Global media recognizes regional reporting talent, says CNN Arabic leader
Global media recognizes regional reporting talent, says CNN Arabic leader/node/2602319/media
Global media recognizes regional reporting talent, says CNN Arabic leader
(AN photo/Abdurrahman Fahad Bin Shulhub)
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Dalal Awienat
Global media recognizes regional reporting talent, says CNN Arabic leader
Caroline Faraj says region’s youth are educated, multilingual
Arab News’ Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abbas highlights uses of AI
Updated 9 sec ago
Dalal Awienat
DUBAI: Global media houses recognize that people from the region are the best to cover the news happening here, said CNN Arabic Services Vice President Caroline Faraj on Tuesday.
“This region invested in its youth and its education whether you are educated here or abroad, we have a cultured multilingual youth that understands the perspective of this region.
“This attracted global media outlets to come and hire this talent from the country itself,” she added during a session at the Arab Media Summit.
“When global media outlets need the truth, they go for the locals for our special talent,” added Faraj.
Faraj said authenticity in news gathering remains vital, in whatever language it occurs.
She said CNN was still adapting to artificial intelligence technology and warned that checks and balances are still needed.
“We still need people to be editors and to verify what AI is doing,” said Faraj.
Arab News’ Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abbas said on the technology: “AI is a reality; it’s a fact and it’s not something that is going to happen in the future.
“People talk about the concerns and challenges, but AI is an opportunity … There is no problem with AI, there is a problem with the lack of natural intelligence to use it.”
Maha Eldahan, Reuters’ Gulf bureau chief, added: “We can’t use AI without a human touch, we can’t publish an article that was translated by AI without checking it and I don’t think this will ever happen.”
Abbas added: “We are utilizing AI softwares to help cut down on cost and time, it can help us produce the same amount of work in half the time and for virtually no cost at all, so we need to be able to harness this technology for our benefit.”
‘News is a human need and not a luxury,’ says MBC leader at Arab Media Summit
MBC’s Group Director Ali Jaber highlights social media power
Youth mobilized around Gaza as Western media ‘failed’ in duty
Updated 27 May 2025
Dalal Awienat
DUBAI: “News is a human need and not a luxury,” said MBC’s Group Director Ali Jaber in Dubai on Tuesday.
“It is a need for everyone to know what’s happening around us, a world without news is not a world that we would ever live in,” said Jaber in a session at the Arab Media Summit.
“Social media and traditional media have a complementary relationship, social media has none of the restrictions that traditional media outlets have.
“Social media platforms are not journalistic platforms but can be utilized for that purpose,” he said.
Jaber said social media has proven to influence change in the news world, and cited the crisis in Gaza as an example. Jaber said he believes global outrage from the youth was mobilized by social media.
“Social media moved generations during the Gaza crisis, especially since traditional media in the West failed. Social media filled the gap that was generated by the obvious bias in Western traditional media,” said Jaber.
“Under the motto of freedom of speech, social media is attracting a larger number of audience who are trying to find faster and shorter news to consume,” he said.
Jaber said traditional media needs to implement the quick and fast nature of social media.
“We are in a changing world, it’s naive to say traditional media will stay dominant … We have to teach newsrooms to write 360 news that can be adapted into any form including social media,” he added.
“TV benefited a lot from social media, we use social media as a means of promoting for us, we need to have a community that we can work with around the clock and that is promoted by social media,” he said.
Jaber said although he is an artificial intelligence skeptic, he believes education is key to utilizing this technology safely and to their full potential.
“AI is a real milestone and a great pillar of everything we want to do … AI will be a key part of our work in the journalism world,” he added.
“We need to educate people on how to deal with things like fake news and other problems that may arise from utilizing AI,” he said.
Arab Media Summit to feature top regional leaders on day 2
World needs ‘new dialogue,’ says Dubai Media Council’s Mona Ghanem Al-Marri
Updated 27 May 2025
Dalal Awienat
DUBAI: The second day of the Arab Media Summit on Tuesday will feature top regional leaders including Prime Minister of Lebanon Nawaf Salam, Al-Azhar’s leader Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, and the Syrian Arab Republic’s Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani.
Dedicated to empowering the next generation of media professionals and influencers, the Arab Media Summit is set to host 8,000 media professionals from across the region.
