Riyadh: The fourth edition of the Saudi Media Forum, launching on February 19 alongside the Future of Media Exhibition, will build on previous successes by merging creativity and technology to foster media partnerships for sustainable development, while also featuring the Saudi Media Forum Award to enhance content, encourage competition, and recognize outstanding achievements.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the Saudi Media Forum, which inaugurated its first edition in 2019, is an annual media and cultural event eagerly anticipated by media professionals and enthusiasts from within the Kingdom and abroad. Over the past years, the forum has attracted more than 4,500 Saudi and international media professionals, providing a platform for exchanging ideas and perspectives that contribute to the development of the media sector. Its strategies are built on data, indicators, passion, and action, serving as a roadmap for the future of media in Saudi Arabia and the world.

The first edition of the forum was held on December 2, 2019, under the theme “Media Industry: Opportunities and Challenges,” featuring the participation of executives, officials, and heads of local, regional, and international media institutions. It hosted more than 50 academic sessions, meetings, and workshops, attended by over 1,000 media professionals.

The second edition, held on February 20, 2023, carried the theme “Media in a World Taking Shape” and featured 60 sessions and workshops. More than 100 research papers were presented, covering topics related to media content development and the media industry. The event gathered local and international experts, specialists, and over 1,500 academics and media professionals, along with ministers and officials from around the world, to exchange insights on various aspects of the media sector, including its present and future. With discussions spanning these topics, the event attracted more than 10,000 visitors.

The third edition of the Saudi Media Forum took place on February 20-21, 2024, under the same theme, “Media in a World Taking Shape,” attracting around 2,000 media professionals from Saudi Arabia and abroad. This edition featured 60 specialized media sessions and workshops, delivered by some 150 speakers, including ministers, officials, experts, and specialists from around the world. Discussions covered the latest developments in media across all formats: visual, audio, print, and digital.

In the coming days, the fourth edition of the forum is expected to continue the momentum and success of previous editions, having evolved into an unprecedented, exceptional event that media professionals are enthusiastically awaiting.