An Emirati minister has called on the media to ensure climate change is at the top of the news agenda as she warned that “the future of the planet” was at stake.
Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth, said the pressing environmental challenges facing the world should be “the most critical story every day”.
Ms. Al Mazrui delivered the message during her keynote address at the first World Media Congress in Abu Dhabi.
More than 1,200 media industry experts, influencers and investors gathered for the three-day event, held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
“How can we talk about the future of the media if the future of the planet is at stake? And we’re not bold enough to present it as the most critical story every day? asked the minister.
Although journalists from around the world traveled to Egypt for the COP27 summit, there were fears that the climate crisis would be overshadowed by other global stories such as the war in Ukraine and even Elon’s takeover of Twitter. Musk.
She said the media wields a huge influence on society – especially young people – and they should use their significant reach wisely.
Many young people are shaped more by the information they consume than by their teachers, peers or parents, she added.
“I want to be able to trust that you will all make decisions in your best interests, as well as in the interests of the three billion young people under 30 who live today,” she said.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, urged the media to champion diversity and inclusion in a speech on Wednesday.
“The media should highlight how diversity is a source of strength for societies and help fight misinformation and fake news that breeds narrow-mindedness,” Sheikh Nahyan said.
“In essence, media professionals and businesses must be role models of diversity and honesty, because honest and transparent media is the only real way to shape social awareness and inclusion.”
Explore the Metaverse
The rise of the Metaverse and Web 3 – the third generation of the World Wide Web – and their importance to the media landscape were also discussed at the conference.
A stand giving visitors a ‘vision of the metaverse’ has been set up by Dubai Media Incorporated – the media arm of the emirate’s government – to offer a glimpse into a virtual world.
Visitors donned virtual reality headsets to experience Dubai Media’s presence in the emerging metaverse.
The Metaverse is envisioned as a new online world where people use 3D avatars to go to concerts, work, socialize and access a range of services.
“It’s the future – I can see it,” said Mason Al Riyani, an Emirati student. The National after entering the cabin.
Khaled Al Rayhi, the content manager who created the presentation, was keen to let people experience a concept that still remains a mystery to many.
“Imagine video games. And add Zoom to it. It’s the metaverse in a nutshell,” he said.
” Everybody talks about it. But no one knows what it is.”
He said he developed three storylines – a video game, a short video and a news show – in the metaverse to give visitors an idea of how it can be used and how people can interact.
Sofie Hvitved, a futurist and senior adviser at the Institute for Future Studies in Copenhagen, said the metaverse was on the way but not yet fully realized.
“In my opinion, the metaverse is not really here yet. We only see the smallest steps towards what the metaverse will be,” she said.
“Metaverse is much more than Meta. It’s more than a technology like VR [virtual reality]. It’s a whole new direction we’re taking.
“By 2030, it’s entirely possible that more than 50% of live events will take place in the metaverse. I find that very interesting.
Updated: November 16, 2022, 5:03 PM
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