Sharjah Media Centre Announces Two-Day Agenda for First Government Communication Forum

The first Government Communication Forum to be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, will seek to benchmark the emirate’s government communication standards against global best practices and examine ways for infusing fresh methodologies into the communication mechanism among government departments in Sharjah.

The forum’s objective is in line with the overarching mandate of Sharjah Media Centre, the communications arm of the Sharjah government and the organisers of the two-day event.

Scheduled to be held from 26-27 February at Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, theGovernment Communication Forumwill witness dignitaries and experts in government communication as well as top-tier regional and international media headlining the workshops and panel discussions.Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, will deliver thekeynote speech during the opening session of the forum.

The first ‘Government Communication Forum’ will include eight sessions and two workshops. Globally accredited certificates will be given away to participants of the workshopscomprising mid-managerial executives from the Sharjah government departments.

Osama Samra, Director, Sharjah Media Centre, said: “The first edition of theforum willdeliberate upon a series of topics that focus on best practices for upgrading intra-departmental as well as external communication among government entities in Sharjah. Towards this purpose, the forum will highlight the latest tools, skills and applications topractitioners and professionals, besidesofferinggovernment institutions in Sharjahwith a guideline for improving its standards."

Day-1 of the Government Communication Forum will open with a sessionon ‘Management of Risks and Crisis in Government Media Communications’ that will include panelistsDr. Nabil Al Khatib, Executive News Director at Al Arabiya, and Brad Staples, President of APCO International, Chair of Global Development. In addition to outlining the strategies and mechanisms for risk analysis and crisis, the two industry thought-leaders will analyse best ways to build an integrated risk management system as a proactive approach to managing risks. The session will also tackle participants’ professional skills in crisis management and throw light on how to transform potential crises into real opportunities.

Dr Nabil Al-Sharif, Member of the Jordanian Senate, and Dr. RaficChlala, former Press Advisor to Presidential Office, Government of Lebanon, will lead the second session on ‘Spokespersons in Government Institutions – Fundamentals and Skills’. Substantiating their viewpoints with case studies and real-time experiences,the experts will underline the competencies required for communication practitioners and reiterate the importance of continuous training for the purpose ofstepping up the quality of government services.

Dr. Ahmad Al Dbeiban, Plenipotentiary Minister of the Secretariat General for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and Firas Al-Khatib, Media, PR and Information Officer, UNESCO, Beirut Office, will headline the third session on the opening day of the forum. Titled ‘Coordination Strategies of Communication Efforts among Government Institutions’, the distinguished speakerswill address decision makers in governmental departments and reviewinternational communication models that meet the gap forspeed, quantity and accuracy, as well as ensure seamless coordination between organizational units.

Samir Al-Baha’i, Policy and Government Affairs Manager of MENA at Google, will talk about the future of ‘Digital Media in the Government Sector’during the fourth session. The session comes at a time whenindustry experts are expecting digital content to be responsible for 17 per cent of the total media spending (around US$1.4 billion) in the UAE. Digital commercial ads are expected to increase by 3per cent to 5 per cent and reach 22 per cent of total commercials by early next year. Against such projections, the session will highlight the use of social media outlets and e-commerce practices as well as analyse emerging trends in the sector.

The first day of the forum will conclude with a workshop led by international trainer Arwell Owen. The segment will focus on ‘Skills of Dealing with Media for Senior Officials and Heads of Institutions’. It will primarily examine how public sector employees can develop their media-relationship skills. It will also look at best practices for building synergy with regional and global business leaders for the purpose of enhancing the government’s image and manage its reputation.

The second day of the Government Communication Forum will also host four sessions. The agendawill kick-off with a segment on ‘Case Study of the Governmental Awareness Campaigns in the US and UK’. Sue Wolstenholme, elected president of 2013 for CIPR, UK, and Gerard Francis, CEO of the Public Relations Society of America, will lead this session.

IlkerAyci, President of Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT), and His Excellency Abdul Qadir AlSheikh, Minister of Information, Malaysia, will take the podium in the second session. Both speakers will share Turkey and Malaysia’s experience in developing the government media sector.

Turki Al-Dakhil, founder and owner of Dubai-based Al Mesbar research and study centre, along with ZavenKouyoumdjian, Lebanese TV celebrity, talk show host and producer of acclaimedprogramme ‘SiréeWenfatahet’, will highlight the ‘Role of Broadcast Media in Supporting Government Institutions’ Vision of Social Development’ during the third session on day-two of the event.

‘The Role of Caricatures in Correcting Misconceptions and Raising Levels of Awareness’ will be discussed during the fourth session that will draw out the perspectives of OmayaJuha, Chairman of Juhatoon, Rasha Mahdi, Egypt’s first female cartoonist, and EmadHajjaj,well-known cartoonist in Jordan and the Middle East.

Nicolas Georges, Founder of Reputation Institute, will host aworkshop on ‘Organizing the Government’s Image and Managing its Reputation’. This session will conclude the forum’s agenda on the second day and bring the two-day event to a close.

