“Dialogue More Meaningful And Effective With Social Media”

Media dialogue becomes meaningful and effective in promoting social change when conducted through social media, said columnist Sawsan Al Shaer on the first day of the 17th edition of the Arab Media Forum in Dubai.

Addressing the audience on the topic ‘The Media Dialogue & Its Influence’ at the Forum, she said social media influences conventional media and channels and therefore columnists should use digital media to reach out to a wider audience and spread their message.”

“If you want to connect to a million people, use social media and Instagram. Social media is an extension of conventional media. Even ministers use Instagram and Twitter to spread their official messages and opinions,” she said citing the examples of how some GCC ministers used social media to air their opinions during recent political developments in the region.

Al Shaer talked about her experience as a columnist who evolved from submitting handwritten columns to newspapers to using laptops and now using digital media. “Those days, I could reach out to a maximum of 20,000 readers, but now I can reach out to a larger audience by using hashtags.”

More than that, we columnists learned to add images and tweet our posts. “In fact, we learned to use ‘complicated’ digital platforms such as Instagram.”

With social media, responses come immediately, but one should be responsible for the authenticity of content, she advised young columnists.

Held under the patronage of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, from 3-4 April 2018, the 17^th edition of the Arab Media Forum (AMF) has brought together more than 3,000 prominent regional and international media figures and thought leaders.

Apart from high-profile local speakers, the two-day event features 50 speakers representing 20 countries from across the Arab region and the world. Under the theme ‘Impactful Media Trends’, prominent media personalities, writers, influencers and academics are sharing their views on diverse issues at the Forum with the aim of forging a new vision for the media.