Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), underscored that publishing stands at the gates of history, and has to reclaim the vital role it has played for centuries. In our pursuit of progress, it is essential that we remain committed to our core belief in the power of the written word, and the role it plays in bringing us together, or dividing us. To continue delivering on our promise, the publishing industry has to adapt to the rapid changes of our time. We are at a unique intersection of tradition and innovation, and must navigate this exciting landscape of constant disruption, she remarked.
At a time when misinformation, disinformation, fake news, cancel culture, and algorithms dominate public discourse and create fake bubbles, publishers have a unique opportunity and responsibility to restore faith in humanity and present verified, well-researched content to shape a future where truth triumphs over falsehood, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi stated.
This was delivered during her opening keynote speech inaugurating the first day of the 13th Sharjah Publishers Conference, which convened in the presence of Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, and publishing experts from 106 countries, to explore the advancement of the publishing sector and the future of the book industry. The conference is offering participating professionals and industry leaders a platform to discuss key challenges that face publishers at the global level, and create practical solutions to turn these challenges into growth opportunities.
Continuing her speech the SBA Chairperson said, In an age where opinions are formed and shared at lightning speed, it is critical that publishers continue to provide a solid foundation of truth upon which individuals can build their understanding of complex issues. This is a sacred mission of publishers, upon which we built our credibility with our readers and communities, and we must protect it at all costs, no matter what the trends or circumstances are.
