Mona Al-Otaibi

The Forum That Creates What Comes After the News..

24 July 2026 - 00:00 | Last update 24 July 2026 - 00:00

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With the announcement of the launch of the Saudi Media Forum in its sixth edition in February next year, a question comes to my mind that I consider more important than the number of speakers, working papers, and sessions: What will remain after the forum ends, its doors close, and the lights go out? This question is what makes me look at the Saudi Media Forum as a project for the future rather than an annual event. Today, media is no longer just a transmitter of news, but has become a partner in shaping the economy, building national reputation, stimulating innovation, and crafting the mental image of countries. Hence the importance of the forum; it does not only gather the…

What is striking is that the forum has evolved from a platform for dialogue into a space for launching initiatives, forging partnerships, and attracting global expertise – an important and necessary transformation. Because the future of media will not be made by speeches, but by projects that turn into reality, by investments in human and technical resources, and by decisions that move from discussion halls to newsrooms, production companies, and content platforms. I imagine that the true impact of this forum in the coming years will appear in more than one direction: first, building a new media generation that possesses tools of artificial intelligence, data analysis, and digital content production in multiple languages – not as additional skills, but as a foundation for the profession. Second, enhancing integration between media and other sectors; tourism, culture, sports, investment, and even education now need specialized media capable of turning achievements into stories that reach the world. Moreover, the forum has an opportunity to become an annual platform for generating media ideas, from which initiatives are launched, and then we test and follow up on their results in the next edition. At that point, success will not be linked to the number of attendees, but rather to the number of initiatives that turned into projects, the number of startups that found their opportunity, and the number of national talents who moved from the audience seats to media leadership platforms in our country.

I believe that our dear Kingdom, as it prepares for major global events in the coming years, needs media that anticipates the event, not just covers it, and shapes the narrative before others do. This role can only be achieved through a platform that brings together decision-makers, media professionals, innovators, and technology companies in one place – something the forum provides year after year. Therefore, the sixth edition is not just another stop on the conference calendar, but another step in building a Saudi media industry that is more influential, competitive, leading, and empowering. And if the forum continues to turn ideas into initiatives, and initiatives into measurable results, then it will not be just a media gathering, but one of the engines that shape the future of Saudi media, enhancing its presence as a global model that keeps pace with transformation and also leads it.

In conclusion, the true value of any forum lies not in what is said on its platforms and publications, but in what turns into impact after it ends. The media that shapes the future is the media that starts with action, not talk. For all these reasons, the Saudi Media Forum continues its sixth journey to create what comes after the news.