Saudi Arabia's Misk forum calls on media to invest in big data

The forum stressed the need to benefit from deep learning and machine learning techniques, branches of artificial intelligence (AI), to develop the media industry in the Arab region.

The forum also called on media institutions to invest in big data, and to find media solutions to developmental needs in Arab societies.

The director of the forum, Ahouda Al-Arfaj, delivered the opening speech, held under the theme “smart transformations in the media industry” with the participation of an elite group of speakers and specialists from 12 countries around the world.

She highlighted the importance of reaching advanced stages in information technology (IT) in the global race for the media industry.

Al-Arfaj said that “automated journalism” could produce a wide spectrum of news stories, as well as weather conditions, soccer results and even the financial results of companies, among others.

She extended thanks to Egypt for hosting the forum, hoping it would make a difference and have a positive impact on the media industry in the country, and you people interested in the field.

During the first session held under the theme “Media: A tool to run the world,” and in the presence of the Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki, Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Osama Nugali addressed the participants, and said: “Official media outlets must be present during, and not after, important events. Media formulations shape public opinion, and the official media — despite being powerful — cannot have any significant effect attending events late. It cannot deal with views shaped by other media outlets that preceded it in covering the event.”

Regarding the role of the new generation in delivering ideas and news in a way that influences society, Nugali said that no generation was born out of nothing — all generations learn from one another and benefit from others’ expertise. The next generation, though, is opting for self-development to reach public opinion.

Regarding the official media ministries in Arab countries and the importance of their roles, Nugali said: “I think that the media represents an idea and a vision more than an administrative body, and the basis is to develop the informational idea.

“If media ministries find a way to deal with the new reality and understand the current development, their existence cannot be harmful. Saudi Arabia is a living example, where we started dealing with the media as a concept and a vision, and there is great development in the ministry.”

Zaki shed light on the development of the media to keep up with the developments in social platforms, where the mechanisms of developing social media have become more advanced.

“The ‘mindset’ can make the difference; the person delivering the idea can be more influential if they had the right mindset to deal with the situation, without risking spreading ideas and analysis with unreliable sources and instead, focusing on credibility,” he said.