UAE Government launches the First Media Communications Manual

The UAE Government today launched its first-ever Media Communications Manual, outlining communications policies and procedures and defining roles and responsibilities of communications' teams across the UAE federal government.

Developed in line with the UAE Government Communications Strategy, the manual comes as part of a broader plan to enable the UAE ministries and federal authorities to enhance their internal and external communications capabilities.

The Government Media Communications Manual has been developed by a team of prominent experts. It includes detailed guidelines on all media related activities such as media inquiries, key messages, media briefings, press releases and newsletters, among others.

Mohammad AlGergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs said: "The manual is an integral element of the Government Communications Strategy endorsed recently by the Cabinet. Designed to match best international practices, the government media communications manual will ensure optimum transparency and accuracy of information on government initiatives, policies, and services" Issued for the first time in the UAE, the manual will include clear definitions of roles and responsibilities of communication departments across the UAE ministries and federal authorities. It will be an important reference for all government day-to-day media communications activities, leading to enhanced interaction between the government entities, the media and the public.

Her Excellency Naglaa Al Awar, Secretary General of the Cabinet, as well as other senior officials representing all UAE ministries and federal authorities, witnessed the launch of the Government Media Communications Manual at a workshop organised by the Cabinet Secretariat General in Raffles Hotel, Dubai.

H.E. AlGergawi added: "The UAE Government Communications Strategy also includes a series of guidelines, workshops and training programmes that will be carried out according to the agreed timelines. The strategy aims to fulfill the leadership's vision towards enhancing the government's communications competencies and positioning the UAE among the leading nations in government communications." During the workshop, the role of the Government Communications Office has been reviewed, along with the key media responsibilities of communications teams across the federal government. In additions, the contents of the communications manual has been briefly explained with special attention to the standard media operating procedures, development of media messages, press releases, press conferences, newsletters among other media tools, all of which guaranteeing smooth and effective communication between government entities and their audiences.

Representatives of all federal authorities will come together for a second workshop, organized by the Cabinet Secretariat General on 12 June in Dubai, to review the key components of the Government Media Communications Manual for ensuring the timely and accurate implementation of the guidelines.
/WAM/

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New permanent premises for the UAE Journalists Association

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai has ordered the construction of a permanent premises for the UAE Journalists Association.

The Allotment of a land the subsequent construction of UJA offices underscores Sheikh Mohammed's keenness to enable the UAE journalists undertake their mission without any hindrance. Earlier, Sheikh Mohammed had issued orders banning the arrest of journalists on cases related to their profession.
/WAM/

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RERA launches Dubai Real Times monthly magazine

The Real Estate Regulatory Agency announced a major initiative to fill a crucial gap in the information chain in the Dubai property sector by launching its own official monthly magazine titled Dubai Real Times.

The magazine will serve as a medium for RERA to communicate with the stakeholders of Dubai property sector and give a forum to various segments of the property sector to express their views. Dubai Real Times is an extension of the Dubai Real Estate Community portal, which is part of the RERA website www.rpdubai.com.

The magazine’s launch was announced by Marwan bin Ghalita, the Chief Executive Officer of RERA, at a press conference at the Dubai Land Department, where he explained the idea behind the magazine.

'We want to encourage complete transparency in the property sector so that no one is in doubt about anything relating to property. We want people to stop wondering and start understanding things in the right perspective and Dubai Real Times’ mission is to facilitate this process,' said Bin Ghalita.

'Miscommunication and lack of transparency are a major concern among property investors and other segments of the industry and our endeavor is to clear these confusions and help introduce proper understanding through the magazine. Dubai Real Times seeks to inform and educate as well as open a dialogue with the industry so that issues are brought up and addressed in the most appropriate manner,' the RERA CEO said.

Dubai Real Times is the first regulatory magazine for the property sector and as such marks another first for the Dubai property industry, which has created benchmarks for not only the UAE, but the entire Middle East region. Some of the regulatory actions of RERA are an improvement on even the global best practices.

RERA has mandated Sterling Publications, publishers of some leading current affairs and business titles, to bring out the monthly magazine, which will be produced to the highest professional standards that have characterized the two editions of Dubai Freehold Property Guide, also published by Sterling.

The content of the magazine has been developed with great care so as to promote transparency in the market, Bin Ghalita pointed out. There will be market studies, trend analyses, commentaries and expert opinions, apart from regular updates on laws, rules and regulations issued from time to time.

