40 key initiatives to redefine media
abu dhabi — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday urged the national media “to work as a team to overcome all challenges and re-energise the (media) sector to live up to its objective of advancing the UAE’s position on the international stage”.
He was speaking at the Future of Media Retreat held in Abu Dhabi and organised by the National Media Council(NMC), which brought together leaders and representatives from across the UAE media fraternity along with top government officials, educators and influencers to debate the challenges facing the media sector and define a roadmap forward for growth and global engagement.
“I have great confidence in our national media sector’s potential to uphold its mission and protect our national assets, to preserve our social values and to establish the UAE’s international leadership. It is an immense responsibility and the challenges are numerous. Nevertheless, our faith in the sector’s ability to overcome them is even greater,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
He added: “Our Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan has taught us dedication and determination in the face of challenges. During this Year of Zayed, we call on our national media to come together and work as a team to overcome all challenges and to re-energise the sector to live up to its objective of advancing the UAE’s position on the international stage and relaying its humanitarian message to the world.”
The retreat arrived at 40 key initiatives that would set the UAE media on a new footing in the new digital era. As part of the effort, the NMC launched a joint action plan to restructure the UAE media sector and incorporate the proposed initiatives.
The proposed initiatives covering all components of the media sector in the country, are set to be implemented through the ‘Future Media Makers’ initiative, which the NMC announced at the conclusion of the event.
The Future Media Makers initiative was announced as one of the key takeaways from the retreat.
I have great confidence in our national media sector’s potential to uphold its mission and protect our national assets, to preserve our social values and to establish the UAE’s international leadership.” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
The initiatives included the creation of a national training academy to build a new generation of media leaders, as well as the formation of a mechanism to tackle fake and misleading news. Attendees also proposed the establishment of new interactive media platforms, as well as the creation of a program of media community ambassadors to ensure engagement among the UAE’s diverse cultural communities.
Among the dignitaries who attended the brainstorming were Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future; Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State and NMC Chairman; and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.
Dr Sultan Al Jaber expressed the NMC’s gratitude to Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan for attending the retreat, noting that “this reflects the leadership’s encouragement of a vibrant media sector and its role in shaping the future of the UAE and promoting its international status. Our leaders have called for cooperation and teamwork as key to developing the sector and advancing national media talent.”
“The National Media Council has organised this retreat to set the foundations for a new era of media operations in the UAE,” the NMC chairman explained.
“Today, the UAE media embarks on a new chapter in building its future,” Dr Al Jaber said, underlining the importance of investing in young Emirati media professionals, in whom the NMC places great confidence in as the driving force for the media sector of the future.
The Future of Media Retreat was the largest event of its kind ever held for the UAE media sector, and coincides with UAE Innovation Month, bringing together more than 100 media leaders and experts representing diverse stakeholders within the media sectors, to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the media, and outline a development roadmap reflecting the UAE’s cultural achievements and ambitions, and empowering youth to build a better future for the sector.
The NMC chairman also outlined the priorities that will mark the council’s strategies for the future, which seek to empower the media, considering the sector’s role in reflecting a positive image of the UAE and conveying its achievements to audiences around the region and the world.
Concluding the event, Dr Al Jaber said the debates were a source of optimism and hope for a promising future for the media sector — a future that meets requirements of the UAE Centennial 2071 plan. — Wam