In cooperation with the 'Emirati Essay Award', the Dubai Press Club organized a series of specialized workshops aimed at supporting and developing the skills of students and youth in the field of essay writing, and enhancing the presence of Emirati talents in this important journalistic art. The workshops featured a number of prominent writers and editors of Emirati newspapers, and saw significant attendance from students and those interested in content creation and analytical writing.
The initiative comes within the framework of the club's efforts to play an effective role in enhancing the media ecosystem in the United Arab Emirates, and to supply journalistic institutions with qualified Emirati cadres capable of contributing to shaping a media discourse that reflects the country's vision and aligns with its developmental ambitions.
Shaping Public Opinion
At the workshops hosted by the Dubai Press Club, Professor of Political Science and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the 'Emirati Essay Award', Dr. Abdelkhaleq Abdullah, presented a workshop titled 'The Role of the Solid Essay in Shaping Public Opinion', during which he reviewed the importance of the impactful essay in reading transformations and shaping consciousness.
Writer and media personality Ali Obaid Al-Hamali also presented a workshop titled 'From Column to Thought', in which he discussed methods of expression, authorial identity, and honing the journalistic style.
Meanwhile, Editor-in-Chief of Al Bayan newspaper, Hamad bin Karam, reviewed in a specialized workshop the mechanisms for selecting columnists and the editorial criteria used by editors in evaluating articles, as well as the writing styles required in the local media market.
Editor-in-Chief of 'Al Ittihad', Ibrahim Shukrallah, presented a workshop that addressed the role of the Emirati essay in enhancing national identity, and discussed what the local press needs to discover influential columnists capable of crafting a professional discourse that reflects the values of Emirati society.
Writer and media personality, Mohamed Al Hamadi, participated in a workshop that focused on generating ideas for writing essays from current events and changes, in addition to practical exercises that involved the audience of students and participants, aiming to highlight how to write an engaging introduction and skills for reviewing and improving an essay.
A National Vision
For her part, the Director of the Dubai Press Club, Maryam Al Mulla, expressed her sincere thanks and appreciation to the prominent writers and media personalities who contributed to enriching this experience with their ideas, experiences, and knowledge in journalistic writing and the world of the essay. She said: 'These workshops are an important step towards supporting and strengthening the sector of journalistic writing in the country. We at the club, in cooperation with the 'Emirati Essay Award', have strived to provide a knowledge-based and training environment that contributes to discovering promising talents and building a new generation of writers capable of expressing themselves in an influential language with a genuine national vision, and we take pride in our partnership with the 'Emirati Essay Award', which constitutes a qualitative addition to the local media landscape'.
On his part, Dr. Abdelkhaleq Abdullah said: 'Holding a series of specialized workshops constitutes a significant milestone in the development of the essay in the UAE, and this workshop is the first of its kind in the context of the rise and development of the national essay. It seeks to introduce the essay, its types, and its role in shaping public consciousness and public opinion on contemporary national topics'.
He added: 'This series of workshops is particularly aimed at young talents—students of media and communication departments and those interested in journalistic essay and daily column writing. The workshop set practical and focused goals, including how to mature an essay idea, master its writing, prepare it for publication, and train on producing each paragraph of the essay during the workshop in sound and clear Arabic'.
Overwhelming Response
Head of the Media Talent Development Department at the Dubai Press Club, Wadah Kaour, said: 'We have designed practical workshops that provide participants with a hands-on experience in building an essay from idea to publication. We witnessed a great interaction from students and interested parties, which confirms the growing need for initiatives that support young Emirati talents and provide them with professional tools to launch in the world of journalism and content creation'.
