be inaugurated with a keynote address by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.

Speaking about the relevance of the special session on tolerance and the wider campaign around the theme, Mohamed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of Emirates News Agency (WAM) and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee for the Global Media Congress, said that the session would be the culmination of a media campaign highlighting the culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence that the UAE is known for.

“Many feature stories on the variety of tolerance practices built into the social fabric of the UAE will be published on the website of WAM ahead of the Congress. We have also requested numerous news agencies from around the world with whom we collaborate to also report on the manifestations of tolerance in their respective countries. This emanates from our strong belief that the media can and should play a crucial role in strengthening harmony and tolerance in the society, which is often targeted by the forces of hate and disharmony,” he explained.

Al Rayssi added that the panel at the session on tolerance at the Congress will include several top media figures from diverse backgrounds. “We are confident the session will not only shed light on the sterling role the media played in different parts of the world in building tolerant and peaceful societies. It will also provide pointers to the future, especially regarding how socially committed media entities should serve as a bulwark against narrow ideologies and political ideas that seek to disseminate social disharmony, religious and cultural hatreds, and other fissiparous tendencies. The session and campaign reflect the UAE leadership’s wise counsel that the best way to fight hate is through love, harmony and peaceful coexistence,” he elaborated.

Saeed Al Mansoori, CEO of Capital Events at ADNEC Group, said, "The Global Media Congress is a unique platform for sharing best practices in the field of media to develop competencies. The congress aims to enhance consolidating a culture of tolerance in human societies, in line with the directions of the UAE, and ADNEC Group to provide platforms that promote cultural exchange, and knowledge that contribute to the service of humanity."

Organised by ADNEC Group in strategic partnership with the Emirates News Agency, the event will host an exhibition and a specialised conference focusing on the latest developments and the future of the media sector. The conference provides opportunities for various media institutions to discuss partnerships and collaborative ventures that will bolster the development of the media sector, ensuring its long-term sustainability and the continued provision of solid, reliable, and highly credible content. A galaxy of media figures from across the globe will speak at the event on a raft of issues concerning the media industry's future.

WAM is currently in communication with many news agencies to sign a memorandum of understanding called ‘Tolerance Charter for the Media’ in which they agree to work together on spreading the message of tolerance.

With over 150 brands specialised in the media and production industry participating, the Congress is a world-class stage where buyers and sellers can meet, learn, network, do business, and explore new products, solutions, and technologies, providing an unmissable opportunity to take a great leap forward in the region’s and the globe’s media sector.

As part of the event’s agenda, the Global Media Congress will host a conference, which is the first-of-its-kind in the Middle East, under the theme “Shaping the Future of the Media Industry”. The three-day conference aims to unite the entire media sector to exchange groundbreaking ideas and cutting-edge solutions shaping the future of the industry. It will also provide a unique platform to highlight the position of mass media in the Middle East whilst engaging a global audience and driving innovative visions and collaborations that will advance the sector.