​Hamidaddin “A Vision for Arabic Content is Needed”

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10 Oct 2018

Amman - Former CEO of Oasis 500 and entrepreneurship expert Yousef Hamidaddin said that Jordan and the Arab World need to develop a strategy for Arabic content on the internet that transcends geographical borders. 

During a lecture entitled “Entrepreneurship in the Media and Culture” organized by Jordan Media Institute (JMI), Hamidaddin noted that “it is crucial to have a vision for creating an online content that uses “Arabic letters.” This, he explained, helps speakers of languages written with the Arabic script, i.e. Arabic, Persian, and Urdu to benefit from a wealth of online information in Arabic - just like speakers of other languages. 

Hamidaddin stressed the need to look for alternative business models and emerging technologies. He also urged media practitioners and companies to look for innovative ways and to capitalize on disruptions in traditional media business that are caused by digital media - led by start-ups.   

The economic expert also spoke about several digital media technologies and how they are used by media and ads companies. These include using people’s data that are available on the internet, Artificial Intelligence (AL) as well as and live streaming techniques. Developers have managed to access user data and to design advertising and marketing strategies built on such data, said the expert, adding that this is also true for media messages. 

He told JMI students who attended the lecture that this is the era of disruptive digital innovation. In Europe, he elaborated, media companies are well-informed of innovations developed by start-ups, with both sides cooperating to create a competitive edge. 

The students discussed with the expert issues related to media applications and models as well as digital news sources and videos that can help them verify news sources and produce creative products. The lecture was facilitated by JMI senior advisor, Bayan Tal. 

It is worth noting that Yousef Hamidaddin was one of the pioneers in the area of direct marketing in the region. He joined hands with the US –based Direct Marketing Association to found the Arab Direct Marketing Association. He is credited as an innovation and entrepreneurship expert in the Middle East.
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