RIYADH — The second edition of the Saudi Media Forum started in Riyadh Monday, gathering more than 1,500 media professionals, academics, and experts from Arab and other world countries, ministers, and local and international officials to discuss the status and future of the media sector.

The forum was organized by the Saudi Journalists Association in partnership with the Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA).

SBA President, Chairman of the Saudi Media Forum Mohammed Al-Harthi stressed that the forum is being held in Riyadh, which proudly boasts every day achievements, growth, and development, just like the other parts of the Kingdom, while striving to meet the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 which stipulates human development, capacity building, and encouraging investment.

Al-Harthi stressed that nowadays development is the way forward and that Saudi Arabia works to create and shape its own bright future, hence the theme of forum, "Media in a world that is taking shape."

The first session of the forum, titled "The New Media Generation... Variables and Opportunities", was attended by President of the Strategic Improvisation Inc. Company David Reaboi, Dean of the College of Communication at the University of Sharjah Hiro Lugo-Ocando, Director General of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) Tariq Saeed Allay, and Chairman of the board of directors at UAE Journalists Association Mohamed Al Hammadi. — SPA