Digital advertising showcase ‘Ignite the Ads’ attracts professionals from the Kingdom and beyond

Digital advertising showcase ‘Ignite the Ads’ attracts professionals from the Kingdom and beyond
4-day event brought together advertising professionals at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District Conference Center from May 28 to 31. (SPA)
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Updated 01 June 2024
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Digital advertising showcase ‘Ignite the Ads’ attracts professionals from the Kingdom and beyond

Digital advertising showcase ‘Ignite the Ads’ attracts professionals from the Kingdom and beyond
  • Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District Conference Center hosted event 

RIYADH: “Ignite the Ads,” a digital advertising event organized by the Digital Content Council and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Saudi Arabia, brought together startups, entrepreneurs and advertising professionals at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District Conference Center from May 28 to 31.

The first two days of the conference were dedicated to businesses and advertising professionals to help them network and collaborate.

The last two days were open to all advertising professionals and focused on brand awareness, product and service education, social media, and word-of-mouth marketing.

Speakers included Lynnwood Bibbens, CEO of airport network ReachTV; Franklin Weil, CEO of e-commerce firm Myntr; Lujaen Alkanhal, head of social media at Saudi agency Extend | The Ad Network; and Ahmad Konash, CEO and co-founder of Saudi creative agency Onsor Mosha.

The conference covered a wide range of topics from female empowerment and advertising to Generation Z, to trust, data and artificial intelligence.

Sessions included “Decoding What Drives Gen Z and Alpha,” “The Power of True Stories in Creating Advertising Ideas,” “Women in Tech: Pioneering an Inclusive and Authentic Digital Frontier,” and “Transforming Perceptions of Branded Content in Saudi Arabia.”

In addition to panel discussions and keynote speeches, the conference featured various areas such as the Billboard Zone, which served as an exhibition place for businesses, and the Growth Zone, where those attending could interact with businesses to learn digital advertising skills.

The conference formed part of Saudi Arabia’s Ignite program that was launched in 2022 to foster digital content creation and production, new investments and support for next-generation connectivity and communications infrastructure.

Haytham Al-Ohali, vice minister at the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, said that the Ignite digital content program grew 70 percent year-on-year to SR20 billion in 2023.


Al Jazeera condemns killing of journalist in Israeli strike on Gaza

The Al Jazeera Media Network logo is seen on its headquarters building in Doha, Qatar June 8, 2017. (REUTERS)
The Al Jazeera Media Network logo is seen on its headquarters building in Doha, Qatar June 8, 2017. (REUTERS)
Updated 16 December 2024
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Al Jazeera condemns killing of journalist in Israeli strike on Gaza

The Al Jazeera Media Network logo is seen on its headquarters building in Doha, Qatar June 8, 2017. (REUTERS)
  • “Al Jazeera unequivocally condemns the ongoing crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces against journalists and media professionals in Gaza,” the channel said

DOHA, Qatar: Qatar-based Al Jazeera condemned the Sunday killing of one of its journalists in an Israeli strike on Gaza, calling the death a “targeted killing” in a statement.
He is the fifth Al Jazeera journalist to be killed since the war in Gaza began more than 14 months ago.
“Al Jazeera Media Network condemns in the strongest terms the killing of its cameraman,

Ahmad Baker Al-Louh. (Photo/Facebook)

, 39, by the Israeli occupation forces,” the channel said.
“He was brutally killed in an air strike that targeted a Civil Defense post in the market area of Al-Nuseirat Camp, central Gaza Strip,” it added.
The Israeli military confirmed in a statement it had killed Louh, saying he was a member of Islamic Jihad and “previously served as a platoon commander” for the militant group.
Israel’s military has repeatedly accused journalists from the Al Jazeera of links to Hamas or its ally Islamic Jihad. Al Jazeera has fiercely denied these accusations and said Israel systematically targets its employees in the Gaza Strip.
The military said it struck a “command and control center embedded in the offices of the civil defense organization in Nuseirat,” targeting “Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists.” It said the center was used to target Israeli troops.
Gaza’s civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal confirmed Louh had been killed in the strike on the Nuseirat camp that also claimed the lives of three members of Bassal’s rescue agency.
Bassal told AFP a warplane had “targeted the Civil Defense site in Nuseirat camp.”
In a statement, the Palestinian militant group Hamas called Louh’s killing an “assassination” and a “war crime,” describing it as “part of a systematic targeting of journalists in Gaza, aimed at intimidating them and deterring them.”

