Tuesday 29/11
Welcome
Torge Matthiesen, Head of Cooperation, German Embassy Beirut
Roula Mikhael, Executive Director, Maharat Foundation, Lebanon
Jens Uwe Rahe, Deputy Head, Middle East/North Africa, DW Akademie, Germany
10:00-11:00
Film screening – Digital Media Viability by Khalid El Kaoutit and Florian Mettke, DW Akademie
Session: Digital media viability – the Middle East meets the rest of the world
Moderator: Dima Tarhini, Senior Anchor and Editor, DW Arabic, Germany
Panelists:
Bassam Tueni, Founder, Annahar net and CEO, Power Me Mobile, Lebanon
Fabiola Torres López, Co-Founder and Editor, Ojo Público, Peru
Maria Fronoschuk, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder, Platfor.ma, Ukraine
Churchill Otieno, Managing Editor (Digital), Nation Media Group, Kenya
Markus Beckedahl, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, netzpolitik.org and Founder, re:publica, Germany
Description: In this opening session, we get a taste for the challenges surrounding digital media viability in different parts of the world. How are publishers to fund quality journalism on the web? Are people facing the same issues around the world? What exactly are differences in different regions? Where are areas for fruitful exchange during this conference?
11:00-11:30 Break
11:30-12:00
Session: Lightening round – my media organisation’s finances
Moderator: Khaeri Aboushagor, DW Akademie
Speakers:
Walid Mejri, Co Founder, Inkyfada, Tunisia
Mari Nikuradze, Co-Founder, Chai Khana, Georgia
Doa Sultan, Zaed 18, Egypt
Mike Daka, Founder and Director, Breeze FM, Zambia
Alejandra Gutierrez, Editor in Chief, Plaza Pública, Guatemala
Olena Trybushna, Deputy Editor, Novoe Vremya, Ukraine
Description: Each speaker has 4 minutes to give an outline of his or her media organisation’s budget and describe how it has been funded in the past, how it is funded now and how it will be funded in the future.
12:00-13:00
Session: Online journalism trends – the data
Moderator: Dr. Georges Sadaka, Dean of Media Faculty at the Lebanese University, Lebanon
Speakers:
Prof Robert Picard, Senior Research Fellow, Reuters Institute, United Kingdom
Prof Klaus Schoenbach, Associate Dean for Research, Northwestern University in Qatar, Qatar
Description: Two renowned research institutes present some of their work surrounding trends in online journalism. The presentations will focus on the way people consume journalism around the world and what this means when formulating business models.
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:30-15:30 Workshop 1/2
Session: Becoming more attractive to advertisers
Moderator: Khaeri Aboushagor, DW Akademie
Speaker:
Patrice Schneider, Chief Strategy Officer, Media Development Investment Fund, United States of America
Elie Smar, digital and marketing strategic expert, Lebanon
Description: The amount spent on online advertising is increasing but the market is becoming more competitive and sophisticated. So how do advertisers decide where to put their money? What should you know about your own audience? What are some practical things even the smallest media organizations can do to make sure they are attractive to potential advertisers?
14:30-15:30 Workshop 2/2
Session: Adblocking – the current situation
Moderator: Emilie Sueur, editor in chief of L’Orient-Le Jour, Lebanon
Speaker:
Matthew Cortland, Head of Communications, PageFair, Ireland
Description: Ad Blocking technology is a major threat to publishers’ income and use of this software is increasing dramatically. What is the current state of play? What are likely to be the next developments?
15:30-16:00 Break
16:00-17:00
Session: What can Google do for digital journalism?
Moderator: Martin Vogl, Project Manager, DW Akademie
Speaker:
Ahmed Safwat, Strategic Partner Manager – MENA, Google, European Headquarters, Ireland
Description: Google says it is keen to help develop the publishing business in general and in the Middle East and North Africa specifically. Many Google monetisation opportunities and initiatives exist. So what is Google offering exactly, and how can publishers take advantage of these programmes? A session looking at how Google can help publishers make the most from their business.
