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The importance of having digital and media literacy was the topic of conversation at a seminar organized by the UAE National Media Council on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Sharjah International Book Fair.
The seminar’s panel included Dr. Mohammad Ayish, professor and head of the department of mass communication at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), Abeer Al-Najjar, associate professor at AUS and Jassem Al Sheheimi, producer and presenter of ‘Selfie’ a TV program on Dubai TV, and moderated by Mohammad Al Mannaei, Emirati news presenter.
Speaking about the importance of Media illiteracy, Dr. Ayish said that it exists. “Individuals need to develop their critical thinking skills, to be able to deconstruct media messages and to read the messages well. I don’t feel that media literacy is a luxury. Media channels have changed the way we deal with media,” he said.
When it comes to working in the media, Dr. Ayish emphasized the importance of developing multiple skills, saying that the days of mastering only one media skill is gone. “If you work in the media, you need to be able to present your material, film it and even edit it,” he said.
Dr. Al-Najjar also agreed saying that the future will offer great opportunities for talented individuals and media makers. “Most of the big media outlets like CNN and the New York Times have dedicated big budgets for the production of digital media. If your idea is of public interest, nothing will stop you for making it happen,” she said.
The first step towards media education is to understand that there’s a problem that needs to be solved, stressed Dr. Al Najjar. “There needs to be policies that encourage media education and its insertion in school curriculums. It’s important to discuss the effect of mass media messages, product marketing, social media, the effects and consequences,” she said.
Al Sheheimi spoke about his program ‘Selfie’ which was considered revolutionary in the media field in the UAE. The program depends on using smart media and on capturing quick interviews on the street and brining the public’s voice to the screen. “When I started the program it was because I wanted to create a format that is fast, doesn’t require long procedures, is close to people and at the same time doesn’t cost much,” he said.
However, he said that initially, there were many people who were against the new idea and who were resistant. “But all the technical arguments were not valid. With a high definition camera the image was technically very good,” he said.
The seminar ended with a lively discussion between the attendees and the panelists. Information on the fair’s cultural program can be found on the website www.sharjahbookfair.com
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