Kazan (UNA) – The Director of the Union of News Agencies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Mohammed Abdrabuh Al-Yami, began his speech at the session “Media of the Future in the Present: Content and Technologies” – Kazan Forum 2025, by thanking the forum organizers for inviting him to participate in this vital session, which brings together the visions of experts and decision-makers to anticipate the future of media in an era of relentless digital transformation. He emphasized that the choice of the title “Media of the Future in the Present” embodies a proactive vision that touches upon the essence of the challenges and opportunities facing our profession today.
Al-Yami explained that the partnership with Tatmedia Agency in Tatarstan represented a shining example of cooperation between UNA and the Russian Federation, particularly in the areas of developing creative content and adopting emerging technologies. He pointed to the success of this partnership in launching joint initiatives, such as interactive news platforms that combine artificial intelligence and human verification, and workshops to train journalists on digital analysis tools, which strengthened the ability to confront the repercussions of media misinformation and preserve cultural identity in a complex digital space.
Al-Yami added, "The road to the future is not without significant challenges. In light of the big data and artificial intelligence revolution, a pivotal question arises: How do we reconcile technological innovation with our deeply held media values? Here comes our role as an Islamic organization to remind the world that technology is not an end in itself, but rather a means to foster dialogue, disseminate facts, and build bridges of understanding between civilizations."
The Director General of UNA called for strengthening cooperation between the news agencies of the OIC countries through methods he summarized as follows:
- Establishing an artificial intelligence media network to exchange expertise and develop solutions appropriate to cultural and religious contexts.
- Launching an international ethical charter that governs the use of emerging technologies, protects privacy, and promotes credibility.
- Supporting joint projects such as visual media platforms in our local languages, which tell our nation’s success stories using virtual reality technologies.
Al-Yami expressed his pride in what YONA and Tatmedia have achieved through the joint digital archive project, which preserves the region's heritage and presents it to new generations in an innovative way. He noted that this model confirms that the future is not just about cold technologies, but rather a human legacy that we revive with awareness and creativity.
He explained that the media industry is at a crossroads: we must either be passive tools of the digital revolution or leaders who direct it to serve humanity. He emphasized that this will only succeed through collective action, investment in young talent, and confidence that the future of media will always be the voice of wisdom, the pen of truth, and the image of beauty.
(is over)
