Event of the quarter:

Arab Media Forum 2007

 

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, formally opened the Arab Media Forum 2007 at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai on 24th April, where he was welcomed by Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of Dubai Press Club. He later presented the Media Personality of the Year award to the Saudi born Othman Al Omeir for his contribution to the industry in the Arab world. Othman who has dedicated his whole life to media is managing e-newspaper elaph (www.elaph.com) which he launched in 2001. This represents the strong trend of newspapers going online to draw a global audience.

Four UAE-based journalists were among the 12 winners of the Arab Journalism Awards (AJA) 2006. Among the four winners, two journalists are from Al Khaleej newspaper, a caricaturist from Akhbar Al Arab newspaper and Super, a sports magazine.

 

Mohamed Al Rahbi with Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of Dubai Press Club at the Arab Media Forum, Dubai , UAE.

The list of winners:

·         Best Column in an Arabic daily or weekly publication: Musa’ed Al Saleh, Al Qabas, Kuwait . Best Business

·         Reporting: Abdul Aziz Al Hindi from Magazine.

·         Best Sports Publication: Super Magazine. Best Environmental

·         Journalism: Ayman Khalil Rummaneh, Al Khaleej, UAE.

·         Best Interview: Suheir Hilmy, Al Ahram, Egypt . Best Cultural

·         Journalism: Akel Al Oweit, Al Nahar, Lebanon .

·         Best Photo Journalism: Mahmoud Ebrahim, Agence France Press.

·         Best IT Technology Report: Abu Al Hajjaj Bashir, Modern

·         Language , Egypt . Best Political Journalism: Gassan Al Shahbani, Al Waqt, Bahrain .

·         Best Caricature: Amer Al Zughby, Akhbar Al Arab, UAE.

·         Best Investigative Journalism: Youssef Sa’ad, Al Khaleej, UAE.

·         Best Child Journalism: May Malhas, Al Jazirah, Saudi Arabia .

11 Local and Regional Entities sponsored Arab Media Forum and Arab Journalism Award - Dubai Press Club even launched a Dedicated Website for Arab Media Forum 2007. Arab Media Forum under the theme 'Developing People, Developing Organisations' focused on Industry Case Studies for the First Time as the annual two day long event has become a platform for the Arab media personal to meet and share their experiences; highlight their success and address their challenges. A Comprehensive Report on Arab Media was unveiled at Arab Media Forum.

According to the industry Economic roar is going to stimulate Regional Media's Growth and Arab Media Forum Called for sufficient Training and safety to Create World-Class Professionals. Media experts stated that Development of Arab Press is Crucial to East-West Relations and that Advertising-Programme Content Relationship Must Change. They also highlighted the need for Proper HR Policies to build up Right Professionals.

A media watchdog described 2006 as the "most savage and brutal" year on record for journalists with 100 media professionals killed across the world. It was a "war on journalism," said Johann Fritz, director of the International Press Institute. Conflict-torn Iraq, where over 150 media workers have died since the 2003 US-led invasion, topped the list as the world's most dangerous place for the media for the fourth year. In 2006, 46 journalists died reporting the conflict. In almost all cases, the deaths were targeted killings. Journalists were killed in 23 other nations last year with the second most deadly country being the Philippines , with 10 killings. The IPI study covered 180 countries.

Othman Al Omeir was born in Najd , Saudi Arabia , in 1950. He started working as a sports journalist in a number or Saudi newspapers and magazines such as Al Yamama, Al Madina, Al Riyadh and Al Nadwa.  In the early 1970s, he worked for Al Jazeera newspaper before heading its sports section. He then left for London where he studied English and reported for Al Jazeera from there until 1983.  Between 1984 and 1987 he was the editor-in-chief of Al Majalla magazine before he became the editor-in-chief of Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper for ten years. In 2001 he launched the e-newspaper elaph (www.elaph.com).

Posted by Mohamed Khalfan AL-Rahbi, Associate Editor, Oman & Muhammad Farooq, Senior International Editor