17:00-17:30
One on one clinics – specialists offer short interview slots to individual participants
18:00
Cocktail
Wednesday 30/11
09:30-10:15
Session: What can digital media developments in Europe and North America teach us?
Moderator: Dima Tarhini, Senior Anchor and Editor, DW Arabic, Germany
Speakers:
Christian Fahrenbach, Founding Member, Krautreporter, Germany
Peter Trzka, Digital Strategist, Germany
Description: When it comes to digital publishing, the markets in Europe and North America have developed much more quickly than the rest of the world. Two conference participants give us their view on the way things have evolved and the latest trends in these two key regions. They then take your questions so you get a better understanding of what’s happening and an idea of what developments might be coming over the next few years to smaller economies.
10:15-10:20 Mini Break
10:20-11:00
Session: Twitter: How to use Twitter well/ How to use Twitter to make money
Moderator: Dima Tarhini, Senior Anchor and Editor, DW Arabic, Germany
Speaker:
Kinda Ibrahim, Director of Media Partnerships for the MENA region, Twitter
Description: Twitter is one of the biggest names in social media. What do media companies need to know to use Twitter properly? Is video a must for Twitter users? How can media companies use Twitter to increase revenue?
11:00-11:30 Break
11:30-12:15
Session: Al Jazeera’s AJ+ a case study in digital video journalism
Moderator: Nasir Al-Jezairi, DW Akademie, Germany
Speakers:
Dima Khatib, Managing Director, AJ+, Al Jazeera
Description: The amount of video watched online has grown hugely over the last few years and many media organisations which weren’t making video previously have moved into this area. But is video production a must for journalism to succeed on the web? And what are the formats that work?
12:15-13:00 Workshop 1/2
Session: Crowd funding – How it works/ Does it work?
Moderator: Christian Fahrenbach, Founding Member, Krautreporter, Germany
Speakers:
Jaroslav Valuch, Project Leader, Press Start, Czech Republic
Crowd Funding experience, Zoomaal, Lebanon, TBC
Description: The crowdfunding model is a glimmer of hope for some for the future of funding quality journalism. But although it has succeeded in some places, it has shown its limitations too. What are the latest developments around crowdfunding? Was the excitement around this model just hype or does it have a long term future? What can a new wave of crowdfunders learn from the established names?
12:15 -13:00 Workshop 2/2
Session: Looking after your revenue – a focus on the marketing department
Moderators: Sandra van Edig, Country Manager, DW Akademie and Martin Vogl, Project Manager, DW Akademie
Speakers:
Chekib Abdallah, Trainer, DW Akademie, Germany
Maria Fronoschuk, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder, Platfor.ma, Ukraine
Description: In many media organisations in less developed economies, marketing departments are poorly organised and staff have had little formal training. Yet the marketing department can often be the key to increasing revenue as they are the main contact for potential advertisers and other partners. Is it time to pay more attention to your marketing team and the training they have?
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:00-14:30
One on one clinics – specialists offer short interview slots to individual participants
14:30-15:30
Session: How can quality content meet advertisers demands for maximum clicks?
Moderator: Layal Bahnam, Program Manager, Maharat Foundation, Lebanon
Speakers:
Pierre Abi Saab, Al Akhbar, Lebanon
Dimitri Khoder, Al Jadeed, Lebanon
Mansoor El Jamri, Al Wasat, Bahrain
Peter Trzka, Digital Strategist, Germany
Description: Most of advertising companies want to see media institution produce lighter content as lighter content usually gets more user attention.How can media institutions producing quality journalism deal with the trend towards lighter or entertainment news? How can they sell a proposition based on quality content to advertisement companies?
15:30-16:00 Break
16:00-16:30
Session: What can Facebook do for digital journalism?
Moderator: Martin Vogl, Project Manager, DW Akademie
Speakers:
Aibhinn Kelleher, Associate Policy Manager for Europe, Middle East & Africa, Facebook, Ireland
Description: The Facebook Instant Articles platform has made a big impact since its introduction mid 2015, but it also has many critics. How does Instant Articles work? And how can independent media use Instant Articles effectively? How does Facebook respond to the criticism that Instant Articles gives the company too much control? And what other things should media institutions keep in mind to make the most of Facebook?
