IGCF 2025 lands at Expo Centre Sharjah on 10–11 September. Sharjah Press Club will run debates, skills sessions and an interactive news studio. The focus is simple: how AI, mobile tools and solid headline craft fit the newsroom today. The programme also brings young reporters into the field through the Ithmar training track.
What the Sharjah Press Club is doing at IGCF 2025
Sharjah Press Club will host a set of sessions tied to the real issues journalists face. The aim is practical: give working reporters and editors clear tools and questions to take back to work.
- Dates: 10–11 September 2025 (GST, UTC+4)
- Venue: Expo Centre Sharjah
- Format: debate, workshops and hands‑on demos
The club is also setting up a live, interactive space on the show floor. Visitors can step into a simulated news bulletin and try a professional on‑air segment. It is a quick way to see how a newsroom ticks, from script to camera to gallery.
The big question: Journalism and AI — Humans or Machines?
One flagship session will stage a direct debate on AI in journalism. It looks at where automation helps, where it harms and who stays accountable.
- Session: “Journalism and AI: Humans or Machines?”
- Focus: speed gains, accuracy risks, ethics and safeguards
- Speakers: Dr Hossam Al‑Najjar and Simon Thithy
The panel will test what AI should and should not do across reporting, editing and visuals. Expect talk on verification, hallucinations and bias. There will be guidance on maintaining core values while utilising new tools, including transparency, byline control, notes on sources, and clear corrections.
30 apps every journalist should have
A second session is aimed at reporters on the move. It is a brisk run‑through of mobile apps that save time and sharpen output.
- Session: “For Smarter Journalism: 30 Apps Every Journalist Needs”
- Lead: Mobile journalism expert Nick Garnett
- Outcomes: faster capture, cleaner edits, better notes, safer files
The walkthrough picks tools for audio, video, transcription, research, graphics and collaboration. The point is not shiny features. It is repeatable workflows. Expect app stacks for solo field reporting and quick desk packages, along with practical tips for maintaining file hygiene and managing power during extended shoots.
Headlines that pull their weight
The third session focuses on the first line a reader sees. Headlines are the entry point and the contract with the audience.
- Session: “Headlines: The Key to News Highlights”
- Lead: Maged Monir, Editor‑in‑Chief, Al‑Ahram
- Focus: clarity, accuracy, impact across platforms
The class breaks down headline structure for web, social cards and push alerts. It covers verbs, numbers, names and context. It examines how to avoid clickbait while still earning a tap. There is also guidance on writing for mobile screens and maintaining search-friendly phrasing without keyword stuffing.
Training young reporters: the Ithmar track
IGCF 2025 will also include fieldwork for students from the Ithmar media training programme, run by the Sharjah Press Club, for ages 10–17.
- Activity: on‑site interviews with attendees
- Goal: real practice in a live media setting
- Skills: planning, questioning, note‑taking, confidence on camera
This track brings classroom learning into a public setting. The students will put their training to work, from preparing questions to capturing sound bites. It is a good test of poise, accuracy, and ethics when people and cameras are involved.
FAQs
When and where is IGCF 2025?
10–11 September 2025 at Expo Centre Sharjah (GST, UTC+4).
Who is speaking in the AI debate?
Dr Hossam Al‑Najjar and Simon Thithy will lead the discussion on how AI fits newsroom work and where to set guardrails.
What is in the 30 apps session?
A guided set of mobile tools for capture, editing, research and publishing, led by Nick Garnett, with practical workflows you can use the same day.
