Sharjah Press Club discusses media qualifications for new generations at Saudi Media Forum

The Sharjah Press Club (SPC) of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau organised a session on "New Media Generation: Variables and Opportunities" on Monday, as part of the activities of the second edition of the Saudi Media Forum (SMF), which is being held till 21 February in Riyadh.

Tariq Saeed Allay, Director-General of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau; Mohammed Al Hammadi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Journalists' Association; Professor Jairo Lugo-Ocando, Dean of the College of Communication at the University of Sharjah; David Reaboi, President of Strategic Improvisation; and Sara Benaichoubah, a media personality, took part in the session.

The session examined strategies to improve the capacities of the next generation and qualify them for the media labour market, particularly in light of current technology's variables and advancements. It also examined how to integrate the academic and practical components of media professions, as well as the realities of media efforts for youth and young people and the methods to improve them.

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During the session, Tariq Saeed Allay shed light on the Emirate of Sharjah's efforts in caring for children and young people and building human beings in various fields, as well as the emirate's strategy emanating from His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, throughout optimising human capabilities, empowering them, employing their energies, and advancing them in various fields.

He reviewed a number of initiatives and programmes implemented by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau in order to qualify new generations for media work, such as the "Ithmar" initiative for media qualification for children and youth, which is organised annually by the Sharjah Press Club with the goal of training the new generation, ranging in age from 10 to 17 years.

Media work is accomplished via an interactive strategy that includes theoretical and practical aspects, as well as the preparation of field trips to reputed media organisations.

According to Mohammed Al Hammadi, the variables of media work, as well as the forms of modern journalism on social media platforms and mobile phone journalism, necessitate collaborative efforts between media and academic institutions to support the rehabilitation of the new generation and increase their media awareness.

Professor Jairo Lugo-Ocando, Dean of the College of Communication at the University of Sharjah, stated that news stories, content production processes in newsrooms, and media technology are all changing as a result of artificial intelligence and modern digital programmes, emphasising the importance of academic curricula keeping up with these changes to ensure the provision of knowledge support in a renewed manner for new generations and support their academic success.

According to David Reaboi, President of Strategic Improvisation, the new media has been interwoven with the conventional media, and the definitions of journalists and media professionals have changed in the current period, with media operations becoming a regular practice on social media platforms.

At the conclusion of the event, the speakers agreed on the need for media education programmes that foster culture and ideas while also improving skills.

WAM