Addis Ababa — Africa's largest gathering of media leaders from the continent and beyond-the African Media Leaders Forum (AMLF) will convene in Addis Ababa on November 6-8, 2013.
The two day event will be held at the United Nations Convention Centre on the theme 'Media and African Renaissance'. AMLF offers delegates a unique space to debate the core issues facing the industry on the continent and develop strategies and solutions to ensure media plays its rightful role in the emergence of a strong, inclusive and dynamic Africa.
An impressive line up of speakers will address the nexus between media and the African Renaissance through a combination of plenary and breakaway sessions. They will tackle an array of issues including the necessary infrastructural and institutional backbone to improve citizens' lives and the necessity to improve 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.
On November 8th, a special panel will be held on 'Practice and Challenges of Press Freedom in Africa: Cases from Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, South Africa and Tanzania. "Press freedom and freedom of expression are critical ingredients to ensure a stable, dynamic and growing continent. African media leaders will contribute to this dialog in an open and candid manner in Addis" said Amadou Mahtar Ba, CEO of the African Media Initiative (AMI) that convenes the annual Forum.
A highlight of AMLF 2013 is the 'Heads of State Roundtable' in the afternoon of November 8th on the theme "Reflecting on Enabling a Conducive Media Development Environment in Africa: Funding, Ethics, Technological Innovation and Freedom". HE Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya will deliver the keynote speech at this important panel which will also feature Ethiopia's Prime Minister HE 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).
As a curtain raiser to AMLF 2013 a Public Debate on the theme "Are African Media Capable of Transforming the Continent?" will be held on November 6th at the Eshetu Chole Building at the Addis Ababa University in collaboration with the School of Journalism and Communication and the Organisation of Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA).
"AMLF is now in its sixth year. We are very proud to see it grow in substance and size over the years. It has become the one media event that delegates do not want to miss" said Amadou Mahtar Ba.
About AMI
The African Media Initiative is the continent's largest umbrella association of African media owners, senior executives and other industry stakeholders. AMI's mandate is to serve as a catalyst for strengthening African media by building the tools, knowledge resources and technical capacity for African media to play an effective public interest role in their societies. This mandate includes assisting with the development of professional standards, financial sustainability, technological adaptability and civic engagement.