Al Jazeera said Louh’s killing came “just days after the targeting of his house” by Israeli forces who “utterly destroyed” it.
“Al Jazeera unequivocally condemns the ongoing crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces against journalists and media professionals in Gaza,” the channel said.
The network added it would “pursue all legal measures to prosecute the perpetrators” of these crimes.
Since the start of the war in the Palestinian territory on October 7 last year, Al Jazeera has aired continuous on-the-ground reporting on the effects of Israel’s campaign.
The global channel, since before the war, has been the focus of long-running feud with the Israeli government which has repeatedly accused journalists from Al Jazeera of links to Hamas or its ally Islamic Jihad.
In September, Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s office in the West Bank, with Israel’s military saying the Ramallah bureau had been “used to incite terror” and “support terrorist activities.”
Al Jazeera called the Israeli raid “a criminal act” and an attack on press freedom.
In April, the Israeli parliament passed a law allowing the banning of foreign media broadcasts deemed harmful to state security.
Based on this law, Israel’s government on May 5 approved the decision to ban Al Jazeera from broadcasting from Israel and close its offices.
In September, armed and masked Israeli forced raided Al Jazeera’s West bank office and issued an initial closure order.
Israel’s military said the Ramallah office was “used to incite terror” and “support terrorist activities,” and Al Jazeera’s broadcasts endangered Israel’s security.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists earlier on Sunday said the Israel-Hamas war “has taken an unprecedented toll on Gazan journalists.”
The watchdog said CPJ’s preliminary investigations showed at least 137 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and Lebanon since October 7, 2023.

 

 


US court rejects Tiktok request to temporarily halt pending US ban

US court rejects Tiktok request to temporarily halt pending US ban
Updated 14 December 2024
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US court rejects Tiktok request to temporarily halt pending US ban

US court rejects Tiktok request to temporarily halt pending US ban
  • TikTok and ByteDance on Monday filed the emergency motion with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, asking for more time to make its case to the US Supreme Court

WASHINGTON: A US appeals court on Friday rejected an emergency bid by TikTok to temporarily block a law that would require its Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest the short-video app by Jan. 19 or face a ban.
TikTok and ByteDance on Monday filed the emergency motion with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, asking for more time to make its case to the US Supreme Court.
The companies warned that without court action the law will “shut down TikTok — one of the nation’s most popular speech platforms — for its more than 170 million domestic monthly users.”


Dubai Lynx announces 2025 jury president lineup

Dubai Lynx announces 2025 jury president lineup
Updated 13 December 2024
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Dubai Lynx announces 2025 jury president lineup

Dubai Lynx announces 2025 jury president lineup
  • Festival to evolve beyond annual event, host year-round sessions
  • Award categories updated to better reflect ‘current state of play’Award categories updated to better reflect ‘current state of play’

DUBAI: Dubai Lynx, a prominent creative festival and awards program organized by Cannes Lions, has announced the jury presidents for the 2025 awards.

They will gather in Dubai early next year, along with the jury panelists, to judge the entries. The deadline for entries is Jan. 23 and winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on April 9.

Jury presidents “play a pivotal role” in upholding the festival’s values of creativity and innovation “bringing their unparalleled expertise and unique perspectives to the judging process,” said Dubai Lynx chairman Philip Thomas.

They come from creative and advertising agencies in different markets including the UK, US, India, Australia and Germany.

The jury presidents for the 2025 edition include Chris Beresford-Hill, global chief creative officer of BBDO; Ryan McManus, chief creative officer of VML UK; Chioma Aduba, president of Droga5 New York; Mayuri Nikumbh, head of design at Conran Design Mumbai, India; Mihnea Gheorghiu, global chief creative officer of LePub; and Neo Mashigo, chief creative officer of The Up&Up Group, South Africa.

The others are Matt Murphy, global chief creative officer of 72andSunny; Aisha Blackwell, head of production services, Serviceplan MAKE Germany; Roberta Raduan, managing director, Klick Health, Latin America; Fiona Johnston, CEO of media, client and commercial at dentsu Australia; and Vanessa Ho Nikolovski, chief client and growth officer for Asia Pacific at Weber Shandwick.

The festival recently announced changes to its structure “designed to support the evolution of the industry across the Middle East and North Africa,” said Kamille Marchant, director of Dubai Lynx.

One change is the introduction of a mandatory requirement to provide cultural context when submitting an entry.

“This is something that we’ve seen play an increasingly important role in the jury rooms,” Marchant told Arab News.

“The question is designed to help the jury understand the cultural nuances, but also how the brand connects with this particular cultural insight and why it’s relevant at that particular moment in time,” she explained.

Additionally, instead of hosting one event a year, the festival will feature a year-round program offering “more intimate, focused, and high-impact experiences that cater to our community’s needs year-round,” Marchant said.

Based on roundtable discussions at Dubai Lynx 2024, the festival team has identified key areas that will inform the topics of upcoming meetups, C-suite roundtables, brand breakfasts and talent and training programs hosted by the festival.

“Our audience is looking for more than just a standalone event; they want opportunities to engage, learn, and celebrate throughout the year,” Marchant said.

The 2025 Dubai Lynx awards will also see changes to some categories such as the evolution of the Digital Lynx category to the Digital Craft Lynx.

