Hassan Cheruppa

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja will inaugurate the 10th Asia Media Summit (AMS) at Jeddah Hilton on Tuesday.



The three-day event with the theme of “Media and diversity: Enriching the broadcasting experience” will be held under the aegis of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.



Prominent media figures from various Asian nations and other parts of the world will attend the summit, which is to be held for the first time in an Arab country, said Dr. Riyadh Najm, president of the Saudi General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM).



“It is a tremendous honor for Saudi Arabia to be hosting such a prestigious gathering, and we are confident that guests will find our country, situated at the heart of the Middle East and home to the two holiest sites in the Islamic world, a unique and friendly host,” he said.



Yang Binyuan, director of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), said that the summit offers plenary session discussions and networking that can deal effectively with the new media landscape, in particular with the changing behavior of listeners and viewers who increasingly want to engage with media. “The summit also aims to ensure that participants generate different and innovative approaches and strategies that can inspire to build vibrant communities and richness of human life,” he added.



On the first day, the conference will discuss topics such as “Rise of international satellite channels: bane or boon? “TV and web convergence, mobile TV: What’s next on the screen?” “Towards robust and effective media regulation: opportunities and challenges” and “Media’s watchdog role: How far should it go?