As the official publication of RERA, Dubai Real Times adds an authentic tool to the real estate industry to reach out to its stakeholders, whether home owners, investors, buyers, sellers, brokers, consultants or service providers to the industry.
/AME Info/

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Media centre to be set up to train nationals

Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, on Wednesday honoured the winners of the Shaikh Majid Youth Media Awards in the radio, television and print media categories, and recommended the creation of a specialised media training centre for UAE nationals.

Ahmed Ali Alkhwar, Sara Rafeea, and Hawaa Al Souyadi, bagged the top prize, each receiving Dh200,000. The second and third place winners in each category were awarded Dh 75,000 and Dh50,000 respectively.

Organised by the Arab Media Group (AMG) and Dubai Infinity Holdings, the award ceremony was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre and was attended by dignitaries, senior government officials, and industry professionals, the event included a presentation of the top three prize winning entries.

Abdullatif Al Sayegh, CEO of Arab Media Group, said, 'The Shaikh Majid Youth Media Awards offers a significant platform to recognise and encourage media-specific talent among the UAE nationals. The high participation levels coupled with the number of entries has prompted Shaikh Majid to assess the viability of creating a venue for these talented youth to help them pursue industry knowledge and eventually grow a strong network of national journalists.

'We welcome his recommendation, and aim to conduct a market study at the earliest to expedite the project.'

Khadija Al Marzouqi, Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Awards, said: 'Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed has offered the UAE youth a key platform for showcasing their media-related creative works. As the organising committee, we will ensure the next edition of the awards will encourage a wider participation of nationals and draw a larger number of intellectually captivating works.'
/Khaleej Times/

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Newspapers in UAE take lion's share of advertising

The UAE's newspapers are taking the major share of the print media advertising – and foreign publishers are moving in to claim a share.
Meanwhile, more local papers are appearing as the industry turns 30.
Two of the oldest papers in the country, Gulf News and Khaleej Times, are celebrating their 30th anniversaries, while the newest, Abu Dhabi's The National, was launched earlier this month.

Foreign players expanding their presence include The Financial Times, which has launched a Middle East edition based in Abu Dhabi with a full-fledged editorial and marketing office.

And the International Herald Tribune (IHT) is said to be in talks with Khaleej Times about establishing a regional presence.

These developments are part of a chain reaction that began three years ago with the launch of 7Days, the country's first tabloid, followed by Emirates Evening Post, Xpress and Emirates Today – now reborn as Emirates Business.

Five years ago there were plans to bring some of the newspapers from the Subcontinent to the UAE but they fizzled out as the idea did not seem viable.

Ikon Advertising, for example, held discussions with the Times of India about basing a Middle East edition in Dubai. "The idea was shelved after a feasibility report was conducted," said Ikon Chairman and Managing Director Ali Asgar Mir.

Since then the region has seen a large increase in print advertising spending.

Ad spend in the UAE has increased from $869 million (Dh3 billion) in 2005 to $1.3bn in 2007 – the highest in the Middle East, according to 2007 Advertising Spend Report by Pan-Arab Research Centre.

Of this, around two thirds went to Arabic and English-language newspapers.

There are currently eight English-language newspapers and five major Arabic newspapers in the UAE.

A market analysis from Cannes Lions, organiser of the Dubai International Advertising Festival, said the UAE's print advertising expenditure will shoot up to $2.4bn next year.

And the print media in and around the region seems to know it. The economic boom has created more brands, more competition and more reasons to advertise. Advertising for the booming property market is filling full pages in daily newspapers and covering the roadsides with billboards competing for attention.

The IHT has relationships with nine English-language newspapers around the world, including Egypt's Daily News – the only paper in the Middle East with which it has such a partnership. In 2001, the IHT announced a tie-up with Daily Star in Beirut but the two separated in 2006.

The Times of London began printing an international edition in the UAE in 2007 although the lack of local content is matched only by the lack of local ads.

The FT is already distributed in the region but the new edition is tailored to the Middle East with one page of local business news. Other international print brands are also believed to be planning to enter the market.



The numbers

13: English and Arabic papers in the UAE

2.4bn: Print advertising expenditure by 2009

/Business 24/7/

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Financial Times to launch Middle East edition

The UK's Financial Times (FT) is to launch a full Middle Eastern edition of its famous newspaper in Abu Dhabi to be published every Tuesday and Thursda.

"It's a full-edition newspaper," one source said about the newspaper's ambitions in the region. "The paper will have its main office in Abu Dhabi but also an office in Dubai."

Roula Khalaf, currently the Middle East editor of the newspaper, will head the newspaper's regional edition at its main office in Abu Dhabi and Simeon Kerr, the newspaper's Gulf correspondent, will head the office in Dubai.

Lionel Barber, who helms the newspaper in London as its main Editor, will direct the newspaper's launch this week.

