Experts attending forum to discuss crisis, changing trends in Arab media

Dubai: A two-day forum that will bring together the biggest names in Arab and international journalism is expected to start at the Atlantis hotel to discuss crisis and changing trends in Arab media.

The Arab Media Forum will feature some of the most reputed journalists and will include a keynote speech by award winning American investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, whose articles have often centred on Middle East issues.

Expected to be inaugurated by His Highess Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the forum will host 600 participants and 50 speakers, including Ahmad Al Shaikh, the Editor-in-Chief of Al Jazeera News Channel, Alain Gresh, deputy director of Le Monde Diplomatique, Hossam Al Sokkari, chairman of BBC Arabic and Nabeel A. I. Khateeb, executive editor of Al Arabiya.

Organisers have said that the event, the first major conference to be held at the Atlantis hotel, is expecting an increase in participants compared to previous years, with a significant number of journalists flying in to attend.

This year's eighth edition is themed around crisis and changes in Arab media and will host sessions on trends, current issues and industry based topics, which are expected to attract a bigger audience.

Following the events of the forum, the Arab Journalism Award will be awarded to the winners of the competition tomorrow.

Thirty six candidates have been shortlisted, of which 13 are Egyptians.

The Dubai Press Club, which organises the award, has said that there has been heavy participation from the country, which hosts many of the region's Arabic dailies.

The winners will be awarded in twelve categories for which more than 3,000 entries had been registered.

The organisers stressed on the importance of transparency in the selection process, as well checking for high quality of articles for the award.

An award for the sports category was held back last year because judges felt that no submitted article met the required standards, said Mariam Bin Fahd, executive director of Dubai Press Club.