This change is meant to celebrate “technological artistry” and reflects “the rapid shifts in the digital landscape, where groundbreaking ideas are infused with high-level craft to create impactful and immersive experiences across a growing range of digital platforms,” Marchant explained.

Other changes include an update to the Audio & Radio category to reflect the expansion of audio work beyond radio.

There will also be tweaks to the PR Lynx category to accurately reflect the current PR industry “not only in amplifying brand and campaign messages, but also in managing perceptions and connecting brands with culture,” she added.

Dubai Lynx has also introduced a Use of Humor sub-category in the Culture & Context category in response to feedback from the industry “who wanted us to create space for work that uses humor to engage audiences to be championed,” Marchant said.

“Over the past couple of years there has been a shift in (the) tone of the work that has been winning — with a lot more irreverence and playfulness — so the timing felt right to create a category where this kind of work can compete,” she added.

Lastly, new sub-categories have been added to the Social & Influencer category to “recognize the increasingly significant role creators play in shaping and amplifying brand messages,” Marchant said.

The changes to the awards are a result of industry collaboration. Dubai Lynx has an awards research and development team that speaks to experts across industries and countries to gather their input on “the current state of play while also previewing the future direction of the industry,” she added.

 


StarzPlay partners with Falcon Films to bring over 50 exclusive titles to the platform

StarzPlay partners with Falcon Films to bring over 50 exclusive titles to the platform
Updated 12 December 2024
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StarzPlay partners with Falcon Films to bring over 50 exclusive titles to the platform

StarzPlay partners with Falcon Films to bring over 50 exclusive titles to the platform
  • New content will be added in 2025
  • Lineup includes ‘Weekend in Taipei,’ ‘The Surfer,’ ‘Oh, Canada’ 

DUBAI: Streaming company StarzPlay has partnered with independent movie distributor and producer Falcon Films to bring the latter’s library of films to the platform.

The partnership will see StarzPlay add more than 50 exclusive titles from Falcon Films’ roster throughout 2025. The titles will be available in all 22 Middle East markets in which StarzPlay is available.

StarzPlay CEO Maaz Sheikh said: “With this strategic partnership, Falcon Films’ movies — including blockbuster hits and upcoming releases — will join our library, reinforcing StarzPlay’s status as the go-to platform for premium content in the region.

“With over 3 million subscribers across 22 countries, and through collaborations like this, we are expanding our portfolio of exclusive offerings, while simultaneously strengthening the local entertainment system to meet the evolving demands of our audience.”

The lineup includes films like “Weekend in Taipei,” “The Surfer,” “Oh, Canada,” starring Richard Gere, and “Monster Summer,” with Mel Gibson.


Media watchdogs call on new Syrian authorities to safeguard journalists

Media watchdogs call on new Syrian authorities to safeguard journalists
Updated 12 December 2024
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Media watchdogs call on new Syrian authorities to safeguard journalists

Media watchdogs call on new Syrian authorities to safeguard journalists
  • Syria ranks 179 out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index
  • Demands for perpetrators to face justice over deaths, detention of media workers

DUBAI: Media watchdogs have called on Syria’s new leaders to ensure the safety of all journalists in the country, and bring to justice those responsible for killing, imprisoning, and harassing media workers during Bashar Assad’s regime.

“While we wait for the missing to return and the imprisoned to be released, we call on the new authorities to hold the perpetrators to account for the crimes of killing, abducting, or jailing reporters,” said Carlos Martinez de la Serna, program director of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

CPJ is also urging the new government to allow journalists and media workers access to information and locations without the fear or risk of being detained or questioned.

Syria is among the most dangerous countries for journalists ranking in 179th place out of 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders.

Since 2011, more than 181 journalists have been killed — 161 by regime forces and 17 by Russian airstrikes — in addition to multiple others tortured and imprisoned by the Syrian regime and its supporters, according to RSF data.

Jonathan Dagher, head of RSF’s Middle East desk, said: “We demand that Bashar Assad be prosecuted for his crimes. Justice, long overdue, must finally be served for all victims of his abuses.”

He added that RSF is also aware of crimes against journalists committed by the Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham, which has taken control in Syria, and called on the Islamist group to “hold their responsible members accountable, and to release all journalists still detained in the country, including those they have taken hostage.”

Dagher added: “Syria’s future leaders, whoever they may be, must ensure the safety of journalists and allow a free press to flourish.”

CPJ’s Global Impunity Index, which calculates the percentage of unsolved journalist murders in each country relative to its population, has seen Syria make the list for the last 11 years, including as the top offender in 2023.

Since the Assad regime’s collapse, HTS has been releasing prisoners, with RSF confirming the release of two journalists: Syria Media Monitor’s Hanin Gebran, who was detained in June 2024, and blogger Tal Al-Mallouhi, who was detained in 2009.