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- Media Fireside 8 December 2:40 - 2:55PM
Independent Media's Biggest Powerplayers
Real-time reporting and live, personality-driven broadcasts on platforms like X have transformed journalism and elevated independent voices into powerful forces of culture. This session explores how authenticity, speed, and direct-to-audience communications have shifted influence away from traditional institutions, reshaping credibility, trust, and the architecture of modern media.
Forum StageSpeakers
Moderator
- Creator Economy Workshop 8 December 2:30 - 3:15PM
Snapschool ( How to utilize Snapchat as a creator )
An educational workshop to teach you the best practices of using snapchat as a content creator, unlock monetization and expand your reach!
Workshop Room 1 - Media Panel 9 December 3:15 - 3:40PM
Mobilising Capital for a Future Media Ecosystem
As the world’s information systems fragment and distrust rises, media is no longer just entertainment – it is strategic future infrastructure. Capital is shifting to hubs that combine innovation, regulatory clarity, talent mobility, and global cultural exchange. Dubai, Singapore, and Latin America are no longer “emerging” – they are designing the systems that will govern the future of content, trust, and participation. This panel examines how forward-looking governments and investors can partner to unlock next-gen media ecosystems powered by AI, immersive storytelling, and cross-border creative talent – ensuring media remains competitive, inclusive, and resilient.
Forum StageSpeakers
- Media Panel 9 December 3:55 - 4:25PM
Longform’s Next Act
In a media environment dominated by sensationalism and short-form content, longform journalism has struggled to keep its grip. According to the 2025 Reuters Institute Digital News Report, 62 percent of online news consumers now prefer bite-sized updates. Yet platforms like YouTube and Substack show renewed demand for depth, with Substack alone reporting a fivefold rise in paid subscriptions since 2020. The question is no longer whether audiences have the attention for longform, but whether the industry is delivering it in ways that resonate. Publishers and creators are now reimagining longform for a global, digital-first audience, using new distribution models and partnerships to balance reach with resonance, and to define the next era of credible, enduring media.
Forum StageSpeakers
- Media Panel 8 December 2:25 - 2:45PM
How the Gulf and Africa Are Rewriting the Media Map
Africa and the Gulf are fast becoming two of the world’s most influential media hubs, building newsrooms, creator ecosystems, and digital platforms that reach hundreds of millions and increasingly shape global narratives. This session explores how broadcasters and digital-first operators across both regions scale coverage, expand cross-border bureaus, build culturally resonant formats, and grow loyal audiences in markets often misunderstood by global capital. We examine where international partners fit, how geopolitical context shapes storytelling, and how these rising hubs are redefining the media operating system of the Global South.
Impact StageSpeakers
- Media Fireside 9 December 2:30 - 2:45PM
The World’s Creative Future Platformed by TikTok
TikTok is reshaping our world's creative landscape, platforming millions of people and giving them the ability to spark trends, build communities, and convert storytelling into opportunity. As creators drive culture, commerce, and influence across borders through TikTok, the platform's unique blend of discovery, creativity, and accessibility enables new voices to rise and industries to form. This session explores how the platform is powering a worldwide creative renaissance, and what it means for the future of culture, creators, and the businesses that grow alongside them.
Forum StageModerator
