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ASBU Strengthens Media Cooperation at the 21st Asia Media Summit in the Maldives
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ASBU Strengthens Media Cooperation at the 21st Asia Media Summit in the Maldives

At the invitation of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) participated in the 21st Asia Media Summit and its accompanying events, held in the Maldives from 11 to 14 May 2026. ASBU was represented by Ms. Faten Fradi, Head of the Arab and International Cooperation Unit.

A series of preparatory workshops were organized ahead of the Summit, covering a range of topics including the use of artificial intelligence tools in news production and visual storytelling, media's role in strengthening resilience to climate change and disasters, new and emerging technologies in the age of AI, building trust in digital media, and social media strategies for increasing audience engagement.

These workshops also provided an opportunity to showcase ASBU's efforts to develop a common Arab strategy for engaging with global digital platforms (GAFA). They also underscored the vital role of public service media in preserving the culture and identity of each country, as part of discussions on the growing disengagement of Generation Z from traditional media in favor of social media platforms.
 

Held under the theme "From Tradition to Technology", the Summit sessions addressed a wide range of issues related to reshaping the digital content ecosystem in response to the rapid pace of technological change, particularly developments in artificial intelligence. Discussions also examined the role of media in strengthening resilience to climate change across Asia.

The Summit also featured the presentation of the AIBD International Awards, to which ASBU contributes as one of the participating organizations.

On the sidelines of the Summit, ASBU's representative held meetings with officials from the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) and the Public Service Media (PSM) of the Maldives. Representatives of both organizations expressed their interest in establishing cooperation with ASBU, with the aim of formalizing this cooperation through accession to the Union as Associate Members.