Jordan hosts Arab media summit
Rebecca Hawkes ©RapidTVNews | 17-10-2010
The inaugural Jordan Festival of Arab Media is underway in Amman, bringing together private and public television and radio channels, film production companies and advertising agencies, with the aim of achieving better media cross pollination across the Arab world.The festival was opened on Saturday by Ali Al Ayed, Jordan’s minister of state for media affairs and communications, who told those gathered that technological advancement made in the field of information and communications has significantly contributed to bridging the gap in the world, adding that it was incumbent on Arab media to deliver a constructive and meaningful message to the world with regard to the Arab people.
Al Ayed also pointed to the establishment of the Audio Visual Commission in Jordan as the end to state monopoly of the media, and new legislation making it easier for broadcast investors to start TV or radio channels in the Kingdom, according to the Petra news agency.
There has been a greater drive to invest in the country’s television sector since the launch of Jordan Media City in 2001, which now plays out and uplinks over 200 channels to the Nilesat, Arabsat and Eutelsat satellites.
The three-day Jordan Festival of Arab Media, organised by the Audio Visual Commission and the Jordanian-Saudi Company for Satellite Broadcasting, includes seminars, award ceremonies and a media exhibition.
Rasmi Mahasney, festival director, told the Jordan Times the event marked an opportunity for media companies to promote services to their audience, and to form a media market where Arab companies working in the field exchange experience and services, and develop business partnerships.
“Our goal is to hold this festival annually and expand the award categories to include different aspects in the field of media,” he said.