16:30 – 17:30
Session: Post donor funding
Moderator: Patrice Schneider, Chief Strategy Officer, Media Development Investment Fund, United States of America
Speakers:
Astrid Kaiser, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
Michael Irving Jensen, Head of Department, Middle East and North Africa, International Media Support, Denmark
Georges Awad, National Programme Specialist,Communication and Information Sector, UNESCO regional office, Beirut
Loujeina Haj Yousef, Radio Rozana, Syria
Description: Some promising media initiatives in developing markets have been able to attract funding from donor organisations to get their ventures going. But how can both donors and the organisations themselves better prepare for the day this money runs out?
19:00
Conference Dinner
Thursday 1/12
9:30-11:00
Session: Getting (and keeping) the attention of a new generation
Moderator: Patricia Torres-Burd, Vice President, UBC International, United States
Speakers:
Dr. Nibal Idlebi, Chief, Innovation Section, United Nations Economic Commission for Western Asia, Lebanon
Olena Trybushna, Deputy Editor, Novoe Vremya, Ukraine
Jahou Nyan, News Editor, Joy FM, Ghana
Juan Esteban Lewin, Deputy Editor, La Silla Vacía, Colombia
Description: How can media companies make sure that they have the attention of the youngest generations? What are the interests of young people that can be met? What about innovative approaches? How do you do social media/ messaging apps properly? What about data visualization? Our moderator chats with three media institutions and experts to analyse their strategies for interacting with young people.
11:00-11:30 Break
11:30-11:50
Session: Presentation – Shatila Platform
Moderator: Nasir Al-Jezairi, DW Akademie, Germany
Description: DW Akademie has supported the local NGO Basmeh&Zeitooneh to establish an online community platform in Shatila refugee camp since January 2016. “Campji”-the new community platform is now online. A short presentation.
11:50-13:00 Workshop 1/2
Session: Idea lab: Targeting minority groups such refugees as new customers
Moderator: Sandra van Edig, Country Manager, DW Akademie
Description: A brainstorming interactive session that all conference participants are welcome to join. Can marginalised, minority groups actually create income for media organisations? Often such groups are ignored, but this audience is often hungry for information and could be a potential source of revenue.
11:50-13:00 Workshop 2/2
Session: An interactive budgeting simulation
Facilitators:
Rüdiger Maack, Project Manager, DW Akademie, Germany
Chekib Abdallah, Trainer, DW Akademie, Germany
Description: Imagine you are setting up a new online journalism site and you want to draw up the budget for the first three years. What will be your outgoings (staff payments, rent, electricity, equipment etc)? Revenues (advertising, sponsorship, events etc)? What does a simulation like this tell us about the challenges both start ups and more established players face today?
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:00-14:30
One on one clinics – specialists offer short interview slots to individual participants
14:30-15:30
Session: Media viability – the external obstacles
Moderator: Roula Mikhael, Executive Director, Maharat Foundation, Lebanon
Speakers:
Prof Robert Picard, Senior Research Fellow, Reuters Institute, United Kingdom
Khalid El Belshy, Al Bidaya, Egypt
Saman Nouh, Executive Director NIRIJ (network for investigative journalism Iraq), Iraq
Description: All through the conference we have been discussing how media organisations can improve their viability by improving the way they themselves go about their business. There are, however, bigger issues in many societies which have a huge impact on viability that media organisations can not easily change. The economic conditions in a country, the legal framework, pressures on freedom of expression and infrastructure problems are just some of these obstacles. How much of a problem are such factors in different regions? What should media organisations be doing in the face of such challenges?
15:30-16:00 Break
16:00-17:00
Session: Conference summary and conclusion
Moderator: Dima Tarhini, Senior Anchor and Editor, DW Arabic, Germany
Description: An open session – what have we learnt during this conference? What were some of the highlights? What are some things that can be put into action straight away? What are the next steps?
