The African Media Leaders Forum, AMLF, will convene at the United Nations Convention Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between November 6 and 8 to debate on the theme ‘Media and African Renaissance’.
Delegates from across the continent and beyond are expected to table the core issues facing the industry on the continent and develop strategies and solutions to ensure that the media plays its rightful role in the emergence of a strong, inclusive and dynamic Africa.
Amadou Mahtar Ba, chief executive officer of the African Media Initiative, AMI, convener of the annual forum, said press freedom and freedom of expression are critical ingredients to ensure a stable, dynamic and growing continent.
On November 8th, the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta,will deliver the keynote speech at a special panel on the topic “Practice and Challenges of Press Freedom in Africa: Cases from Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, South Africa and Tanzania.”
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, as well as the heads of the United Nations Commission for Africa, UNECA, African Union, AU, and the African Development Bank Group, AfDB, will also feature on the panel.
Mahtar Ba said the African media leaders will contribute to this dialogue in an open and candid manner and will tackle other issues including the necessary infrastructure, institutional backbone to improve citizens’ lives and strengthen the continent’s media landscape.
AMLF 2013 will also be an important showcase for landmark and innovative projects across the continent in the areas of digital innovation, leadership and ethics as well as new business models.
The forum is also expected to feature a Heads of State Roundtable on the theme “Reflecting on Enabling a Conducive Media Development Environment in Africa: Funding, Ethics, Technological Innovation and Freedom”.
The AMI is the continent’s largest umbrella association of African media owners, senior executives and other industry stakeholders.