MANILA – The Philippine News Agency (PNA), the news wire service of the Philippine government, was invited to participate in the first edition of the Global Media Congress in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Nov. 15-17, 2022.
Organized by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) and PNA’s partner agency Emirates News Agency (WAM), the event carries the theme, “Shaping the Future of the Media Industry."
Assistant Director Lee Ann Pattugalan of the News and Information Bureau, PNA’s mother unit, said the media congress would bring in media practitioners from all over the world and allow them to share knowledge and experiences.
“This would give them an insight into how they can further develop and also allow them to connect with their counterparts from different countries,” she said.
In a fast-paced, digital world, it is crucial that the media industry also keep up with the changing times brought by technology.
“With the advancements brought by modern technologies, the media industry has also come a very long way and media practitioners have to keep on gaining knowledge through training and seminars to keep abreast of the latest updates in the industry,” Pattugalan said.
She thanked the UAE and WAM for allowing the PNA to be part of the event.
“We also commend the WAM, which has been a very significant partner of our agency. We look forward to further expanding our cooperation. The United Arab Emirates and its partner agencies, especially WAM, deserve accolades for sponsoring this event. This is very important for the development of journalism and the media industry,” she said.
In February 2019, PNA and WAM signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Dubai, aimed at strengthening professional ties and cooperation in the field of news exchange.
The MOU, signed on the sidelines of the 2019 World Government Summit, was the first for PNA with an Arab news agency.
The MOU with WAM bolsters the PNA’s intent to reach out to the hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipinos working and living in the Gulf region.
The Congress will provide a platform to bring together leaders, decision-makers, experts, and journalists from the region and around the world to discuss a number of topics, concepts, and solutions that will play a pivotal role in defining the future of global media.
It will serve as a platform for reviewing the state of mass media in the region and the world and helping shape the vision for the future of the sector, which has become a primary driver of sustainable societal development.
The event will include a media exhibition and conference, which will enable various media organizations to discuss partnership and cooperation agreements.
A three-day conference will also be held in parallel with the Congress – the first of its kind in the Middle East.
The conference is expected to attract more than 200 chief executive officers (CEOs) and more than 1,200 participants.
The agenda includes 30 dialogue sessions with 40 prominent international speakers focusing on digital technologies, artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, and innovation.
The upcoming Congress will also provide a platform to discuss, analyze, and review the current position of mass media in the Middle East.
“The media is an important partner in the UAE’s development process. Organizing the first edition of the Global Media Congress reflects our strategy for enhancing joint cooperation and building partnerships on the regional and international levels, which will contribute towards progress and excellence in this sector,” said Mohammed Jalal Al Raisi, director general of the Emirates News Agency.
“The slogan of the conference accompanying the Global Media Congress reflects the vision and goals of this prominent international event in terms of foreseeing the future of the media sector in the region, and raising the level of benefitting from advanced technology such as digital technology and artificial intelligence to achieve a leap in this sector to support its role as the main contributor to sustainable development in all fields,” he added.
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, managing director and group CEO of ADNEC said their and Abu Dhabi’s media expertise and infrastructure make it the ideal choice for hosting and organizing the Global Media Congress.
“Hosting this event aligns perfectly with our vision of attracting international expertise in all fields and supporting the transfer and localization of knowledge. It will provide fantastic opportunities that will help relay global knowledge in the media sector to the UAE and the wider region, by creating a global platform for discussing the impact of direct digital broadcast – as well as helping Emirati youth keep pace with the rapid development of the media sector, expanding the horizons of students in this field,” he said.
The conference will be hosted as an integral part of the Global Media Congress, featuring pioneers in the media industry and global specialists and influencers, in addition to academic figures, youths, and university students.
The Congress will tackle a number of themes related to digital communication, AI, advanced technology, and creativity in media, in addition to sessions on journalism, radio, television, the internet, social media, and global influencers, as well as offering the ideal platform for international companies wishing to enter the regional media space.
For the agenda and more information about the Congress, please, visit its official website at https://globalmediacongress.ae. (PNA)