Tuesday 29/11
Welcome
Torge Matthiesen, Head of Cooperation, German Embassy Beirut
Roula Mikhael, Executive Director, Maharat Foundation, Lebanon
Jens Uwe Rahe, Deputy Head, Middle East/North Africa, DW Akademie, Germany
10:00-11:00
Film screening – Digital Media Viability by Khalid El Kaoutit and Florian Mettke, DW Akademie
Session: Digital media viability – the Middle East meets the rest of the world
Moderator: Dima Tarhini, Senior Anchor and Editor, DW Arabic, Germany
Panelists:
Bassam Tueni, Founder, Annahar net and CEO, Power Me Mobile, Lebanon
Fabiola Torres López, Co-Founder and Editor, Ojo Público, Peru
Maria Fronoschuk, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder, Platfor.ma, Ukraine
Churchill Otieno, Managing Editor (Digital), Nation Media Group, Kenya
Markus Beckedahl, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, netzpolitik.org and Founder, re:publica, Germany
Description: In this opening session, we get a taste for the challenges surrounding digital media viability in different parts of the world. How are publishers to fund quality journalism on the web? Are people facing the same issues around the world? What exactly are differences in different regions? Where are areas for fruitful exchange during this conference?
11:00-11:30 Break
11:30-12:00
Session: Lightening round – my media organisation’s finances
Moderator: Khaeri Aboushagor, DW Akademie
Speakers:
Walid Mejri, Co Founder, Inkyfada, Tunisia
Mari Nikuradze, Co-Founder, Chai Khana, Georgia
Doa Sultan, Zaed 18, Egypt
Mike Daka, Founder and Director, Breeze FM, Zambia
Alejandra Gutierrez, Editor in Chief, Plaza Pública, Guatemala
Olena Trybushna, Deputy Editor, Novoe Vremya, Ukraine
Description: Each speaker has 4 minutes to give an outline of his or her media organisation’s budget and describe how it has been funded in the past, how it is funded now and how it will be funded in the future.
12:00-13:00
Session: Online journalism trends – the data
Moderator: Dr. Georges Sadaka, Dean of Media Faculty at the Lebanese University, Lebanon
Speakers:
Prof Robert Picard, Senior Research Fellow, Reuters Institute, United Kingdom
Prof Klaus Schoenbach, Associate Dean for Research, Northwestern University in Qatar, Qatar
Description: Two renowned research institutes present some of their work surrounding trends in online journalism. The presentations will focus on the way people consume journalism around the world and what this means when formulating business models.
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:30-15:30 Workshop 1/2
Session: Becoming more attractive to advertisers
Moderator: Khaeri Aboushagor, DW Akademie
Speaker:
Patrice Schneider, Chief Strategy Officer, Media Development Investment Fund, United States of America
Elie Smar, digital and marketing strategic expert, Lebanon
Description: The amount spent on online advertising is increasing but the market is becoming more competitive and sophisticated. So how do advertisers decide where to put their money? What should you know about your own audience? What are some practical things even the smallest media organizations can do to make sure they are attractive to potential advertisers?
14:30-15:30 Workshop 2/2
Session: Adblocking – the current situation
Moderator: Emilie Sueur, editor in chief of L’Orient-Le Jour, Lebanon
Speaker:
Matthew Cortland, Head of Communications, PageFair, Ireland
Description: Ad Blocking technology is a major threat to publishers’ income and use of this software is increasing dramatically. What is the current state of play? What are likely to be the next developments?
15:30-16:00 Break
16:00-17:00
Session: What can Google do for digital journalism?
Moderator: Martin Vogl, Project Manager, DW Akademie
Speaker:
Ahmed Safwat, Strategic Partner Manager – MENA, Google, European Headquarters, Ireland
Description: Google says it is keen to help develop the publishing business in general and in the Middle East and North Africa specifically. Many Google monetisation opportunities and initiatives exist. So what is Google offering exactly, and how can publishers take advantage of these programmes? A session looking at how Google can help publishers make the most from their business.
