The Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) launched yesterday the “Media Encyclopedia: Towards a New Reading of the Structure of the Media Concept” project at a ceremony held at the Sanad Doha Club in Msheireb, in the heart of the capital. The event was attended by HE Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, CEO of the QMC, along with a number of officials, editors-in-chief, journalists, experts, and researchers in the media field.
This launch marks one of the most prominent pioneering Arab knowledge projects, being the first of its kind in the Arab world. The project aims to enhance the presence of Arab media knowledge and enrich digital and print libraries with rigorous scholarly content that combines specialization with accessibility, while restoring the value of authentic and precise media terminology.
The launch of the encyclopedia comes within the framework of a comprehensive scientific vision adopted by the QPC. This vision is based on providing an objective analysis of media, its history, concepts, and institutions, drawing upon its Arab heritage and the broader spectrum of human thought.
This approach aims to reformulate modern media knowledge in a sophisticated Arabic language that combines academic rigor with accessible presentation. In this context, the encyclopedia aims to support media knowledge in Arabic, meet the needs of academics and professionals, and keep pace with the rapid transformations in the digital environment. It also seeks to document media concepts, theories, prominent figures, and influential institutions within a scientific and methodological framework that enhances empowerment and aligns with the evolution of contemporary Arab media discourse.
Mohammed Sal'an al-Marri, the encyclopedia's supervisor, delivered the opening address at the ceremony, expressing his deep appreciation to all those who contributed to the completion of this project, including the corporation's staff, experts, and researchers. He emphasized that the encyclopedia is the fruit of a robust intellectual collaboration aimed at producing a high-quality media resource that serves researchers and practitioners, providing them with a reliable reference that evolves step by step to meet the needs of the Arab media landscape.
The launch event featured a panel discussion titled “Towards a New Reading of the Structure of the Media Concept,” which aligned with the project’s objectives of enhancing terminological awareness and developing understanding tools for specialists and those interested in the field. The session was moderated by journalist Abdulrahman al-Shammari, with the participation of Dr Mohammed al-Khatib, Professor of Linguistics at Al-Azhar University and member of the Scientific Committee of the Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language; Dr Hanan Ahmed al-Fayyad, faculty member at Qatar University; and journalist Ahmed al-Sheikh. The panelists discussed the evolution of media terminology over time, the importance of re-evaluating it in light of modern technological advancements, and the connection between news and its scientific context and historical reality, thus contributing to the unification of conceptual frameworks within the Arab media landscape.
The QPC has ensured that the encyclopedia is available in both written and audio formats via a dedicated online platform, allowing access to the content at any time. A policy of continuous updating is adopted to keep pace with developments in the media field, expand the information base, and enhance its tools. The encyclopedia's content covers key themes including traditional and digital media terminology, media theories and their applications, influential media figures in the Arab world and internationally, and leading media institutions.
The first volume of the media encyclopedia is scheduled to be launched at the Doha International Book Fair 2026, while the foundation is preparing to release the next volume in May as part of a periodic publishing plan that maintains the project's momentum and allows for ongoing research contributions to support its sustainability and development.
The event concluded with an invitation to academic institutions, researchers, and other interested parties to review the encyclopedia and participate in its development.
This launch marks one of the most prominent pioneering Arab knowledge projects, being the first of its kind in the Arab world. The project aims to enhance the presence of Arab media knowledge and enrich digital and print libraries with rigorous scholarly content that combines specialization with accessibility, while restoring the value of authentic and precise media terminology.
The launch of the encyclopedia comes within the framework of a comprehensive scientific vision adopted by the QPC. This vision is based on providing an objective analysis of media, its history, concepts, and institutions, drawing upon its Arab heritage and the broader spectrum of human thought.
This approach aims to reformulate modern media knowledge in a sophisticated Arabic language that combines academic rigor with accessible presentation. In this context, the encyclopedia aims to support media knowledge in Arabic, meet the needs of academics and professionals, and keep pace with the rapid transformations in the digital environment. It also seeks to document media concepts, theories, prominent figures, and influential institutions within a scientific and methodological framework that enhances empowerment and aligns with the evolution of contemporary Arab media discourse.
Mohammed Sal'an al-Marri, the encyclopedia's supervisor, delivered the opening address at the ceremony, expressing his deep appreciation to all those who contributed to the completion of this project, including the corporation's staff, experts, and researchers. He emphasized that the encyclopedia is the fruit of a robust intellectual collaboration aimed at producing a high-quality media resource that serves researchers and practitioners, providing them with a reliable reference that evolves step by step to meet the needs of the Arab media landscape.
The launch event featured a panel discussion titled “Towards a New Reading of the Structure of the Media Concept,” which aligned with the project’s objectives of enhancing terminological awareness and developing understanding tools for specialists and those interested in the field. The session was moderated by journalist Abdulrahman al-Shammari, with the participation of Dr Mohammed al-Khatib, Professor of Linguistics at Al-Azhar University and member of the Scientific Committee of the Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language; Dr Hanan Ahmed al-Fayyad, faculty member at Qatar University; and journalist Ahmed al-Sheikh. The panelists discussed the evolution of media terminology over time, the importance of re-evaluating it in light of modern technological advancements, and the connection between news and its scientific context and historical reality, thus contributing to the unification of conceptual frameworks within the Arab media landscape.
The QPC has ensured that the encyclopedia is available in both written and audio formats via a dedicated online platform, allowing access to the content at any time. A policy of continuous updating is adopted to keep pace with developments in the media field, expand the information base, and enhance its tools. The encyclopedia's content covers key themes including traditional and digital media terminology, media theories and their applications, influential media figures in the Arab world and internationally, and leading media institutions.
The first volume of the media encyclopedia is scheduled to be launched at the Doha International Book Fair 2026, while the foundation is preparing to release the next volume in May as part of a periodic publishing plan that maintains the project's momentum and allows for ongoing research contributions to support its sustainability and development.
The event concluded with an invitation to academic institutions, researchers, and other interested parties to review the encyclopedia and participate in its development.