The Dubai Press Club will host the 2008 Arab Media Forum on 23 & 24 April on the theme of "Bridging Arab Media Through Technology".

The Forum, held by the Dubai Press Club, will look into the impact of new technologies on the dynamics of the media industry. Ranging from blogs and social networking sites to the emergence of the mobile device as a vehicle of media content, the Forum promises to cover it all.

Workshops and panels will address topics such as the response of Gulf Media to the challenges of technology, Maghreb journalists facing new technology opportunities, the interface between IT players and media players, and the mergers and acquisitions involving the emerging big gatekeepers of content and access.

Speakers notably include Abdullah Al Zaabi, anchor at Abu Dhabi TV, Algerian blogger Isam Hamod, Nahla Al Shahal from al Hayat - Lebanon, Husam Al Sukari, BBC Arabia Chairman, and Dr. Hamad Bin Ibrahim Al Omran, Chief Editor of Al Maalomatiya Magazine.

Among the Forum's highlights will be the launch of the second edition of the Arab Media Outlook, which assesses the performance of Arab news outlets. The 2008 Arab Media Outlook will reveal the latest trends in the region's press industry.

At the closing of the two-day event, the Arab Journalism Awards will be handed out to outstanding media professionals from the Arab world. In 2007, the Awards were presented in 13 categories including the Media Personality of the Year which honoured saudi Editor Othman Al Omeir for his contribution to the industry in the Arab world.

For more information, please visit http://www.dpcmediaforum.com/