Saudi Media And Google Forge Strategic Partnership For Digital Evolution

The Ministry of Media and Google LLC have embarked on a strategic partnership aimed at fostering the digital transformation of the media sector within Saudi Arabia. This significant development was unveiled in Riyadh at the third annual Saudi Media Forum, aligning with Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari's announcement that 2024 will mark a pivotal year for media transformation in the Kingdom.

This collaboration is set to introduce specialized programs designed to bolster the skills of local media professionals, journalists, and content creators. Additionally, it will focus on implementing digital safety programs for children and educators. By leveraging Google's proficiency in digital media and emerging technologies, this partnership aspires to support the Kingdom's media sector's digital overhaul, thereby aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The alliance between the Ministry and Google aims to contribute towards achieving innovative and sustainable development goals within the media system and its value chain, especially concerning news media. It plans to enhance the capabilities of local media organizations by providing Google-led training for executive leaders, managers, journalists, and newsroom staff on digital skills pertinent to news institutions.

Moreover, the collaboration seeks to improve legislative and regulatory knowledge by sharing global best practices in the media sector and working together on regulations and policies. It also aims to advance the media sector's value chain through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, particularly in newsrooms and news institutions.

Training and development programs for executive managers and skilled individuals are also part of this initiative. It includes support for talented young Saudi journalists and media professionals to enhance their innovative and digital skills, thereby increasing productivity and efficiency. Google’s YouTube will offer training and guidance on video content-creation strategies for creators and news producers.

This partnership is also dedicated to promoting awareness and personal responsibility among all age groups of media content users in the Kingdom. It aims to educate children on developing and maintaining online safety through expanding Google’s "Be Internet Awesome" digital literacy program, which is expected to reach 50,000 students under the age of 13 across the Kingdom.

Last year, Google trained approximately 300 Saudi journalists on utilizing Google products and tools beneficial for journalism, such as Google Trends, data visualization tools, and fact-checking tools. In collaboration with Upskill Digital, Google also trained leading media professionals on increasing advertising revenues, analyzing audience segments, and enhancing website rankings on Google Search.

YouTube continues its efforts in working with thousands of Saudi content creators to assist them in growing their channels and improving their content quality. This strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Media and Google LLC represents a significant step towards enriching the digital landscape of the media sector in Saudi Arabia.