Running until May 28 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the summit began on Monday with sessions of the Youth Media Forum and the Ibda’a – Arab Youth Media Awards ceremony.
Mona Ghanem Al-Marri, vice chairperson and managing director of the Dubai Media Council, said: “Today’s world demands a new dialogue.
“The rapid integration of artificial intelligence and immersive technologies requires the development of new strategies that are ambitious, youth-driven, and future-focused.
“Our aim is to raise Arab media’s role in growth and development not just regionally, but also globally.”
Future is for those who can imagine it, Arab News Editor says at AMF reception
Dubai Media Office Director-General Mona Al-Marri praises Arab News transformation, says others should follow suit
Dubai Future Foundation CEO Khalfan Belhoul: How we create and consume media is changing dramatically
Google MENA MD Anthony Nakache: We are committed to empowering journalists
Updated 27 May 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: As part of a series of initiatives marking its 50th anniversary, Arab News hosted a special reception and talk in collaboration with Google on the opening day of the Arab Media Forum, reflecting on five decades of events that shaped the Middle East and exploring the future of the region’s media landscape.
During the reception, held at the Dubai Future Foundation under the theme “Reimagining the Future of Media,” Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, addressed the challenges facing the media industry and how emerging technologies are reshaping its future.
“The future does not wait, the future is already here, and we should remember that the future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it and execute it, as Dubai Ruler H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid always says,” said Abbas.
“As an industry, we have suffered far too long from paralysis by analysis,” he added. “While artificial intelligence is evolving every day, we should simply just do it and remember that amateurs talk strategy, while professionals talk logistics, as the late World War II general, Omar Bradley, once said.”
Faisal J. Abbas presents a memento marking the 50th anniversary of Arab News to Khalfan Belhoul. (AN photo/Abdurrahman Fahad Bin Shulhub)
For her part, Mona Al-Marri, director-general of Dubai Media Office, Government of Dubai, welcomed the attendees and congratulated Arab News on its 50th anniversary in her opening remarks.
“Congratulations to the entire Arab News team,” she said, noting the newspaper’s pivotal role in the regional media landscape and its long-standing contribution to the Arab Media Summit since its inception 23 years ago — “whether through participation, contribution, or by organizing events like this.”
Al-Marri praised the leadership of Abbas, saying that “having a young editor-in-chief running such a major platform makes” a real difference.
Let’s all agree that how we create and consume media is changing dramatically.
Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation
“How can we transform such a platform into digital? Today’s (event) actually marks the importance of having such collaboration, like with Google and the Dubai Future Foundation, where we feel this is the future of the Arab media. I hope that all media outlets in our region follow in the steps of Arab News, because this is when you set a good working model for the whole region.”
“Arab News is leading this transformation,” she added. In a region where over 50 percent of the population is young, “we should all follow this model.”
Al-Marri praised the leadership of Abbas, saying that “having a young editor-in-chief running such a major platform makes” a real difference. (AN photo/Abdurrahman Fahad Bin Shulhub)
Speaking on the future of the industry in his keynote speech, Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, outlined seven key predictions for media over the next year.
“Let’s all agree that how we create and consume media is changing dramatically,” he said during his address at the Dubai Future Foundation Auditorium in Emirates Towers. “Look at the average attention span, which is eight seconds.”
He noted how sports consumption has dramatically changed beyond live games and consequently the demand for content has exploded. “For me, sport is all about pre-game, game, post-game interviews and conversations. And we need to adapt to that.”
Belhoul emphasized that this shift is forcing a transformation of media business models. “New media means new roles,” he said, listing predictions such as AI-generated news anchors, governments licensing content creators, and AI-powered productions by major streaming platforms. He also highlighted the rise of “slow media” as a cultural counterbalance to viral, unchecked content.
He said that the disruptive power of AI — from disinformation to audience mistrust — makes the “human touch” more vital than ever. “AI may be the hero of the next media chapter, but self-critique, adaptability and editorial responsibility will define its success,” he said.
Now in its 24th edition, the three-day Arab Media Forum in Dubai brings together senior government officials, media executives, thought leaders, and influential content creators from the Arab region and beyond. It is now held under a bigger event called the Arab Media Summit, which includes various other forums and award ceremonies.
Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, addressed the challenges facing the media industry and how emerging technologies are reshaping its future. (AN photo/Abdurrahman Fahad Bin Shulhub)
The summit runs until May 28 and focuses on fostering collaboration among media platforms, senior officials, and governments to create a positive impact on shaping vital sectors of everyday life in the region.
In light of this connection, the summit features an impressive lineup of prominent personalities including Nawaf Salam, the prime minister of Lebanon, and Asaad Al-Shaibani, Syria’s foreign minister, among others.
A panel discussion featuring information ministers from several Arab countries explores the future of public media and strategies to strengthen collaboration with the private sector.
The best results come when an AI tool is put in the hands of journalists, creating magic for users.
Anthony Nakache, Managing director of Google MENA
Ghassan Salameh, Lebanon’s minister of culture, will share insights on the media’s role in shaping a path toward regional stability, while prominent media figure Piers Morgan is set to address the summit audience in a key session.
Addressing the pivotal role of AI in reshaping the media landscape, Anthony Nakache, Managing Director for Google in the Middle East & North Africa, highlighted Google’s initiatives and AI-powered products aimed at enhancing journalism and supporting content creation in an era of rapid digital transformation.
He said: “Since Google was founded, our mission has been to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible for everyone. Twenty six later, this mission has not changed and we are more committed to it than ever, with AI being at the core of it.”
Anthony Nakache, Managing Director for Google in MENA, highlighted Google’s initiatives and AI-powered products aimed at enhancing journalism and supporting content creation. (AN photo/Abdurrahman Fahad Bin Shulhub)
“We launched new initiatives such as the AI Launchpad with FT Strategies and the Google News initiative and FT Strategies AI design sprint in collaboration with The Saudi Ministry of Media and the UAE Media Council.”
He added: “By (choosing) to invest in innovation, to uphold the highest standards of quality information, and by empowering journalists to use AI tools and digital solutions, we can together forge a very dynamic and successful future for journalism in the region. A great example of that is what we are going to showcase tonight, which is our collaboration with Arab News that is now experimenting with the latest of our AI tools to create new ways to engage with their audience.”
Nakache said he was “very excited” about the upcoming powered by NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered research tool to help users find, summarize, generate Audio Overviews, and gain insights faster from their information. The tool was recently recognized as one of the most innovative AI solutions of 2024 by Time magazine.
“But the best (results come) when it is put in the hands of journalists, creating magic for users,” he added.
The reception, held at the Dubai Future Foundation, was themed “Reimagining the Future of Media.” (AN photo/Abdurrahman Fahad Bin Shulhub)
Monday evening concluded with the announcement of Arab News’ collaboration with Google for a special podcast series titled “Recounting the Moments that Changed the Middle East.”
The five-episode podcast series spans five decades, with each episode focusing on a pivotal decade in Middle East history — from 1975 to the present.
Produced using NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered research tool, the project employed artificial hosts and AI-generated voices to narrate major events that shaped the region, highlighting how emerging technology can support storytelling, research and historical reflection in modern journalism.
New Arab News podcast tells story of five pivotal decades
Series powered by Google artificial intelligence research tool launched at Arab Media Forum
Updated 27 May 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: Arab News launched a on Monday about the past five decades of pivotal moments that have changed the Middle East.
The project uses NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered research tool, and features artificial hosts and AI-generated voices.
“This is a first step into what will be a very exciting future, whereby artificial intelligence is going to help us tell the story of the region to a wider audience,” Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas said at a reception and talk during the Arab Media Forum in Dubai.
The project illustrated how emerging technology could support storytelling, research, and historical reflection in modern journalism, said Anthony Nakache, managing director of Google MENA. “By empowering journalists to use AI tools ... we can together forge a dynamic and successful future for journalism in the region,” he said.
Arab News is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its first publication by looking back at those decades and the moments that defined the region. Each episode of the podcast focuses on a decade in Middle East history from 1975 until now.
The series “comes at a pivotal time in the region, and offers a different way of telling the stories that shaped the Middle East as it is today,” said Tarek Ali Ahmad, head of Arab News Research & Studies.
