The Government Communication Center at the Ministry of Information launched a new version of “Mediathon”, in cooperation with the Pilgrims of God Service Programme, this year entitled “Hajj and Umrah Mediathon”. With the aim of creating qualitative initiatives, creative projects, and innovative solutions to the challenges facing the media sector in Hajj and Umrah, participation is available through the electronic portal: Mediathon.media.gov.sa.
The new version of "Mediathon" comes after its first version, which received 1,000 ideas and 45 qualified teams to compete, and benefit from workshops and mentorship sessions.
The project stages include: The launch stage and the start of receiving entries, which will be announced later, the filtering and nomination stage, then the marathon days stage and the announcement of the winning ideas and projects, in addition to the qualification stage, and the bridging stage.
Mediathon seeks to come up with media ideas for the system of serving the pilgrims, in partnership with entities and individuals, by attracting a number of specific media ideas, projects and initiatives that will contribute to the development of Hajj and Umrah media. Based on employing digital capabilities and tools in creating media solutions, and contributing to raising the level of awareness about the services provided to the guests of God by attracting innovative media projects.
The project targets the participation of the media and institutional communication sectors in government agencies, various media outlets, professional media companies and institutions, universities and academic institutions, and bodies specialized in Hajj and Umrah, in addition to the participation of individuals, including workers and those interested in the media field, workers in the field of Hajj and Umrah, and academics in the field of Hajj and Umrah. Faculties and departments of media, communication and marketing and their students, programmers, those interested in technology, and media professionals, as well as a number of interested people and specialists in Islamic countries.
In its edition this year, “Mediathon” focuses on a number of tracks, the most prominent of which are: Creating creative content, languages ​​and translation, and the path of media services and facilities.
The project supports a number of positive aspects that benefit the Hajj and Umrah and media systems, including: the existence of a list of ideas and projects contributing to the development of Hajj and Umrah media, revealing the readiness of 50 qualified ideas to implement and work on them, and supporting enhanced media products in raising the level of awareness about services. Provided to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, in addition to promoting and supporting development projects in the media sector, and creating opportunities for partnership and development between participants and targeted sectors.