The Ministry of Media in Saudi Arabia and Google have recently announced a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing the digital transformation of the country’s media sector. The joint effort was disclosed during the 3rd Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh, coinciding with Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosary’s claimed that 2024 is designated as the year of media transformation in Saudi Arabia.
The primary objectives of this collaboration encompass the launch of specialized programs designed to enhance the skills of local media professionals, journalists, and content creators. Additionally, the partnership seeks to play a pivotal role in supporting the digital evolution within the media sector, with a focus on fostering digital knowledge and strengthening media economies to align with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The collaborative initiative aspires to share globally recognized best practices related to the media sector, particularly emphasizing the utilization of artificial intelligence tools, especially within newsrooms. To achieve this, local media organizations will undergo training provided by Google, focusing on digital skills and news-related competencies.
Furthermore, the partnership extends to encompass training programs for executive editors and other media professionals, with a specific emphasis on supporting talented young Saudi journalists and media professionals. The aim is to enhance their innovative and digital skills, ultimately contributing to increased productivity and efficiency.
To instill a sense of personal responsibility among users of media content of all ages, the collaboration includes an expansion of Google’s digital literacy program, “Internet Heroes.” This program will educate children aged 7 to 12 on various methods to stay safe while navigating the online space, involving parents and teachers in the process. The expanded initiative is expected to reach 50,000 students under the age of 13, fostering a safer online experience for children in the Kingdom.
Additionally, YouTube will contribute to the collaborative efforts by offering training courses on video creation strategy, specifically targeting content and news creators to further support Saudi content creators. Moreover, Google, in collaboration with Upskill Digital, will provide training to leading media professionals on essential aspects such as increasing advertising revenues, analyzing audience segments, and improving website rankings on ‘Google Search.’ This multifaceted collaboration reflects a comprehensive approach to elevate and modernize the media sector in Saudi Arabia through training, technological advancements, and an emphasis on digital literacy and safety.