ISLAMABAD: As Indian and Pakistani guns fell silent after trading fire for days this month, the war over facts and fiction is far from over and fierce battle rages on social media as to who won, who distorted the truth, and which version of events should be trusted.
As both states continue to push competing narratives, experts warn that misinformation, censorship and AI-generated propaganda have turned digital platforms into battlegrounds, with real-world consequences for peace, truth and regional stability.
The four-day military standoff, which ended on May 10 with a US-brokered ceasefire, resulted from an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people last month. India accused Pakistan of backing the assault, a charge Islamabad has consistently denied.
While the truce between the nuclear-armed archfoes has since held, digital rights experts have sounded alarm over the parallel information war, which continues based on disinformation, censorship and propaganda on both sides, threatening the ceasefire between both nations.
Asad Baig, who heads the Media Matters for Democracy not-for-profit that works on media literacy and digital democracy, noted that broadcast media played a central role in spreading falsehoods during the India-Pakistan standoff to cater to an online audience hungry for “sensational content.”
“Disinformation was overwhelmingly spread from the Indian side,” Baig told Arab News. “Media was playing to a polarized, online audience. Conflict became content, and content became currency in the monetization game.”
A man clicks a picture of a billboard featuring Pakistan's Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir (C), Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf (R), and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, along a road in Peshawar. (AFP/File)
Several mainstream media outlets, mostly in India, flooded the public with fake news, doctored visuals and sensationalist coverage, fueling mass anxiety and misinformation, according to fact-checkers and experts, who say the role of media at this critical geopolitical juncture undermined journalistic integrity and misled citizens.
“I think this is a perfect example of the media becoming a tool of propaganda in the hands of a state,” said prominent digital rights activist Usama Khilji, calling on those at the helm of television and digital media outlets to independently verify state claims using tools like satellite imagery or on-ground sources.
In Pakistan, X, previously known as Twitter, had been banned since February 2024, with digital rights groups and global organizations calling the blockade a “blatant violation” of civic liberties and a threat to democratic freedoms.
But on May 7, as Pakistan’s responded to India’s missile strikes on its territory that began the conflict, the platform was suddenly restored, allowing users to access it without a VPN that allows them to bypass such restrictions by masking their location. The platform has remained accessible since.
“We were [previously] told that X is banned because of national security threats,” Khilji told Arab News, praising the government’s “strategic move” to let the world hear Pakistan’s side of the story during this month’s conflict.
“But when we actually got a major national security threat in terms of literal war, X was unblocked.”
Indian authorities meanwhile blocked more than 8,000 X, YouTube and Instagram accounts belonging to news outlets as well as Pakistani celebrities, journalists and influencers.
“When only one narrative is allowed to dominate, it creates echo chambers that breed confusion, fuel conflict, and dangerously suppress the truth,” Khilji explained.
VIRTUAL WAR
Minutes after India attacked Pakistan with missiles on May 7, Pakistan released a video to journalists via WhatsApp that showed multiple blasts hitting an unknown location purportedly in Pakistan. However, the video later turned out to be of Israeli bombardment of Gaza and was retracted.
A woman wearing a T-shirt featuring ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’ checks her mobile phone near a market area in Ludhiana. (AFP/File)
On May 8, Indian news outlets played a video in which a Pakistani military spokesperson admitted to the downing of two of their Chinese-made JF-17 fighter jets. X users later pointed out that the video was AI-generated.
Throughout the standoff both mainstream and digital media outlets found themselves in the eye of the storm, with many official and verified accounts sharing and then retracting false information. The use of AI-generated videos and even video game simulations misrepresented battlefield scenarios in real time and amplified confusion at a critical moment.
Insights from experts paint a disturbing picture of how information warfare is becoming inseparable from conventional conflict. From deliberate state narratives to irresponsible media and rampant misinformation on social platforms, the truth itself is becoming a casualty of war.
AFP Digital Verification Correspondent Rimal Farrukh describes how false information was often laced with hate speech, targeting vulnerable communities like Muslims in India and Hindus in Pakistan.
“We saw dehumanizing language, misleading visuals, and recycled war footage, often from unrelated conflicts like Russia-Ukraine or Israel-Gaza, used to stoke fear and deepen biases,” she told Arab News.