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Sharjah Media Centre Launches Government Communication Forum to Benchmark Media Best Practices against Global Standards

Sharjah Media Centre Hosts International Media Delegation

Sharjah Media Centre (SMC), the communication arm of the Government of Sharjah, in collaboration with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority(SCTDA),today receiveda 16-member international media delegation comprising representatives from Germany, Russia, China, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The media delegation is in Sharjah as special invitees tothe 10-day Sharjah Water Festival that is currently underway and will run until 25 December.

Osama Samra, Director of Sharjah Media Centre,welcomed the delegation tothecentre and briefed the visitors on its mission, vision and goals that contribute to the development of the media landscape in Sharjah.

Samra said: "We are pleased to receive media delegations from around the world and familiarise them with Sharjah and itsrapidly evolving media sector.Our initiative to invite journalists to the centre comes out of our objectivetofacilitatethe media to generate a comprehensive and accurate reportage on Sharjah.

“We leveraged the visit of the international delegation to the centre to highlightits role and resources. It also gave us the opportunity to outline our recently unveiled membership programme thatprovidesmedia-persons and aspiring journalists with access toauthentic information and cutting-edge technology for the effective dissemination of news."

Sharjah Media Centre offers three categories of memberships: honorary, active and academic.

Individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the media sector, Sharjah Media Centre or to public welfare could qualify for the honorary membership. These members are selected by the centre’s board of directors.

The active membership is open to residents living in the UAE and employed as reporters, editors, photographers, librarians, programmers, producers, publishers or graphic artists at radio stations, television stations, on-line news services, as well as daily, weekly and monthly news publications or news services and bureaus located or based in the Sharjah area.

The third category of membership – academic - is open to journalism students and faculty members in Sharjah and the wider UAE. Full-time faculty members of journalism at the university, college or high school level are also eligible to apply for membership.

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Sharjah Media Centre Supports International Wheelchair And Amputee Sport World Games 2011

Sharjah Media Centre is offering media relations support to the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sport (IWAS) World Games 2011 that is currently underway in Sharjah and marking its inaugural edition in the Middle East.

Under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the sixth edition of the 10-day games kicked off on 1 December at Al Theqa Club and has drawn over 900 athletes from nearly 50 countries.

As part of its support to IWAS, the Sharjah Media Centre is working closely with regional and international media institutions to ensure enhanced coverage of the global sporting event. The centre is also facilitating coordination with the IWAS media committee and assuring adequate media presence during all tournaments to encourage the participating sportspersons.

His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qassimi said: "Sharjah Media Centre has played an important role in supporting and sponsoring humanitarian events such as IWAS that Sharjah has hosted over the past years. Sharjah is committed to supporting the differently abled members of the community in all fields, especially in sports where they have demonstrated a significant participation. Through extending its unstinted backing, Sharjah ensures their early and successful integration into mainstream society.”

Osama Samra, Director, Sharjah Media Centre, said: “We are privileged to be a part of a momentous achievement for Sharjah that has successfully brought an international sporting event to the Middle East for the first time.

Through offering crucial media relations support, we aim to spotlight Sharjah as an ideal venue to host such high-visibility global events.”

Countries participating in the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sport World Games 2011 include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Spain, Italy, UK, Iran, China, Japan, Nigeria, Rwanda and Australia amongst others. The games’ schedule will include championships in table tennis, badminton, CPISRA race running, power lifting, amputee football, sitting volleyball and swimming.

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Sharjah Media Centre Sponsors Sharjah Water Festival And Sharjah Grand Prix 2011

Sharjah Media Centre, the communications arm of the Government of Sharjah, today announced its sponsorship of the media centres at the fifth edition of Sharjah Water Festival and Formula 1 Power Boat World Championship (Sharjah Grand Prix 2011).

His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Centre, has instructed the Centre to partner with both events and maximise media coverage of them, which will contribute to positioning Sharjah as a leading cultural and sports hub.

Mr. Osama Samrah, Director of Sharjah Media Centre made the announcement at a press conference hosted by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority to launch the Sharjah Water Festival.

Sharjah Water Festival is scheduled to be held from 14th till 23rd December, while Formula 1 Power Boat World Championship (Sharjah Grand Prix 2011) will take place from 15th to 16th December.

The Centre’s support for the two world-class events also highlights its commitment towards strengthening Sharjah’s position in the Arabic and international media. The initiative marks a turning point in the Centre’s approach to media.

Samrah said: “It is essential to ensure that the media, in its reportage, highlights the rapid growth and development that Sharjah has achieved in addition to its calendar of events and activities. This is one of the primary mandates of the Sharjah Media Centre.

“Hosted by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, Sharjah Water Festival and Formula 1 Power Boat World Championship are key attractions for the Sharjah. Following the instructions of His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qassimi, Sharjah Media Centre will utilize its advanced media relations capabilities to position the events as top-class sports, recreational and social events on the local, regional and international calendars.”

The Centre will organise a number of events for the visiting global media delegations covering the Sharjah Water Festival and the UAE media community.