17:00-17:30
One on one clinics – specialists offer short interview slots to individual participants
18:00
Cocktail
Wednesday 30/11
09:30-10:15
Session: What can digital media developments in Europe and North America teach us?
Moderator: Dima Tarhini, Senior Anchor and Editor, DW Arabic, Germany
Speakers:
Christian Fahrenbach, Founding Member, Krautreporter, Germany
Peter Trzka, Digital Strategist, Germany
Description: When it comes to digital publishing, the markets in Europe and North America have developed much more quickly than the rest of the world. Two conference participants give us their view on the way things have evolved and the latest trends in these two key regions. They then take your questions so you get a better understanding of what’s happening and an idea of what developments might be coming over the next few years to smaller economies.
10:15-10:20 Mini Break
10:20-11:00
Session: Twitter: How to use Twitter well/ How to use Twitter to make money
Moderator: Dima Tarhini, Senior Anchor and Editor, DW Arabic, Germany
Speaker:
Kinda Ibrahim, Director of Media Partnerships for the MENA region, Twitter
Description: Twitter is one of the biggest names in social media. What do media companies need to know to use Twitter properly? Is video a must for Twitter users? How can media companies use Twitter to increase revenue?
11:00-11:30 Break
11:30-12:15
Session: Al Jazeera’s AJ+ a case study in digital video journalism
Moderator: Nasir Al-Jezairi, DW Akademie, Germany
Speakers:
Dima Khatib, Managing Director, AJ+, Al Jazeera
Description: The amount of video watched online has grown hugely over the last few years and many media organisations which weren’t making video previously have moved into this area. But is video production a must for journalism to succeed on the web? And what are the formats that work?
12:15-13:00 Workshop 1/2
Session: Crowd funding – How it works/ Does it work?
Moderator: Christian Fahrenbach, Founding Member, Krautreporter, Germany
Speakers:
Jaroslav Valuch, Project Leader, Press Start, Czech Republic
Crowd Funding experience, Zoomaal, Lebanon, TBC
Description: The crowdfunding model is a glimmer of hope for some for the future of funding quality journalism. But although it has succeeded in some places, it has shown its limitations too. What are the latest developments around crowdfunding? Was the excitement around this model just hype or does it have a long term future? What can a new wave of crowdfunders learn from the established names?
12:15 -13:00 Workshop 2/2
Session: Looking after your revenue – a focus on the marketing department
Moderators: Sandra van Edig, Country Manager, DW Akademie and Martin Vogl, Project Manager, DW Akademie
Speakers:
Chekib Abdallah, Trainer, DW Akademie, Germany
Maria Fronoschuk, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder, Platfor.ma, Ukraine
Description: In many media organisations in less developed economies, marketing departments are poorly organised and staff have had little formal training. Yet the marketing department can often be the key to increasing revenue as they are the main contact for potential advertisers and other partners. Is it time to pay more attention to your marketing team and the training they have?
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:00-14:30
One on one clinics – specialists offer short interview slots to individual participants
14:30-15:30
Session: How can quality content meet advertisers demands for maximum clicks?
Moderator: Layal Bahnam, Program Manager, Maharat Foundation, Lebanon
Speakers:
Pierre Abi Saab, Al Akhbar, Lebanon
Dimitri Khoder, Al Jadeed, Lebanon
Mansoor El Jamri, Al Wasat, Bahrain
Peter Trzka, Digital Strategist, Germany
Description: Most of advertising companies want to see media institution produce lighter content as lighter content usually gets more user attention.How can media institutions producing quality journalism deal with the trend towards lighter or entertainment news? How can they sell a proposition based on quality content to advertisement companies?
15:30-16:00 Break
16:00-16:30
Session: What can Facebook do for digital journalism?
Moderator: Martin Vogl, Project Manager, DW Akademie
Speakers:
Aibhinn Kelleher, Associate Policy Manager for Europe, Middle East & Africa, Facebook, Ireland
Description: The Facebook Instant Articles platform has made a big impact since its introduction mid 2015, but it also has many critics. How does Instant Articles work? And how can independent media use Instant Articles effectively? How does Facebook respond to the criticism that Instant Articles gives the company too much control? And what other things should media institutions keep in mind to make the most of Facebook?
