MBRSC it! I am always positively surprised by the quality of its output. The MBRSC Post is a unique experience and combines traditional print journalism with multimedia aspects such as video. How does MBRSC ensure it keeps pace with the rapidly changing media landscape? Our students are expected to lead change in the industry. We have constructed a curriculum that enables them to comprehend what is undoubtedly the fastest moving industry in the world. We teach journalism, but not anchored to a specific medium; we train them to write for newspapers, for video and audio, slideshows and more. Understanding technology and its impact is crucial and our students must not merely observe but participate in it. To this end, everyone is obliged to maintain a blog and Twitter and Facebook accounts. How would you describe the current state of Arabic media? Much of the Arabic media is still heavily driven by television and it is perhaps seven to eight years behind the rest of world. This is not due to inability to make new media work but connectivity to the internet. It is a developmental issue in the Arab world that we will be able to mitigate as 4G is gradually introduced; however, we cannot just sit on the sidelines and wait for things to change – we have to expose ourselves to what is going on in the rest of the world.
If TV is currently dominant, how will it adapt to increasingly powerful internet resources? There is a huge link between TV and the internet. Eventually, TV will be something you watch on your computer screen. At the moment TV is complemented by the internet; we are witnessing cross-dependence between social media and television. Programs like Arabs Got Talent provide ammunition for social activity. When an episode airs you will find a lot of social activity in real time. Bearing in mind that MBRSC Post is delivered electronically, what is your opinion of print media? Print media is definitely going to come to an end. Journalism will have to be dependent on electronic formats. The majority of 25-year-olds today have never picked up a newspaper. In five years’ time these people will have joined mainstream society, bringing with them their habits – no one willing to pay for yesterday’s news any more.
We have the highest growth rate among university units, and visiting experts and ministers have all expressed admiration for what we are doing here.”
Can you give us some insight into the Master’s program that is being developed? We aim to train executives already working in the Arab world’s media industry in two basic concepts: innovation and leadership. We want to teach those who have learned old media techniques the new way forward so they can appreciate the ideas coming from grassroots companies. Leadership is also key – they need to understand and nurture those coming through instead of stifle them. What else does the future hold for MBRSC? The future is very bright indeed. We have the highest growth rate among university units, and visiting experts and ministers have all expressed admiration for what we are doing here. We are on an exciting journey and this is just the beginning.
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