Jeddah, Aug. 1 (BNA): The Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA) held a virtual workshop for member news agencies to introduce the Global Media Congress (GMC), in cooperation with Emirates News Agency (WAM) and Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC) .
Representatives from more than 30 news agencies in the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) participated in the workshop to introduce the global event.
GMC will be hosted in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi on November 15-17 under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and with the participation of regional and international media.
The workshop review the opportunities available to member news agencies during the Congress, including reserving a space to participate in exhibitions, side meetings, participating in panel discussions, exchanging expertise and experiences with international media, signing cooperation agreements with these media, and participating in workshops .
“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,” UNA Acting Director-General Mohammed Abd Rabbo Al Yami said.
Al Yami stressed in his opening speech that news agencies must keep pace with such developments to preserve their role as a reliable news source and to strengthen their presence on the international news landscape.
The Global Media Congress represented an opportunity for member news agencies to learn about the global best practices in the field of media and communication, and to explore cutting-edge innovations, both in terms of content production and moderation and in terms of the construction of media platforms, he added.
“We are hopeful that this workshop transforms into a tool for linking member news agencies to the organizers of the Global Media Congress and bringing them closer to the benefit from the congress, contribute to its agenda, and participate effectively in its workshops and exhibitions in a way that benefits member news agencies and enhances their awareness of the latest practices and methods in the sphere of media,” he said.
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WAM Director-General Ali Yousef Al Saad said in his speech -delivered by WAM Acting Deputy Director General Ali Yousef Al Saad- that the Global Media Congress will bring together a global elite of media industry figures in journalism, radio, TV, multimedia, digital marketing, and artificial intelligence as well as innovation in social media content.
Al Rayssi emphasized 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 the future features that serve the various aspects of the media industry.
“In addition, the Congress will play a pivotal role in enabling innovative work and the process of reimagining business concepts in terms of utilizing AI technologies and journalistic algorithms in the production of divers media content,” he said.
Al Rayssi said that regional media companies will profit from participating in the congress where they are expected to be able to build a digital business model and develop it using technologies and applications with major companies in the region.
The congress will also benefit the multinational media institutions by concluding strategic agreements and partnerships with global media institutions, he added.
During the workshop, Nathan Waugh, portfolio Director (Capital Event) introduced the Global Media Congress and highlighted the opportunities it provides for news agencies to access media markets of the GCC and MENA region, have B2B meeting, build networks of key media industry players in A live setting, transfer knowledge in the field of media, discuss investment opportunities, and build partnerships.
The conference featured in the Congress and held under the slogan “Shaping the Future of the Media Industry” was also introduced.
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 Congress will also organize a Hosted Buyer Program, which is designed to foster business opportunities between exhibitors and international and regional hosted buyers,” Waugh said.
The workshops included discussions between UNA member news agencies and the organizers of the Global Media Congress on the best ways to benefit from the event.