Iyad Amin Madani, Minister of Culture and Information, is scheduled to open here Wednesday a media symposium organized by Okaz Organization for Press and Publication in its main headquarter in Jeddah. The symposium which focuses on studies of media tools in the Kingdom is titled “Towards More Studies on Saudi Media Tools: Present Challenges and Future Expectations.” Waleed Jameel Kattan, Director General of Okaz Organization for Press and Publication, said: “The minister's patronage of the symposium reflects the great importance he attaches to viable research, besides his enthusiasm for supporting and developing the Saudi media so as to achieve a high degree of professionalism and competitiveness.” He pointed out that this symposium comes within the activities of the organization for this year and the professional responsibility of Okaz towards the media and advertising industry in the Kingdom. Kattan also expressed the willingness of the organization to work together with key players in the Saudi media market, key advisers and advertising companies pointing out that many of the representatives of these companies will address the symposium and present working papers that will help in upgrading media outlets. More than 100 figures from within and outside the Kingdom including experts from the Gulf and Arab countries are scheduled to participate in the symposium. Publishers of daily newspapers, presidents of advertising companies and key advisers have shown keen interest in the symposium. The participants will discuss five papers focusing on the importance of a common vision for protection of media investment and strengthening of media budget. __
