Sharjah: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and Founder of Al Qasimia University (AQU), the international conference on content creation commenced yesterday at Al Qasimia University. The event, themed ‘Content Creation between Institutional Media and Social Media – Challenges of Integration and Competition’, is a two-day conference organised by the University in collaboration with the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
According to Emirates News Agency, the inaugural session was attended by notable figures including Jamal Salem Al Tarifi, President of AQU; Dr. Awad Al Khalaf, Director of AQU; Dr. Sami Al-Sharif, Secretary of the Association of Islamic Universities and former Egyptian Minister of Information; and Jamal Nasser Al Suwaider, Executive Director of the News Content Sector at WAM. The conference also welcomed a host of media experts, featuring participation from over 45 researchers from 12 different countries.
Dr. Awa
d Al Khalaf highlighted that the conference aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi to foster academic communication and build cooperation with academic and media institutions. The conference aims to address the challenges associated with creating meaningful content on social media platforms and to reinforce the complementary relationship with official media institutions. He noted that WAM serves as an advanced model adapting its structure and strategy to enhance its content while maintaining its national media mission.
Dr. Sami Al-Sharif, a guest speaker at the conference, emphasized the importance of collaboration between media and educational institutions. He also acknowledged the media’s role in shaping societal awareness and promoting human values. He commended Sharjah’s efforts in preserving the Arab and Islamic identity through a moderate approach that upholds the values and traditions of the Arab family.
In a speech delivered by Dr. Jamal Mohammed Obaid Al Kaa
bi, Director-General of the National Media Office, and Acting Director General of WAM, Jamal Nasser Al Suwaider underscored the media’s role in keeping pace with digital advancements. He praised the collaborative efforts between the Emirates News Agency and Al Qasimia University in organizing joint events and programs that bolster and support the national media sector, contributing to the UAE’s progress across various sectors.
Ali Obaid Al Hameli, an Emirati writer and media personality, and guest of honour at the conference, delivered a speech highlighting the importance of new content creators and the necessity to rationalise and assess content in accordance with legal and ethical standards.
Jamal Salem Al Tarifi, along with Dr. Awad Al Khalaf and Dr. Hisham Mohamed Abbas Zakaria, Dean of the College of Communication at the University, honored the guests and speakers of the conference. This was followed by a dialogue and scientific session that explored several scientific papers, along with workshops on
artificial intelligence applications and the newsmaking journey at the Emirates News Agency. Additionally, an exhibition was organised by the Emirates Photographic Society (EPS).
