The Muscat International Book Fair brings writers and readers together. However, for these events to succeed and capture the attention of the public, the media center plays a significant role. They form an essential part of cultural event marketing, holding great importance in enhancing interaction between writers and readers, and fostering cultural dialogue.
Social and cultural interaction in the fair is further promoted through reports and news published by the fair's media committees in social and traditional media. These media centers and committees highlight author meetings, literary workshops, and discussions which foster cultural communication between the fair and the audience.
Moreover, the media centers contribute to transforming book fairs into international platforms for cultural dialogue by publishing the news and feedback from the audience. They facilitate the transfer of cultural ideas and concepts between countries, building bridges for international cultural communication.
This extends even to the media level, where the media center, affiliated to the Ministry of Information, provides an opportunity for local and international journalists to interact and exchange experiences.
Sheikha al Mahrouqi said, "Yesterday, we received a group of 15 journalists from Russia, Iran, London, Turkey, China, and India at our center. Another 13 individuals preceded them, making it a total of 28 people from different countries and media institutions. They were warmly welcomed at the center, introduced to the services we offer, and assisted in successfully completing their work by providing them with laptops, devices and all the necessary media requirements. The center is open to all external and local journalists to sit comfortably and complete their work." She added, "The media center provides an opportunity for journalists to get to know each other and exchange experiences. Actually, we receive requests from media attachés in London, Washington, and Egypt.
These media attachés suggest individuals to visit the fair in coordination with us, as their participation is essential for highlighting events on an international level." Al Mahrouqi emphasised, "The center offers logistical, technical, and informational services, along with tourist trips for journalists to familiarize them with cultural sites in Oman. It allows them to convey the true image of Oman, its beauty, and history.
The center also facilitates journalists' meetings with key figures, such as spokespersons for the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the Investment Agency, and the General Authority for Industrial and Free Zones, creating a hub that brings everyone together under one roof." Regarding the media committee of the book fair, Ahmed al Hadidi, the team member, explained, "Jalees" is a media center established in 2014, focusing on providing data, information, and managing social media accounts for the book fair. The team covers cultural events, children's activities, and fair sections, publishing news and excerpts from events on social media.
Al Hadidi said, "The team consists of editors, photographers, and social media managers responsible for online publishing. The team is integrated, with each member complementing the role of the other. The team maintains constant communication with followers, interacts with them, and responds to their inquiries, The photography team daily captures moments from the fair's sections, documenting people's interactions with the sections and the joy on their faces as they pick up their favorite books and move among different publishing houses to keep the world connected."
'Jalees' supervisor Maryam al Hanai said, "I oversee the young participants to make the fair a station that transports them to a more beautiful and broader place. My creative team consists of eight individuals aged between 10 and 14 years. They cover cultural, intellectual, and literary daily events. We try to train them in design and editing, and they learn from our colleagues in the profession in various fields.
Al Hanai said,"Students were selected based on age and media sense that will help them convey the image and event."
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