More related content on the BRIDGE
- Media Fireside 8 December 3:30 - 3:50PM
Media’s New Centers of Gravity
Legacy media no longer holds a monopoly on narrative; rather, independent voices and creators now drive global conversation, often amplified and suppressed by the platforms themselves. According to the 2025 Reuters Institute Digital News Report, social media is a primary news source in many of the 48 markets studied across six continents. But this shift is fueling digital colonialism, where dominant cultures shape local stories, identities, and economies from afar. How can communities reclaim digital sovereignty and ensure their voices remain central to their unique media futures?
Forum Stage - Gaming Keynote 8 December 5:35 - 5:45PM
Worlds Without End
Where did building the Metaverse go wrong? How can we take AI and machine learning from hype to productivity at scale? And how can we empower creativity in connected virtual spaces that people actually want to inhabit? Brendan "PLAYERUNKNOWN" Greene, creator of the global hit game PUBG, shares his vision for the next era of gaming: planet-sized virtual worlds where millions of users play, create, and share infinite new experiences.
Forum Stage - Picture Fireside 8 December 5:05 - 5:25PM
Five Decades on: Yousra's Secret to Staying Timeless
For decades, Yousra has defined Arab entertainment, evolving with each generation while staying true to her artistic core. In this conversation, she reflects on what it takes to endure in such a shifting industry: adapting to new mediums, embracing creative risks, and cultivating the mindset and passion that turn success into legacy.
Forum Stage - Media Panel 8 December 1:30 - 1:50PM
Winning Back Gen Z One Swipe at a Time
Traditional media is losing ground with younger audiences who value authenticity and personal connection. A 2025 Statista report shows that 33% of Gen Z and Millennials trust influencer recommendations, more than double the 15% who trust traditional outlets like newspapers and TV. In an influencer-led era, how can legacy media evolve its formats, partnerships, and narratives to stay relevant and rebuild trust?
Academy Stage - Technology Fireside 10 December 10:30 - 10:50AM
Building with Heartware, Not Just Hardware and Software
As technology races ahead, reshaping economies, borders, and attention itself, what’s often missing is the “heartware”: the human capacity for purpose, dignity, and trust. This session calls for a recalibration. It explores how media, AI, and new financial models intersect and can be used to build more humane architectures for the future. From media ecosystems shaping perception in war zones to digital identity frameworks that can re-establish economic agency, we ask: Are our current models of progress neglecting the soul of society? What does it take to realign our innovation engines with collective wellbeing?
Forum Stage - Media Fireside 8 December 10:10 - 10:30AM
The Comfort Crisis in Media
Once defined by bold bets on new ideas and voices, media today has grown cautious amid consolidation, short-term metrics, and technological disruption. In this discussion, we ask how the industry can rediscover its edge, reinvigorate risk-taking, experimentation, and creative ambition. As leaders navigate shifting funding models, technological disruption, and the rise of independent creators and citizen journalists, this discussion explores what it takes to build companies, and cultures, that lead rather than follow in media.
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