Saudi Media Forum Holds Judges’ Workshop at the “Saudi MIB” Media Innovation Bootcamp

Riyadh
The Saudi Media Forum held today (Tuesday) the judges’ workshop as part of the second edition of the “Saudi MIB” Media Innovation Bootcamp, in the presence of His Excellency the Chairman of the Saudi Media Forum, Mr. Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Harthi. This comes within the framework of the Forum’s incubators and accelerators in its fifth edition, which will take place in the capital, Riyadh, from 2 to 4 February 2026.
The Media Innovation Bootcamp received more than 150 submissions. The results of the first screening phase led to the classification and nomination of more than 50 projects for the next stage. The first screening was carried out by PCG Group, the creative partner of the bootcamp, while the bootcamp is currently continuing its work in the second screening phase, in preparation for selecting the projects that are most ready and most impactful in the media sector.
In his address, the Chairman of the Saudi Media Forum, Mr. Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Harthi, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the judges for their participation in the evaluation process, affirming that the Media Innovation Bootcamp represents a vital platform for supporting Saudi innovators and empowering them to turn their ideas into real projects that serve the media sector.
Al-Harthi explained that the Forum is keen to provide an environment that stimulates creativity and innovation, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 in developing the media content industry and enhancing digital transformation. He noted that the great diversity of the submitted projects reflects the vitality of the Saudi media scene and the ability of national talents to keep pace with global technological developments.
During the workshop, the Chairman reviewed excerpts from the judges’ feedback and examined the innovators’ submissions and proposed projects. He praised the analytical depth provided by the judges in evaluating the projects, which covered diverse technical tracks and innovative applications in content production. He also pointed out that the diversity of the participants’ backgrounds enhances the chances of producing pioneering projects with high economic and media value.
The workshop was attended by the nine members of the judging committee: Juan Señor, President of Innovation Media Consulting and media adviser; Dr. Omar Al-Rahbini, influencer and specialist in artificial intelligence; Dr. Maram Al-Osaimi, Assistant Professor specializing in digital media and emerging technologies; Dr. Al-Anoud Al-Qahtani, CEO of Wasm Al-Aamal for Information Technology; Stephanie Sanchez, Head of Strategy at Grass Valley; Abdullah Al-Sabea, Technology Editor at Independent Arabia; Badr Al-Zaidan, CEO of PCG Group; Nour Naqly, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Supervisor of Development Initiatives at Arab News; and Haneen Al-Moaif, AI Researcher.
The members of the judging committee expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Saudi Media Forum for organizing the Media Innovation Bootcamp and for providing this distinctive platform that supports media innovation. They also expressed their enthusiasm to take part in the judging process.
After reviewing the shortlisted submissions, the judges stated that the competition is strong and that the level of ideas reflects high quality and remarkable diversity. They affirmed their readiness to continue the evaluation work according to the standards and methodology adopted by the bootcamp, ensuring the selection of projects characterized by feasibility, development potential, and sustainability.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) is participating as a knowledge partner supporting the bootcamp’s activities, enhancing the knowledge dimension and enriching the evaluation and development tracks of the advanced projects, within a system that seeks to build a more mature and connected media innovation environment aligned with modern solutions.
The second edition of the Media Innovation Bootcamp was launched with a global identity that blends creativity with technology and affirms the Kingdom’s leadership in building a media future based on knowledge and innovation.
This year, the bootcamp comes as part of the Saudi Media Forum 2026, forming a global station that brings together talents and experts from different countries under one umbrella, where ideas intersect, solutions are generated, and partnerships are built to empower the media industry with new concepts.