Dubai Media Academy, the training division of Dubai Media Incorporated, has launched a new roadshow focused on generative AI tools, in partnership with the Google News Initiative. This initiative aims to equip media professionals in the UAE with the skills necessary to succeed in the evolving digital media landscape.
The training program is designed to enhance the practical application of AI in journalism, providing technology-driven knowledge and reinforcing the shared objective of Dubai Media Academy and Google to foster media innovation and future-readiness in the region.
This workshop supports Dubai Media’s commitment to the “Dubai Annual Plan to Accelerate AI Adoption,” which seeks to integrate AI across various sectors, positioning Dubai as a leading AI-powered city with advanced AI deployment and rapid adoption of next-generation technologies.
The workshop, held at Dubai Media Academy’s headquarters, saw significant participation from Dubai Media employees, media professionals, and representatives from media and government communication departments. Led by Marwa Khost, Communications and Public Affairs Manager at Google MENA, and Pamela Kesrouani, Teaching Fellow at Google News Initiative, MENA, the three-hour session covered generative AI fundamentals, prompt engineering, and advanced applications of tools like Gemini and NotebookLM. Demonstrations included document summarization, multi-source content analysis, and multimedia generation to enhance media production speed, creativity, and efficiency.
“This partnership with Google is a crucial step in our mission to empower media professionals with the latest smart technologies. This workshop series is a strategic collaboration with a global tech leader, designed to prepare a new generation of journalists for leadership in the digital media landscape,” stated Muna Bu Samra, Director of Dubai Media Academy.
“At Dubai Media Academy, we are dedicated to providing an interactive learning experience that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application, enabling journalists to use AI tools professionally and ethically to improve media quality and its social impact,” she added.
Mazen Sabbagh, News and Publishing Partnerships Lead for Google MENA, commented: “We are delighted to collaborate again with Dubai Media Incorporated to share the latest AI-powered technologies and features with journalists and media professionals in the UAE, particularly those relevant to creating Arabic content. This collaboration will provide a series of trainings focused on key technical skills, enabling journalists to streamline workflows and improve audience engagement.”
These workshops are part of the broader ‘AI in Arab Media’ initiative, launched by the Academy during Dubai AI Week in April. This initiative is dedicated to building a comprehensive ecosystem of AI tools tailored for Arabic media, promoting the Arabic language in its various dialects, and respecting the region’s cultural and societal context.
In the coming weeks, Dubai Media Academy and Google will continue to host training sessions, exploring various AI use cases in journalism, content development, and editorial practices, aiming to reach a wider audience of reporters, editors, and digital media professionals.
Dubai Media Academy serves as a hub for training, research, and thought leadership, focusing on anticipating the future of Arab media. Through high-quality programs based on global practices and emerging technologies, the Academy is committed to developing national media talent according to the highest professional and ethical standards.
