RIYADH — The Okaz Organization for Press & Publication embarked on an unprecedented new era of qualitative leap, featuring digital evolution in its six-decade long brilliant history, with the launch of a unique new identity for its flagship ‘Okaz' daily. The new identity and updated website of Okaz was unveiled in an impressive ceremony held under the patronage of Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, at Abu Bakr Salem Theater in Riyadh Boulevard on Monday evening. Minister of Media Turki Al-Shabanah, Bader Al-Asaker, director of the private office of the Crown Prince and chairman of Misk Initiatives Center, Walid Al-Ibrahim, chairman of MBC Group, and several other prominent figures in the media, cultural and economic fields attended the function. Okaz honored Al-Sheikh, Al-Shabanah, Al-Asaker and Al-Ibrahim on the occasion. Continuing on its path of digital evolution, Okaz announced a desktop update with a new look and feel, optimized web pages, and competitive page load-speed. During the ceremony, it was announced that the new logo and unique identity of Okaz represents the biggest transformation in the history of the newspaper since its inception in Jeddah in 1960. The new transformation aims to meet the challenges of the new media and adapting it to serve its renewed content, by shouldering the responsibility of disseminating its sober content through modern templates and attractive styles on multiple digital platforms, thanks to the efforts of its expert and ambitious team. Speaking on the occasion, senior officials of the Okaz Organization emphasized that what was announced is not just an identity for the newspaper, but also a wonderful revolution against the monotonous and usual methods. A video, documenting the brilliant march of Okaz since its inception in Jeddah and its qualitative leap that was made possible because of the great efforts of its editorial team, was presented on the occasion. The new logo of the newspaper "To be the first" was also unveiled. In his speech, Chairman of the Board of Okaz Abdullah Saleh Kamel underscored that this development is part of the organization's transformational vision towards focusing on content in digital media. Addressing the gathering, Okaz Editor-in-Chief Jamil Altheyabi said the launch of the new design comes as an important step on the path of digital evolution and expansion that Okaz is aspiring to. He thanked Abdullah Kamel for his support and diligent follow-up of this. The speech session was followed by launching of the new identity of Okaz on its website as well as its app on mobile phones and its multiple platforms on social media, in addition to its print version that came with a new tab that caters well to the interests of readers in accordance with the latest styles and methods. The paradigm development shift attaches great importance to digital content making through multiple forms of infograph, broadcast and visual reports, so as to enable the follower to find new avenues within the website. Okaz has also launched a new application that keeps the readers abreast of knowing the local, regional and international events and developments around the clock, through texts, images, infographs, and videos. The new application was designed in a way accessible to all Apple and Android devices so as to enhance the user experience, through an easy and smooth user interface, which allows viewing the content easily. The launch of the new application comes within the ambitious plans of the Organization, aimed at creating a digital evolution that enhances Okaz's position as a smart media organization with multiple platforms and applications, in the context of its preparations to keep pace with the future, and to continue its excellence in the field of digital media. The Okaz officials emphasized that the new transformation is a historic moment for the newspaper, and a vital step in enhancing the quality of media content in the Kingdom.
