Arab Media Forum unveils new theme

The Arab Media Forum (AMF) organising committee has announced that the 12th edition of its much-anticipated annual event will be held under the theme "Arab Media: Transitional Phase ... Transitional Media " on May 14-15, 2013 in Dubai. This year's forum will discuss challenges facing the Arab media industry in light of momentous political and socio-economic changes in a number of Arab countries and how such changes catalysed noticeable transformation in the media landscape. On this topic, Mona Ghanem Al Marri, AMF Organising Committee Chairperson '&' Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office, said: "Exceptional circumstances in the Arab world brought about a number of considerable challenges before the media industry. The 2013 Arab Media Forum aims to shed light on such challenges and carefully examine means of maintaining a sound approach by the media industry to carry out its role as an essential tool of enriching collective social consciousness. "Al Marri noted that the Arab Media Forum acts as an in-depth debate and discussion platform that brings together a host of influential opinion leaders, media experts and intellectuals to discuss the latest in challenges, innovations and shifts in the media perspective. "The AMF adopts a clear methodology that aims to prompt the development of the Arab media industry through promoting high-standard ethics, integrity, credibility and neutrality," added Al Marri. "The media should realise its role as an indispensable tool to help build a healthy society and set an example for sound, professional and ethical conduct," added Al Marri. The 12th edition of the forum will examine how media affects and is affected by the political scene. It will also review the latest in technological breakthroughs that directly affect the media industry and perhaps present alternatives that challenge traditional media. As the Middle East's most prominent annual media event, the Arab Media Forum will expand participation in the discussion forums this year to include well-known social and intellectual figures who influence the creation of media content. This presents a valuable addition and an attempt to encompass the different factors that affect the media industry. 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 overviewed 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 personnel from Arab and foreign countries