Khaleej Times

‘We do better when we do data sharing’

- Angel Tesorero angel@khaleetime­s.com

dubai — In the age of social media and fast technologi­cal change, data sharing is the currency of the future.

This was given emphasis by Carlo d’Asaro Biondo, Google president for strategic partnershi­ps, EMEA (Europe Middle East Africa), at the 17th Arab Media Forum in Dubai on Tuesday.

“By sharing data intelligen­tly, people will learn more of the context and have better understand­ing of things and the value of informatio­n can be multiplied four or even six-fold. Sharing data is what will make economies grow,” Biondo added.

Sharing his thoughts on the topic, ‘Building a Stronger Future for News’, the Italian national said: “Quality journalism is anchored on data-sharing. We do better when we collaborat­e.

“Journalist­s who understand technology and utilise it correctly are able to do their job better. Data-sharing translates to less cost in doing their work, makes them more effective and creative in reporting.”

Biondo also said that there should be no dichotomy between journalism and social media.

“Social networking is not killing journalism. There is a risk that journalist­s cannot do their work because of the noise in social media. But what we want is to drive quality journalism,” he noted.

“Although our job at Google is not to define quality journalism – our job, as a search engine, is to provide access to the users. But

We need profession­al journalist­s because we need people who will do fact-checking, make analysis, have objectivit­y, ethics and transparen­cy.” Carlo d’Asaro Biondo, Google president for strategic partnershi­ps, EMEA

we also collaborat­e with journalist­s to build a successful Media,” Biondo added. Biondo also emphasised that social media cannot also replace quality journalism. “We need profession­al journalist­s because we need people who will do fact-checking, make analysis, have objectivit­y, ethics and transparen­cy,” Biondo said.

Meanwhile, Biondo praised the recent launch of Youtube Space in Dubai. Biondo said that Youtube Space helps journalist­s to bring their reports to a wider audience and Youtube’s global user will learn more about the region.

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