RIYADH: SRMG, the MENA region’s largest integrated media group, and Naif Alrajhi Investment, a leading Saudi investment firm with a diversified portfolio and a track record of leading portfolio companies in the media sector regionally, announced Wednesday a strategic partnership designed to advance innovation and growth across the media and advertising industries. This partnership focuses on two strategic pillars: Expanding Phi’s Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising footprint and partnering with Veyron Marketing to drive innovation in media and marketing. 

The agreement brings together SRMG’s newly launched SRMG Media Solutions (SMS), a next generation data-driven advertising entity representing a portfolio of renowned brands including Asharq Al-Awsat, Asharq News and Asharq Business with Bloomberg, Arab News, Hia Magazine and Thmanya, with Naif Alrajhi Investment’s diversified assets.  

Through the partnership, Phi, a key player in the Middle East’s Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising sector, offering a dynamic range of solutions from traditional billboards to cutting-edge digital displays, will amplify its reach, supported by SMS’s cross-platform content distribution across digital, social, TV, and print channels. 

Moreover, Veyron Marketing, a leading player in Saudi Arabia’s advertising industry, renowned for its innovative marketing solutions and robust media planning and buying capabilities, will gain access to SRMG Media Solutions’ (SMS) dynamic portfolio of advertising offerings, including innovative digital formats, branded content, and experiential advertising. 

The partnership is underpinned by a shared vision to foster innovation, expand digital capabilities, and unlock new commercial opportunities for both parties. Together, SMS and Veyron bring a deep understanding of the Saudi market, further strengthened by SRMG’s extensive global reach enabling them to drive long-term value for advertisers. 

SRMG CEO Jomana R. Alrashid stated, “This partnership is a convergence of vision, impact and capability. By uniting Phi’s comprehensive presence and Veyron’s operational expertise, combined with SRMG Media Solutions’ services and reach of over 170 million users, we are creating a dynamic ecosystem that empowers brands to engage audiences with unmatched relevance and impact.” 

Naif Saleh Alrajhi, Chairman & CEO of Naif Alrajhi Investment, commented, "This partnership reflects our shared commitment to delivering innovative advertising solutions, creating exceptional opportunities for both regional and global advertisers. By partnering with SRMG and SRMG Media Solutions with our own assets, we are positioning brands to engage with audiences in new and meaningful ways. The strength of Naif Alrajhi Investment lies in our diversified portfolio and strong presence across key sectors, which allows us to offer unique, high impact opportunities that go beyond traditional media. This Partnership not only leverages the incredible growth in Saudi Arabia but also aims to shape the future of the media and marketing landscape globally."  

The partnership underscores SRMG’s expansion through SMS, which leverages a global audience of over 170 million users across platforms such as Asharq News, podcasts, and experiential activations. This, coupled with Naif Alrajhi Investment’s diversified portfolio, positions the parternships to drive economic growth and redefine regional advertising standards. 

For brands seeking to leverage this partnership, visit https://srmgms.com/ or contact partner@srmgms.com. 

SAN FRANCISCO: Independent monitors voiced concern Tuesday that Meta’s recent decision to ditch fact checks on their Facebook platform could endanger human rights.
Meta’s surprise announcement in January that it was ending its US fact-checking program triggered scathing criticism from disinformation researchers who warned it risked opening the floodgates for false narratives.
Now, the board that serves as the top court for Meta content moderation decision says the social media giant’s announcement about policy and enforcement changes to the handling of hateful and potentially harmful posts was made “hastily,” according to a statement by the Meta Oversight Board released Tuesday.
“People have the right to express controversial opinions,” said board co-chair Helle Thorning-Schmidt.
“People should also be safe from harm.”
Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg released the news in a sweeping policy shift that analysts saw as an attempt to appease then US President-elect Donald Trump, who has equated checking facts with censorship.
As Meta rolls out the moderation changes globally, it is essential that the tech giant mitigate human rights perils that may result from a reduction or absence of fact-checking, according to the board.
The oversight board made 17 recommendations, including that Meta assess the effectiveness of Community Notes compared to third-party fact-checking, “particularly in situations where the rapid spread of false information creates risks to public safety.”
Meta had employed third-party fact checkers, AFP among them, to expose misinformation disseminated by the platform.
Zuckerberg said Meta’s platforms, Facebook and Instagram, would instead use “Community Notes similar to X” in the United States to police accuracy of posts.
Community Notes is a crowd-sourced moderation tool that X, formerly Twitter, has promoted as the way for users to add context to posts, but researchers have repeatedly questioned its effectiveness in combating falsehoods.
“You wouldn’t rely on just anyone to stop your toilet from leaking, but Meta now seeks to rely on just anyone to stop misinformation from spreading on their platforms,” Michael Wagner, from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told AFP when Meta announced the change.
“Asking people, pro bono, to police the false claims that get posted on Meta’s multi-billion dollar social media platforms is an abdication of social responsibility.”
While Meta has vowed to honor the board’s rulings on appeals of its decisions to take down or leave up posts, the tech company does not have to abide by its policy recommendations.