October 18, 2020
DPC’s Media National Youth Programme workshops discuss future of publishing and key media industry developments
The Dubai Press Club (DPC) hosted six virtual workshops for participants in the third edition of the Media National Youth Programme (MNYP). The sessions focused on the future of the publishing sector, key media industry trends and the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the sector.
Running until 15 October, the MNYP provides a comprehensive platform for young Emirati students and media professionals to enhance their knowledge, expertise and skills. A joint initiative of DPC and Watani Al Emarat Foundation, the Programme features a series of virtual training workshops delivered in collaboration with industry experts and leading local and international media institutions.
Speaking at a session titled ‘Fake News and COVID-19’, Phil Chetwynd - Global News Director, AFP, said the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the scale of misinformation polluting the information ecosystem on the internet and social media. With a team of about 100 fact-checkers around the world, Agence France-Presse is at the forefront of efforts to counter this dangerous trend, he said.
In a session titled ‘The Search For Innovators And Talents’, Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, Writer, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, shed light on the career opportunities available to young graduates in the media industry and how young professionals can maintain their competitive edge in the market.
Another session titled ‘The Future of Journalism’, led by Faisal Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, explored how journalism continues to evolve during the COVID-19 crisis. Abbas shared his first-hand experience of managing a newsroom during the pandemic.
Afshin Molavi, author, expert on global geo-political risk and geo-economics and former correspondent for Reuters and the Washington Post, discussed the importance of identifying global mega-trends below the surface of headlines in a session titled ‘Global Mega-Trends, Tweet Storms, and Daily Deadlines’. In his session, Molavi pointed out that these trends, rather than the daily tweet storms, will determine “our collective future.”
Mohammed Al Hammadi, Editor-In-Chief of Alroeya newspaper, spoke about his professional journey in a session titled ‘The Story of an Editor-in-Chief’. He shared his perspectives on the role of an editor-in-chief and his relationship with team members based on his experiences of being at the helm of three news organisations.
Hussein Shobokshi, Saudi author and a prominent columnist, gave an overview of the historical evolution of media and the most important inventions in the industry in a session named ‘The Word and the Image through Time’.
The third edition of the MNYP, which kicked off on Sunday, includes intensive workshops and inspirational sessions designed to improve the analytical and professional skills of participants and introduce them to industry best practices. The workshops cover four key sectors, including radio, TV, digital media and publishing.
