I make no secret of not complaining about the traffic jams in Riyadh. I take my time to look around my favorite riad and check out what’s new and how beautiful the lights are as the night comes. Riyadh’s railways and their stations each form a very beautiful architectural facade-like icon, reminding me of an amusement park. Then I spend time listening to delicious podcasts and radio shows. These programs are a diverse and wonderful cultural, social, entertainment and lifestyle meal. Dr. Fahad Al Olabi Al Khalisi pointed out in one of the sessions at the Saudi Media Forum that despite the long broadcast time of podcast programs, there is an opportunity to listen to them while driving during a traffic crisis.
On the way to the Saudi Media Forum on the third day, I listened to Jihad Al-Atrash’s “Grandizer” in Arabic with Mashael Al-Khuwailet and Majid Al-Tubaiti, the creators of the 7th Subprogram. Al-Atrash’s warm words were imbued with the loyalty to the culture of this man with a melodious voice that we have always loved and that has cemented and glorified our childhood memories.
It’s hard to explain the feeling that came over me at that moment. Surprise mixed with the scent of the morning and an encounter with a representative of the best in comic book characters, who will tell you about the best theater in the world, created by the General Entertainment Authority under the guidance of Maestro Turki Al-Sheikh, who turned the vision of the kingdom into an amazing reality.
I’ll quote one of his very kind words: I was happy to record it so that it doesn’t leak out from my strong memory: “Like all Saudis today who were brought up with the values of chivalry…love…giving…equality and generosity, Grendizer defended values. Grendizer came to planet Earth and was embraced by Earth’s enemies.” Grendizer is actually a collection of these values, the most important of which is that he encourages science, and through science Saudi has dedicated everything to “something for the advancement of society and humanity.” When Machael asked him to give a speech in the voice of Grendizer, he said, “Riyadh is the capital of the world,” and that Prince Mohammed is the Grendizer of his time.
Mashael was moved and moved to tears. And to this day, I feel the same way every time I remember Jihad al-Atrash’s words. It is about the beauty and progress he saw in Riyadh and the kingdom, and how he translated his heartfelt feelings into words carried on the Arabian ether.
Al-Atrash was one of the key figures invited to the forum, where he and Grendizer attended an exhibition where thousands of people turned out to get a glimpse of the technology used by people of the past.
The Saudi Media Forum was an opportunity to learn about the present and the past. It has become an annual media wedding, and continuity, growth, and renewal are required. Also, in many media forums, which leave only temporary effects that disappear as soon as the forum hall closes and the invitees and participants leave, we are also surprised by what is not normal, what is not familiar, what is not common.
To reiterate the important recommendations from writer Khaled Al Sulaiman’s article, avoid repeating the same ideas or the same speakers. Renewals are key to a forum’s success, not the days that repeat guests wait to renew relationships. We’ll also add an awards committee and work more on the hosts, who are ambassadors of the forum and therefore need to have knowledge of their guests and a culture that caters to them. I would like to criticize the suspension of the Reporter Column Award. Because Saudi Arabia is one of the countries with famous writers, even Arab newspapers commission them to write, and some of them own important columns in the political world. Tourism, culture, health, media, etc. The mechanism was for journalists to submit their own articles, but if they did not submit due to lack of knowledge about the award or lack of technical skill to participate, a number of influential articles could have been independently selected by the award committee.
The little secret to not complaining about being crowded with events, projects and everything new in a lively city that never sleeps was to leave early for appointments and work and enjoy the sweet pastime of a vibrant Saudi with podcasts, breaking news, fascinating programs on Saudi Radio and all the conveniences.
Maysun Abu Bakr
I make no secret of not complaining about the traffic jams in Riyadh. I will take my time to observe my beloved Riyadh and explore its new charms. How beautiful it is when night approaches and the light blooms! Riyadh’s subway reminds me of an amusement park. Each station forms an incredibly beautiful geometric facade-like icon. I also spend time listening to interesting podcasts and radio programs that are cultural, social, entertaining, and diverse. Dr. Fahad Al Arabi Al Harithi said in one of the sessions at the Saudi Media Forum that despite the long broadcast time of podcasts, the traffic crisis is a great opportunity to listen to podcasts while driving.
On the way to the Saudi Media Forum on the third day, I heard the voice of Jihad al-Atrash (Grendizer) in Al Arabiya with the creators of the show “Saba Seven”, Mishal Al-Kuwairit and Majid Al-Tubaiti, among others. Al-Atrash’s warm words carried the culture-imprinted loyalty of this man with a melodious voice, whom we have always loved and who has cemented and glorified our childhood memories.
It is difficult to explain the feeling that overwhelmed me at that moment, a mixture of amazement mixed with the smell of the morning and the encounter with a representative of the goodness of the cartoon character who speaks about the best theater in the world, created by the General Entertainment Authority under the leadership of Maestro Turki Al-Sheikh, who turned the vision of the kingdom into an amazing reality.
I’ll quote a very sweet line he said, but I’m happy to record it so it doesn’t slip out of my leaky memory: “Grendizer championed values, just as all Saudis today are raised with values of chivalry, love, equality and generosity. Grendizer came to planet Earth to confront the evil harbored by Earth’s enemies who sought to destroy it. Grendizer is indeed a collection of these values, and most importantly, the kingdom is dedicated to the advancement of society and humanity through knowledge.” When Mr. Mishal asked him to give a few words in his Grendizer voice, he exclaimed, “Riyadh is the capital of the world,” and said that Prince Mohammed is the modern-day Grendizer.
Mishal was so moved that he felt like he was about to cry. I still have the same feeling every time I think of the beauty and progress I saw in Riyadh and the Kingdom, and the words of Mr. Jihad Al Atrash, who put his heartfelt feelings into words on Al Arabiya’s airwaves.
Al-Atrash was one of the key people invited to the forum, where he and Grendizer participated in an exhibition attended by thousands of people to learn about technology that leverages characters from the past.
The Saudi Media Forum was a great opportunity to learn about the present and the past. This has become an annual media extravaganza, and we hope to continue, grow, and update it in the future. It also surprises us with things that are unusual, unfamiliar, or widespread in many media gatherings, leaving only a temporary effect that disappears as soon as the forum hall closes and the invitees and participants leave.
I would like to reiterate the key recommendations from writer Khalid Al Sulaiman’s article. Don’t repeat the same ideas or the same speakers. Because renewal is key to a forum’s success, not days of waiting for regular guests to renew their relationships. I would also like to add that the awards committee, as well as the organizers, are the ambassadors of the forum, so they need to be well-versed in the culture of guests and how they are treated, and more needs to be done. The reason I would like to respond in a whisper regarding the Journalism Column Awards is because Saudi Arabia is one of the countries where writers are well known and Arab newspapers attract them to write. We have important columnists in fields such as politics, tourism, culture, health, and media. Even if the system requires journalists to submit articles themselves, if journalists do not submit because they are unaware of the award or have not acquired the skills to participate, the award committee may independently select some influential articles.
My little secret to staying awake and not complaining about the crowds of a lively city buzzing with events and projects is to leave early for appointments or work and enjoy podcasts, breaking news, and engaging programs on Saudi radio. Our Saudi passion pulsates for all things sweet and beneficial.
Maysun Abu Bakr
