More related content on the BRIDGE
- Media Fireside 10 December 10:05 - 10:25AM
Leadership for an Open Digital Future
As digital platforms evolve into the world’s de facto public squares, leadership must evolve with them. This session explores how nations can champion openness, accountability, and access in a time when private actors shape public discourse. Reflecting on Senegal’s success in expanding connectivity and safeguarding media freedom, H.E. Macky Sall shares lessons on building a digital future rooted in inclusion, trust, and democratic resilience.
Forum Stage - Marketing Presentation 10 December 12:25 - 12:35PM
One Million Dollars in Sales... Zero Ads
Attention is a new currency, and everyone is fighting for it. The challenge isn’t just selling a product anymore; it is earning a moment. In this masterclass, Salah Abo El Magd dives into the mindset and methods behind capturing attention in a world that scrolls at the speed of thought. He explores how emotion drives decisions, how stories move faster than ads, and how brands can better think about creating meaning at breakneck speed. This is selling redefined for a generation that no longer buys what it’s told, it buys what it feels.
Academy Stage - Media Fireside 9 December 10:00 - 10:20AM
Who Reports On The Reporters?
Encrypted apps like Signal and WhatsApp have become lifelines for journalists and citizen reporters in conflict zones, enabling secure, real-time reporting. But as nearly 75% of people now consume news via smartphones, and citizen journalism grows on platforms like X, the line between credible reporting and unverified content blurs. How can we better equip those on the frontlines to uphold truth in a decentralized, high-risk media environment?
Academy StageSpeakers
- Marketing Panel 8 December 4:20 - 4:50PM
Tuning for Virality
In a world where attention shifts in seconds, creators and brands must optimize content with the same precision and speed as performance marketers. With AI-driven tools now boosting engagement by 25% and cutting production time in half, the line between creative instinct and data science is disappearing. Leaders like Saif Jarad—who built one of the region’s most awarded performance agencies and pioneered early Google and Facebook Ads innovation—embody this shift. This session explores how creators can apply performance marketing principles, real-time insights, and AI-enhanced optimization to stay discoverable, credible, and ahead of the curve in an algorithm-driven landscape.
Academy StageSpeakers
- Creator Economy Fireside 10 December 11:20 - 11:50AM
The New Global Aesthetic
The next big ideas in visual culture aren’t coming from Hollywood or Paris—they’re emerging from Nairobi, Beirut, Mumbai, and Medellín. In this session, creators and image-makers from across the world explore how local perspectives are transforming global storytelling. From the languages of TikTok and street photography to the craft of short documentaries, they unpack how authenticity, access, and identity are reshaping what the world sees—and believes.
Explore by InstagramModerator
- Media Fireside 9 December 3:40 - 3:55PM
The End of Media's Philanthropic Whiplash
For decades, media funding has surged and collapsed in cycles, spiking around elections or crises, then evaporating when attention fades. The result is a fragile ecosystem where vital storytelling depends on the mood swings of philanthropy. In this session, H.R.H. Princess Lamia Bint Majed Saud AlSaud joins Matthew Bishop to explore how the media industry can break free from this pattern. Drawing from her leadership at the intersection of business, media, and philanthropy, Princess Lamia offers insights on building sustainable, purpose-driven media ecosystems, where long-term investment, inclusion, and impact take precedence over fleeting attention.
Forum StageModerator