The Emirates News Agency (WAM) has participated in the fifth edition of the World Media Summit (WMS) in the city of Guangzhou, China, with the participation of more than 450 media outlets.Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS is co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan.Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of the Emirates News Agency (WAM), affirmed the summit's significance as a crucial international platform for high-level exchanges and collaboration in the media field.During his participation in a seminar about enhancing global trust in media, Al Rayssi emphasised that establishing global trust for any media outlet requires a commitment to credibility in reporting facts and producing journalistic content. This commitment also involves adhering to objectivity in editing diverse media materials and disseminating them among various audiences and demographics.Al Rayssi added that the development of media institutions is linked to the rapid changes in the communication and media sector. It is also related to developing the capabilities and skills of professionals in this vital sector, especially in light of the multiple abilities provided by digital media platforms and artificial intelligence.He highlighted that WAM broadcasts its news in 19 languages and utilises social media platforms to engage with audiences. Additionally, the agency uses the "WAM News System" as an innovative internal system to manage and monitor daily media operations. Al Rayssi also mentioned ongoing developmental projects within the agency that employ algorithms and artificial intelligence for news production and digital content creation.Speaking on the significance of Global Media Congress, Al Rayssi shed light on the significance of promoting media joint action, sustaining coordination and unifying efforts in delivering media messages aimed at meeting the needs of various media institutions, developing societies, and achieving the happiness of peoples.Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the Global Media Congress was launched from the United Arab Emirates to the world in 2022 under the theme “Shaping the Future of the Media Industry".He explained that the second edition of the Congress 2023 focused on sustainability, innovation and the latest technologies in media, sports media, as well as youth, education and the future of media. It achieved qualitative accomplishments with the participation of 160 prominent speakers in the media industry, attracting 23,924 visitors from various countries, representing a 76.5% increase compared to the first edition last year.A total of 172 countries participated in the event, including 31 countries participating for the first time, and the actual space reserved by institutions and companies reached 32,000 square meters.

The Emirates News Agency (WAM) and the Fujairah Government Media Office signed a media Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to coordinate and prepare for the Fujairah Media Forum, which will be held in February 2024 under the title “Parallel Media”.The agreement, which was signed on the sidelines of the second edition of the Global Media Congress, aims to enhance media cooperation between WAM and the Fujairah Government Media Office to achieve the media objectives declared therein, serving as the foundation for future cooperation related to various media affairs.Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of the Emirates News Agency, affirmed the agency's keenness to cooperate with all national media talents and support them in their future projects, noting that Fujairah has made great strides in presenting remarkable media proposals in recent years, pointing out that the upcoming Fujairah Media Forum will be a point of attraction for decision-makers and heads of international media companies.For his part, Jamal Adam, Director of the Fujairah Government Media Office, said that the partnership with the WAM will support the upcoming Fujairah Media Forum, where the agency's expertise will be utilised through providing logistical support for the forum to be a major media partner, as well as its experience in launching the Global Media Congress.The agreement stipulates that the Emirates News Agency will provide the necessary media support for the events of the Media Forum that will be held in Fujairah in February 2024, by publishing and broadcasting the media materials of the forum through its website and social media accounts, in addition to allocating a team of editors and photographers to cover the events of the forum.Based on the terms of the agreement, the Fujairah Government Media Office will avail WAM's services as a main media partner.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the first day of the Global Media Congress concluded at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) after a lively series of presentations, panel discussions and keynote speeches that brought together renowned figures from the world of media, communication, and technology.The day began with a keynote speech from H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister for Tolerance and Coexistence, who welcomed the Congress participants to the event and emphasized the media’s power to foster international cooperation, the sharing of essential values and interests, and an appreciation of human achievements across national boundaries.Adding his welcome to that of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan in a further keynote speech, Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of Emirates News Agency (WAM) and Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee for the Global Media Congress, observed that “our gathering today at this important global event gives us great scope to share ideas on contemporary challenges faced by the media sector along with investment opportunities that to help us advance best professional practices across multiple media sectors. We will also examine how we can build a future media industry that shares knowledge and information in ways that maximize the happiness of peoples and sustain the development of societies.”With the first day of the Congress taking in conjunction with COP28, there was a special focus on the role that the media can play in addressing environmental issues and climate change.Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC Group, said: “Today’s sessions affirmed the media’s potential to highlight key environmental and climate change issues and help drive real change to protect global ecosystems. The Global Media Congress is playing a decisive role as a forum for media leaders, creatives and activists to tackle one of the most critical issues faced by this generation and those to come. In keeping with the aspirations of our wise leadership, ADNEC Group remains dedicated to helping innovative ideas flourish and nurturing meaningful industry partnerships."This year’s Congress will also host 5 accompanying features – some being held for the first time – which include the innovation and startups platform with over 24 startups, the training and education feature with more than 30 workshops, the Future Media Labs with elite-level discussions in six closed sessions, the influencer innovation feature with dedicated dialogue sessions, and a new media sessions and round tables feature with experts, speakers, innovators and global media leaders.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the second edition of the Global Media Congress 2023 is slated to commence next week in the capital, Abu Dhabi, with record-breaking international participation from major global companies in the media industry, as well as decision-makers, experts, and specialists from around the world.This announcement was made during the press conference held today to disclose the latest preparations for the launch of the second edition of the Congress, organized by ADNEC Group in partnership with the Emirates News Agency (WAM) from November 14 to 16 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center.Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of the Emirates News Agency (WAM) and Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Global Media Congress, declared: "In anticipation of the Global Media Congress's second edition, we've strengthened our global media network through strategic partnerships following our first session. These collaborations are poised to enhance this year's congress, offering participants unparalleled value. In conjunction with COP28, our Congress's opening day will spotlight the pivotal role of environmental media in sustainability and climate advocacy. Day two shifts focus to media education, with a special emphasis on youth engagement. We're excited to welcome students from 100 universities, equipping them to shape the media landscape. We're also launching the Education Stage and Co- Production Majlis, alongside the Innovation Stage, NexTech, and Future Media Lab, to explore the nexus of media, education, and Al as we navigate the industry's evolution."Al Rayssi expressed his pride in the record-breaking interest shown by companies, decision-makers, and experts from all over the world in participating in the second edition of the Congress, noting that such interest reflects the trust and professional credibility that the event enjoys despite its recent inception. He also highlighted the significant contribution of the Congress in creating a supportive and innovative environment for building new partnerships between companies and entrepreneurs worldwide.Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO of ADNEC Group, stated, "Organizing the Global Media Congress aligns with ADNEC Group's strategy to support a wide range of economic and knowledge sectors in the country in line with the aspirations of our wise leadership for the next fifty years, with the media industry being one of its main pillars."He added: "The exhibition's mission aligns with our vision to enhance the direct and indirect economic contributions of these vital sectors to the country's economy and confirm the position of Abu Dhabi as the capital of exhibitions and specialized conferences industry in the region."Al Dhaheri stated that the record-breaking interest in the second edition of the Global Media Congress is a testimony to the success of this policy and an effective translation of the aspirations of the wise leadership into reality; noting that the second edition of the Congress is witnessing high interest form the part of prominent worldwide specialized media companies.The current edition of the Congress witnesses a significant increase in the number of exhibiting companies and brands, with a 33% rise reaching 257 brands compared to last year’s first edition. The number of participating countries also increased by 22% to reach 172 countries, with 31 countries participating for the first time. The total exhibition area has expanded by 78%, exceeding 32,000 square meters compared to 18,000 square meters in the previous edition.The Congress will also feature a dedicated event for top players in the sector, attracting over 400 top industry players from around the world. This will be facilitated through the launch of a Council – “Majlis” that provides an exclusive space for industry leaders, production companies, and content technology innovators to communicate, share knowledge, and explore opportunities for collaborative production and partnerships in the media sector.Additionally, the second edition of the Congress will host a specialized conference over three days, featuring 77 speakers representing key players in the media industry from 18 countries. The conference, held under the theme of "Shaping the Future of the Media Industry. “includes 36 main sessions covering discussion topics namely, sustainability, innovation, cutting-edge technologies in the media sector, sports media, and youth engagement, as well as the role of training and development in enhancing the future of the media industry.The Congress will also include five associated events, some of which are being held for the first time, most importantly, the Innovative and Startups Stage will feature more than 24 startups, with national companies accounting for 36% of the startups. This Stage offers companies the opportunity to showcase new technologies and ideas in the sector to a wide range of relevant institutions and decision-makers.The second platform will focus on training and education, organizing more than 30 training workshops for participants from around the world, with 40 trainees in each workshop, supervised by 25 international experts and institutions specialized in the sector. This platform aims to enhance the skills of participants in sustainability, sports broadcasting, and artificial intelligence.The third event will attract top executives in the sector, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from around the world under the Future of Media Labs platform. This platform will include six closed sessions aimed at exchanging and developing ideas that will drive the media sector forward.The fourth platform, dedicated to innovation in the influencers’ sector, will provide a creative space for content developers to interact, collaborate, and share their insights and experiences with emerging influencers through 21 dialogue sessions featuring 19 speakers.The fifth platform will host four new media sessions and roundtable discussions with the participation of 32 experts and speakers to study the challenges and opportunities in the sector in the presence of a group of creative talents and decision-makers from various media sectors worldwide.Furthermore, the Global Media Congress is receiving significant media coverage compared to the previous edition last year, with nearly 800 journalists from 58 countries, marking an 8% increase, emphasizing the growing importance of the Congress regionally and internationally and its significant role in advancing the media sector.

The Emirates News Agency (WAM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Brazilian TV SBT to strengthen and develop cooperation in news exchange.The MoU, on the sidelines of the International Government Communications Forum in Expo Centre Sharjah, was signed by Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of WAM, and Roberto Franco, Director of Institutional and Regulatory Affairs of SBT.The WAM-SBT collaboration is part of WAM’s efforts to strengthen its partnership with international media outlets, especially as it is set to host the second edition of the Global Media Congress in November.The MoU also aligns with the two sides’ keenness to boost their cooperation in news exchange and build constructive friendships and cooperation between media institutions in the UAE and Brazil to serve their common interests.Al Rayssi underscored the distinguished and growing relations that UAE and Brazil share at all levels, noting that the MoU signing comes within the framework of efforts to build bridges of cooperation and enhance news exchange with SBT.The WAM Director-General said that he is looking forward to the participation of the Brazilian media in the second edition of the Global Media Congress, scheduled to be held next November in Abu Dhabi, as it provides a vital global platform that facilitates establishing strong partnerships between media outlets from around the world.Robert Franco expressed his eagerness to consolidate SBT-WAM relations and commence their exchange of expertise, noting that the UAE’s media sector shows great promise, especially as it continues to push its development to new heights.