Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossari affirmed that the pride felt by every Saudi citizen is embodied in the description of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, as a "leader of influence." He pointed out that this global influence is not limited to political boundaries, but transcends them to become a message of values, faith in humanity, and dedication to serving humankind. He explained that this leadership model reflects clarity of vision and tireless work, indicating that natural and human resources, however vast, cannot create a truly lasting impact without a leader who gives them meaning and guides their course toward achievement.
A media vision based on values and humanity
These remarks were made during his speech at the opening of the fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2026 in Riyadh, held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, under the theme "Media in a Changing World." This event comes at a time when the media sector in the Kingdom is undergoing radical transformations in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which has shifted media work from scattered individual efforts to an integrated institutional system, and from traditional regulations to flexible governance that carefully balances responsible freedom with cultural openness.
Minister Al-Dossari addressed the challenges of the current global media landscape, warning of the dominance of the "attention economy," where technological algorithms tend to reward superficial sensationalism at the expense of valuable content, and where the criterion for success becomes quantitative reach rather than qualitative impact. He emphasized that the Saudi vision for media places values as a fundamental infrastructure that governs policies and guides decisions, stressing that the goal is not merely to beautify the image, but to build a framework that regulates the relationship between rapidly advancing technology and humanity, ensuring that human beings are not reduced from a noble purpose to a mere commodity in the data market.
Digital and technological initiatives to enhance the media landscape
In a move reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to adopting the latest technologies, the Minister of Media announced the launch of 12 key initiatives, most notably the "Media Innovation Camp," which focuses on augmented journalism, smart content creation, and the virtual broadcaster, in strategic partnership with the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). The release of the AI in Media Principles document was also announced to promote the responsible use of these technologies, in addition to the "Tamkeen" and "Numu" initiatives to support startups and transform media ideas into sustainable business models.
Investing in national talent and documenting identity
Believing that true transformation begins with human capital, Al-Dossari announced the launch of the "Media Scholarship Program" in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, providing approximately 100 scholarships annually to train Saudi talent at top international universities and media institutions. Regarding the documentation of national identity, he revealed the expansion of the "Saudipedia" platform to include translations into five international languages (English, French, Chinese, Russian, and German), exceeding 70,000 articles. He also announced the release of more than 30 documentary and cinematic works as part of the "Treasures" initiative, showcasing Saudi culture to international standards.
Riyadh, a capital of global influence
The minister concluded his remarks by emphasizing that Riyadh has become the “capital of influence,” with the Kingdom hosting over 2,000 content creators from 90 countries at the “Influencers Forum,” thus reinforcing its position as a global hub for digital content creation. He noted that the high volume of events and conferences in the Kingdom ensures that each event carries a message that transcends borders, affirming that Saudi media draws upon its local roots to build bridges with the world, and welcoming all participants as partners in shaping an inspiring and influential media future.
