Education

The Emerging Arab Whiz-Kids
By Abdulatif Al-Sayegh

It utilized to be that if you pointed out the term 'Arab world' to any type of Westerner, the first thing that would certainly pop right into their heads was oil, deserts and so forth. Yet taking a look at existing events, words 'Arab' is identified with change. But fortunately is that I see a silver lining to this dark cloud: I think after the dust has actually cleared up, the word 'Arab' will come to be totally related to young innovators or 'whiz-kids', creative and very wise in exactly how they use social networks to favorably re-shape the world. A likewise imaginative and enthusiastic young generation was behind the boom of the Silicon Valley in the US, which gave birth to today's hi-tech titans like Google. So are we witnessing our very own world-changing development?

If you do not believe me, after that you're not alone: 3 years ago I talked at the Dubai Media Forum about how digital and social media will effectively take control of typical media within a couple of years. The backlash was deafening. I was slammed by numerous paper Editors-in-Chief and TV heads. The primary bone that they had to select with me was that I had dared to state, suggest, hint and even indicate that the large traditional media would certainly not always stay the heavyweight. I can recognize why some people could be hesitant. Nevertheless, the development of TV did not automatically bring about the death of the paper industry, neither did the internet instantly become the undertaker for the TELEVISION industry. However it must be remembered that typical media was placing food on these media employers' plates, and therefore their arguments were not exactly unbiased.

Today's occasions have justified my prediction. The power of social networks is now undisputed and any type of business or government disregards it at their very own peril. Moreover, the increasing religious and political repercussions of 'New Age' media have accelerated its surge. Every media company worth its salt need to appreciate that digital media is no more simply some Science Fiction idea for the future, however today. It's not tomorrow's possibility, yet today's reality.

Media approaches must currently shift 180 levels, or else a media "objection" might erupt if there aren't adequate readers, audiences or audiences. From an advertising point of view, there is now undeniable proof that marketeers have actually spent huge quantities of money on typical media than social and digital media, yet with a lot more unfavourable outcomes.

Anybody who as soon as thought the Arab world was too conventional or strict to generate innovative skills, has actually been shown entirely wrong. In Tunisia, Egypt and Libya the young innovators surprised the world. When they were penalized difficult time limits, brutal army clampdowns and desperate internet closures, they still surprised us by leapfrogging all those obstacles with their video clips, audios, speeches, placard boards, graffiti, caricature and many more ingenious methods.

I see the existing "Arab Transformation" as a lot more compared to simply mass objections. I see it as a huge real-time "advert" to the world: showcasing that in some locations the Arab world's young imaginative brilliants prepare to lead the world if only offered the possibility.

Source: http://www.alsayeghmedia.com/blog/thread/the_emerging_arab_whiz_kids/104

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