Additionally, SMC will leverage its relationships with Sharjah Radio, Sharjah TV and Sharjah Sport TV to offer support to the media committees of both Sharjah Water Festival and Formula 1 Power Boat World Championship.

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Sharjah Media Centre Marks First Time Participation At Global Event Through Presence At World Travel Market 2011

Bee’ah Pioneers New Outdoor Media Utilizing Wasted Light

Bee’ah, the Middle East’s integrated environmental and waste management company, has launched a new outdoor advertising media on pedestrian recyclers pioneering a way to use wasted light.

The new advertising media utilises reflective boards placed on Bee’ah’s pedestrian recyclers situated at prominent locations across Sharjah, to illuminate environmental corporate messages during night and day.

Reflective boards are becoming the essential tool for maximum exposure for businesses helping to reduce the cost of light and valuable energy. The mechanism is most effective in the dark when exposed to headlights from passing traffic and street lights.

Over 1,750 recyclers are installed throughout the emirate of Sharjah, offering brands one of the highest market footfall and interaction figures amongst outdoor and print media.

Najib Faris, the Marketing and Communication Senior Manager at Bee’ah, commented, "Being at the forefront of positive environmental change, it is our commitment to introduce new tools to help preserve the environment of Sharjah. Bee’ah is the first company to introduce the reflective technique in its advertising boards, thus eliminating the use of electricity to power lights on the recycler."

Advertising on recyclers is still a relatively new concept in the UAE, while other street furnishings such as mupis, lamp posts, bus shelters and benches are being employed extensively. Bee’ah wishes to change this perception, "By advertising on our recyclers, brands will be positioned in a better limelight, as choosing to partner with responsible ways of recycling and helping to lower carbon emissions, thus fulfilling their corporate responsibility mandate," explained Najib Faris.

Bee’ah recyclers have been voted as the best media to reach out to individual interactivity and ensure campaigns communicate between the target audience in both Sharjah and Ajman. Street furniture accounts for approximately 40% of the total out-of-home UAE Advertising market, as opposed to the average of 20% worldwide, as quoted by Mediaedge. Multinationals based in the UAE have expressed their interest to advertise on recyclers, as a means to present themselves as environmentally conscious companies.

The Bee’ah recyclers offer advertising messaging space for responsible brand positing. The communication can be placed on either side of the recycler; via reflective board panels or by wrapping advertisements over the entire surface area.

3-stream pedestrian recyclers are an initiative by Bee’ah that aims to encourage recycling amongst the residents of Sharjah and Ajman. The recyclers incorporate state-of-the-art design and manufacturing quality, they are highly functional and user friendly, and are maintained and cleaned daily. The installation of the 3-stream pedestrian recyclers have helped encourage Sharjah residents to incorporate the 3Rs (reduce, re-use and recycle) into their lifestyle, and to successfully utilize them in the correct way.

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Sheikha Fatima's initiative for Arab women media strategy commended

Newsfunction increaseFontSize(){var containerElement = document.getElementById("articlecontainer");containerElement.style.fontSize = "14px";}function decreaseFontSize(){var containerElement = document.getElementById("articlecontainer");containerElement.style.fontSize = "11px";}Sheikha Fatima's initiative for Arab women media strategy commended 2011-06-24 15:05:26
Beirut, 24 June 2011 (WAM) - Participants at the ESCWA expert group meeting on promoting the empowerment of women have voiced their appreciation to the Arab women media strategy initiative launched by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU) and Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation.

They called for employing the media strategy framework as a pilot for developing national media strategies that will serve issues relating to women empowerment.

Dr Mohammed Al Mansour, Advisor of the GWU, and Dr Mohammed Ayesh, Media Advisor of the National Media Council, took part in the meeting.

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Students in UAE discuss ideas for media workshop

Dubai: Dubai Press Club announced it held a series of interactions with media students from the University of Sharjah, Dubai Women's College, American University in Dubai (AUD) and the Emirates University to reinforce the participation of the youth during the 10th edition of the Arab Media Forum (AMF 2011).

The student engagement process helped identify ideas and threads of discussion for a workshop on ‘Arab Youth Create Own Media Platforms' that will be held on the second day of AMF 2011.

The session will include the participation of the youth, particularly media students. It will seek to elicit their views on the role and responsibilities of the media towards society.

Organised under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the 10th Arab Media Forum will be held on May 17 and 18, at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai.

Consensus

Mariam Bin Fahd, executive director of Dubai Press Club, said: "The student interactions were held with the aim of eliciting their opinions on what should drive the discussion during the workshop on the second day.

"The engagement arrived at a consensus that the segment must primarily explore the reasons why the young generation resorts to new forms of media and overlooks all other conventional platforms.

"We leveraged our interaction to invite the students to the Arab Media Forum and encourage their participation in its multipronged agenda. We believe the discussions at this year's edition will be of high interest to students who are currently pursuing media studies as their major.

"Likewise, it will also offer an ideal opportunity for experts and media organisations to identify young and deserving talent."

Details

For details on the workshops and speakers that will headline the Arab Media Forum 2011, visit www.arabmediaforum.ae

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