Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — A Saudi media forum will be held in Riyadh on Nov. 27 during which special awards will be given to outstanding journalists and newspapers, according to the chairman of the Saudi Journalists Association (SAJ), Khaled Al-Malki. "The forum is aimed at reflecting the Kingdom's international position and presenting the ongoing changes to the world," he told a press conference in Riyadh on Tuesday. During the press conference, the SAJ has launched a site for the forum, the media award, the electronic sites and the social media accounts. "The forum will convey the Kingdom's national achievements and build a new mental picture about it before the people most influential in the media field worldwide," he said. Al-Malki said the forum, under the title: "media industry.... opportunities and challenges" will continue for two days and will be attended by more than a 10,000 local, Arab and international journalists. The chairman said the participants will exchange media experiences and will discuss all the media issues. "This will be an annual event which will consolidate Riyadh as the media capital of the Arab World," he added. Mohammed Al-Harthi, chairman of the forum and the award, said in its first version, the Saudi media award is aimed at encouraging journalists and media organizations to upgrade competition, raise the level of the content and encourage creativity. He said the prize will be given in the branches of political, economic, cultural and sports journalism in addition to the photos and caricature. Harthi said entries for the award began on Aug. 27 and would remain open until the end of September. Al-Harthi stressed that the Saudi Journalists Association looks forward to the participation of all media professionals in the Kingdom, those who represent or work in the Saudi media channels of non-Saudi organizations.
