After its successful pilot edition last year, the Global Media Congress (GMC) is returning this 2023. Under the slogan “Shaping the Future of the Media Industry,” the event will take place from November 14 to 16 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC).
Speaking about GMC 2023, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri shared, “We look forward to an exceptionally fruitful new edition of the Global Media Congress, which will be richer in content and more dynamic and global in terms of attendance and participation.” He is the managing director and chief executive officer of ADNEC Group.
Capital Events, a subsidiary of ADNEC Group, is the organizer of GMC in partnership with the Emirates News Agency (WAM). The event is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He is the vice president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and minister of the Presidential Court.
An important industry platform
With the media sector undergoing rapid transformation, the Global Media Congress 2023 emerges as an ideal industry platform. It is an avenue for businesses to connect with global thought leaders, gain insights into the latest trends and collaborate on innovative ideas.
Last year, the inaugural GMC attracted nearly 14,000 attendees, which included media professionals, experts and specialists. Notably, the event facilitated over 10 cooperation agreements between local and international media organizations. These include WAM’s agreements with China’s Xinhua News Agency, Indonesia’s PT. Sarana Dinamika Jaya (Media Group Network), Russia’s ITAR-TASS News Agency and RT Arabic and Kyrgyzstan’s Kyrgyz National News Agency (Kabar). These deals aim to bolster WAM’s position as a trustworthy news source across various languages.
For its sophomore run, the event will comprise more than 127 sessions, 27 interactive workshops and six dedicated media labs. There will also be a diverse range of additional programs and exhibitions centered around the future of the media industry.
Moreover, this year’s edition will spotlight four central themes, namely sustainability, innovation, the latest media technologies and sports media. Discussions on youth, education and the future of media will also be included.
Read: Shaping the future of media: UAE’s 100 AI applications unveiled at AMF 2023
Global challenges
Earlier in February, months after the first GMC held in November 2022, GMC and WAM unveiled a white paper titled “Establishing Resilient Media Entities in the Era of Misinformation.” The document was in collaboration with the trans-Atlantic research organization, the Henry Jackson Society.
The paper highlighted the global challenges that media professionals are currently grappling with. These challenges encompass adapting to evolving audience preferences and addressing the threat of false information.
Citing data from the 2022 Digital News Report by Thomson Reuters Institute, the paper revealed that a substantial 75 percent of the global population now habitually turns to social media networks as primary sources of news. These include X (formerly Twitter), YouTube and Meta, which is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Moreover, a study conducted by IPSOS across 27 countries from 2014 to 2019, showed a substantial decline in public trust for newspapers and magazines. It dropped an average of 16 percent during the five-year period.
The study also underscored a sharp decrease in news interest across various markets, plummeting from 63 percent in 2017 to 51 percent in 2022.
In a statement with WAM, Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi said, “Today, we live in a rapidly changing digital world, where it has become essential for media entities and their employees to keep pace with the alternatives provided by modern technology to enhance their presence in the media landscape.” He is the UAE’s minister of Culture and Youth.
Registration to attend the event is still ongoing.
For the latest news in the region, click here.