16:30 – 17:30
Session: Post donor funding
Moderator: Patrice Schneider, Chief Strategy Officer, Media Development Investment Fund, United States of America
Speakers:
Astrid Kaiser, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
Michael Irving Jensen, Head of Department, Middle East and North Africa, International Media Support, Denmark
Georges Awad, National Programme Specialist,Communication and Information Sector, UNESCO regional office, Beirut
Loujeina Haj Yousef, Radio Rozana, Syria
Description: Some promising media initiatives in developing markets have been able to attract funding from donor organisations to get their ventures going. But how can both donors and the organisations themselves better prepare for the day this money runs out?
19:00
Conference Dinner
Thursday 1/12
9:30-11:00
Session: Getting (and keeping) the attention of a new generation
Moderator: Patricia Torres-Burd, Vice President, UBC International, United States
Speakers:
Dr. Nibal Idlebi, Chief, Innovation Section, United Nations Economic Commission for Western Asia, Lebanon
Olena Trybushna, Deputy Editor, Novoe Vremya, Ukraine
Jahou Nyan, News Editor, Joy FM, Ghana
Juan Esteban Lewin, Deputy Editor, La Silla Vacía, Colombia
Description: How can media companies make sure that they have the attention of the youngest generations? What are the interests of young people that can be met? What about innovative approaches? How do you do social media/ messaging apps properly? What about data visualization? Our moderator chats with three media institutions and experts to analyse their strategies for interacting with young people.
11:00-11:30 Break
11:30-11:50
Session: Presentation – Shatila Platform
Moderator: Nasir Al-Jezairi, DW Akademie, Germany
Description: DW Akademie has supported the local NGO Basmeh&Zeitooneh to establish an online community platform in Shatila refugee camp since January 2016. “Campji”-the new community platform is now online. A short presentation.
11:50-13:00 Workshop 1/2
Session: Idea lab: Targeting minority groups such refugees as new customers
Moderator: Sandra van Edig, Country Manager, DW Akademie
Description: A brainstorming interactive session that all conference participants are welcome to join. Can marginalised, minority groups actually create income for media organisations? Often such groups are ignored, but this audience is often hungry for information and could be a potential source of revenue.
11:50-13:00 Workshop 2/2
Session: An interactive budgeting simulation
Facilitators:
Rüdiger Maack, Project Manager, DW Akademie, Germany
Chekib Abdallah, Trainer, DW Akademie, Germany
Description: Imagine you are setting up a new online journalism site and you want to draw up the budget for the first three years. What will be your outgoings (staff payments, rent, electricity, equipment etc)? Revenues (advertising, sponsorship, events etc)? What does a simulation like this tell us about the challenges both start ups and more established players face today?
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:00-14:30
One on one clinics – specialists offer short interview slots to individual participants
14:30-15:30
Session: Media viability – the external obstacles
Moderator: Roula Mikhael, Executive Director, Maharat Foundation, Lebanon
Speakers:
Prof Robert Picard, Senior Research Fellow, Reuters Institute, United Kingdom
Khalid El Belshy, Al Bidaya, Egypt
Saman Nouh, Executive Director NIRIJ (network for investigative journalism Iraq), Iraq
Description: All through the conference we have been discussing how media organisations can improve their viability by improving the way they themselves go about their business. There are, however, bigger issues in many societies which have a huge impact on viability that media organisations can not easily change. The economic conditions in a country, the legal framework, pressures on freedom of expression and infrastructure problems are just some of these obstacles. How much of a problem are such factors in different regions? What should media organisations be doing in the face of such challenges?
15:30-16:00 Break
16:00-17:00
Session: Conference summary and conclusion
Moderator: Dima Tarhini, Senior Anchor and Editor, DW Arabic, Germany
Description: An open session – what have we learnt during this conference? What were some of the highlights? What are some things that can be put into action straight away? What are the next steps?