Nayla Tueni, Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief of Annahar, led a discussion on the first day of the "Saudi Media Forum 2026" called: "How can the media survive the misinformation trap?"

The session included Karen Elliott House, former reporter, editor, and publisher at The Wall Street Journal; Tony Gallagher, editor of The Times; and Andrew Hoskins, journalist and former BBC News correspondent.

During the session, Tueni raised key questions about the increasing pressures faced by the media amid the flood of "false content," asking whether the saturated media landscape forces news agencies to prioritize speed over verification.

Karen Elliott House
For her part, Karen Elliott House emphasized that "the essence of journalism lies in gathering reliable information," noting that "the audience wants to know what is true and be able to distinguish between fact and falsehood." She stressed that "building trust with the reader is fundamental."

In her advice to the new generation of journalists, she urged focusing on reality and sticking to the facts, no matter the pressures.

Tony Gallagher

Tony Gallagher, editor of The Times, said that "the challenges facing the media today did not arise out of nowhere," pointing out that "priorities have changed since the 1990s, but the goal remains the same: seeking accuracy." He added that "newsrooms now rely on advanced tools to verify and combat misinformation."

Andrew Hoskins
Hoskins highlighted "the importance of fighting media misinformation, especially by verifying images and sources before publication," considering that "avoiding haste and verifying first is a daily duty at the core of a journalist’s responsibility."

The 26th edition of the "Saudi Media Forum" kicked off today, Monday, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and will continue for three days until February 4.

The "Saudi Media Forum" is considered one of the leading regional and international platforms for exploring the future of the media industry. Under the theme "Media in a Shaping World," the forum will focus on critical issues such as the impact of artificial intelligence on content production, the regulation of digital platforms, and mounting cybersecurity challenges, as well as the role of media in promoting regional and international stability.