The Dubai Press Club, DPC, has announced that the fourth edition of the Emirati Media Forum, EMF, will kick-off on 6th November 2017 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, DWTC.

Organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, this year’s edition will focus on the national role of the UAE media at a time when the region is beset with political turmoil. The forum will look at how the media can support the influential role and position of the UAE on major regional and international issues, and play a more significant part in supporting national development across sectors.

Dubai Press Club revealed that the one-day event would highlight the evolving role of the UAE media in the light of various developments in the region. It will also take a more in-depth look at how the media can support the balanced discourse adopted by the UAE since it was founded by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who fostered loyalty and belonging among its people and emphasised the importance of serving the nation to help it achieve greater prosperity.

This year’s edition will analyse the key issues confronting the local media, with a particular focus on its national responsibilities. The forum will also look at how the media can develop the leadership and capabilities required to keep pace with the rapid growth in visual, print and audio technologies.

President of Dubai Press Club, Mona Ghanem Al Marri, said, "The Emirati Media Forum coincides with key developmental shifts in the region. The UAE is preparing for the future with massive projects that aim to realise the UAE Vision 2021 and fulfil the leadership’s objectives for the nation’s growth."

She reiterated the importance of the media’s national role and its alignment with the UAE’s development goals in various areas like space, educational and technological advancement, as well as adopting the best practices in research and other activities critical to the nation’s future development. Al Marri also highlighted the part played by the media in helping to develop a framework for promoting unity and harmony between various members of the society.

"From this platform, we aim to underscore the importance of media discourse and its role in instilling a strong sense of national values that are vital to ensure the welfare of the country and boost its ability to encounter challenges in the road ahead," Al Marri said. She emphasised the part played by the media in safeguarding the UAE’s national interests and enhancing its unity and solidarity.

"The UAE is a large media market with a pool of significant professional skills in various disciplines, which gives it an ability to deliver its responsibilities by accurately communicating messages and perspectives of national stakeholders," Al Marri noted.

"This year’s edition of EMF will provide the opportunity for high-level decision-makers from the media industry to discuss the current state of the media and the challenges facing the region," the DPC President said. The Forum will shed light on the ideal approaches for addressing regional issues, including providing honest, objective and unbiased accounts of events inside and outside the country.

The Emirati Media Forum serves as a unique platform for dialogue between players across the media spectrum and an opportunity to discuss media development while acting as a bridge of communication between local media organisations, journalists, experts and specialists in various fields of media, as well as the media students. It also seeks to give local media outlets insights and knowledge on how they can develop the leadership capabilities required to sustain their growth and excel.