Today's Edition
By Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali
The writer is the CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory
In an era of advanced technology, media plays a central role in shaping nations and guiding their path toward the future. When practised with professionalism and responsibility, the media becomes a driver of knowledge, focusing on the critical issues facing societies. It identifies challenges, highlights future opportunities, sheds light on innovations, new ideas, scientific discoveries and successful global experiences, and inspires a culture of creativity and innovation.
In this context, TRENDS Research & Advisory participated as a strategic partner in the 21st Arab Media Forum held last week in Beirut, under the patronage and in the presence of the President of the Republic of Lebanon, and with the participation of numerous Arab media ministers and leaders.
The forum served as a platform for high-level dialogue on the state of Arab media, its development, and the challenges it faces in an era shaped significantly by artificial intelligence.
TRENDS’ strategic role at the forum builds on its vision of bridging academic research and media practice, as Arab media today holds a real opportunity to reinforce its developmental role by adopting a knowledge-based discourse grounded in verified information and rigorous scientific analysis.
To underscore the role of knowledge and research in empowering Arab media as a key partner in achieving sustainable development, TRENDS co-organised the forum’s first main session titled “Arab Media at the Heart of Sustainable Development.”
The session brought together leading Arab media ministers and officials who emphasised a simple truth: development cannot be achieved without media that supports reform, bridges gaps, and contributes to shaping a shared Arab vision that empowers free thought as a force advancing the future. TRENDS also had the honour of meeting the President of Lebanon, highlighting the important role of research and media institutions in supporting sustainable development across the Arab region.
Media and development have always been partners in service to nations. Progress cannot be achieved without professional and responsible media that strengthens stability, enhances a country’s standing, and fosters a culture of values, creativity and innovation. Media influences public awareness, encourages civic engagement, and connects state policies with public aspirations to achieve the goals of sustainable development.
Media is no longer just a transmitter of news; it has become an active partner in development. It raises awareness, monitors public performance, and promotes constructive participation. With the right legislative environment, the media can balance freedom of expression with social responsibility while keeping pace with digital and AI advancements. Professional media remains a pillar of societies and states, and the rapid evolution of the media landscape requires continuous legal adaptation to match technological change.
In an age where misinformation spreads rapidly, particularly across modern digital platforms, the media carries a greater responsibility to expose falsehoods, safeguard its independence, and prevent automated systems from dominating public narratives. Misinformation threatens social cohesion and national development. Media must instil hope amid crises, emphasise stability as a precondition for development, and keep development at the top of its agenda.
The time has come to modernise media charters to prioritise accuracy, reject hate speech, balance the public’s right to know with the public interest, reinforce the media’s role in sustainable development, and highlight the risks posed by unprofessional media in fueling societal instability. This also includes ensuring a balance between freedom of expression and digital sovereignty.
As a strategic partner in the 21st Arab Media Forum in Beirut, TRENDS fulfilled its mission to support sustainable development pathways in the region through pioneering research, knowledge creation, and policy engagement, particularly in the fields of media and strategic communication.