The inaugural edition of the newspaper will be launched on Tuesday April 29 at the Emirates Palace with guests including Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, minster of foreign trade, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO and managing director of Mubadala Development Company and Hussain Al Nowais, vice chairman of Abu Dhabi Basic Industries Corporation.

Representatives from the Financial Times were unavailable for comment on the launch.

The Financial Times' decision to have a Middle East edition comes only weeks after the government of Abu Dhabi launched a major English-language daily newspaper, The National, headed by former Daily Telegraph editor Martin Newland.

Source

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Free and fair coverage by satellite channels

The second day of the Arab Media Forum held here in Dubai saw serious criticism of the Arab League Broadcasting Charter issued by Arab ministers of information, to regulate satellite broadcasting in the region.

Eminent journalists and media personalities who attended the panel discussion rubbished the relevance and legality of the Charter saying the ministers of information had no right to draw ethical codes for the Press.

They maintained that it was a clear violation of Press freedom and impeded free and fair coverage by satellite channels.

The Charter adopted on 12 February, 2008 during the meeting of Arab Ministers of Information in Cairo was criticised for the provisions that gave the signatory countries the right to freeze, or revoke the broadcasting license of any channel that breaks the agreed-upon regulations.

The panel discussion on the second day of seventh 7th Arab Media Forum was moderated by Muntaha Al-Ramahi of Al Arabiya Channel and was attended by Mahmoud Shamam, Member, Board of Directors, Al Jazeera, Nakhle El-Hage, Director of News and Current Affairs, Al Arabiya News Channel and Salah Aeddine Maaoui, General Director, Arab States Broadcasting Union.

Shamam said the Charter had no value because those who ratified it had no right to issue the Charter.

“If they are keen to preserve ethics among youth, then it’s the role of the family and not the government to do so,” he asserted.

He said that while the government-owned satellite channels were under censorship, the independent broadcasters still maintained the right to decide on their content.

El-Hage of Al Arabiya said the Charter had no legality and instead of the ministers unilaterally issuing the Charter, they should have called upon the media organisations and raised their concerns.

Defending the broadcasting charter, Salah Aeddine of Arab States Broadcasting Union said that with the flourishing of over 500 satellite channels in the region, it’s important to regulate their operations as it’s the existing practice in the Western countries as well.

“The Charter aims to organise satellite broadcasting by introducing certain professional norms and rules. In the Arab world, there is no legislation or regulation on satellite broadcasting. The Charter is to fill this void,” pointed out Aeddine.

He also said that the Charter was a mere directive, and not obligatory on any broadcasters, and hence did not impede on the freedom of expression or right to information.

The recent rise of Arab satellite networks was also lauded at the Forum as experts opined it had provided a unique opportunity to present the voice of the Arab people across the region and the world as a whole.

In a session titled “Consolidation Driving Arab Broadcasting Networks’ Growth”, panellists assessed the impact of mergers and acquisitions involving the emerging gatekeepers of content and access on the future of the Arab media landscape, including the preservation of Arab cultural values.

Hosam El Sokkari, Head of BBC Arabic, said, “Compared to the English voice, the Arab voice was less heard and had a limited reach. This often led to a sense of alienation among the Arab people who felt voiceless and misrepresented by reigning media establishments.

“The situation is changing now. Instead of media becoming a barrier of understanding between the two cultures, the emerging networks have built valuable bridges of communication and understanding.”

Nigel Parsons, Managing Director, Al Jazeera English, said the widespread fear that the rise of such large networks would result in the demise of local media have so far proved unfounded.

The spread of technology, which helped facilitate the rise of the Arab satellite media, has also empowered the local media -providing them with new opportunities for growth, added El Sokkari.

Experts also debated the challenges and opportunities posed to media in the Arab world in the dawn of emerging technologies, and highlighted various shortcomings such as reluctance to adapt to new technology as well as personal inhibitions that are hampering the sector’s sustained growth process. The forum concluded yesterday with the announcement of the Arab Journalism Awards.

Journalism awards
DUBAI — Four journalists from the Arabic Press in the UAE were among those who received the Arab Journalism Awards for 2008 at the closing ceremony of the Arab Media Forum yesterday. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai presented the ‘Media Personality of the Year’ award to Makram Mohammed Ahmad, editor-in-chief of Egyptian weekly Al- Mossawar and head of the Egyptian Journalists Association. Shaikh Mohammed also presented a special award to the family of the late Iraqi journalist, Shihab Al Tamimi, and a special award to Jehad Al Kazim of Al Hayat newspaper for his columns. Source

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Arab Media Forum bridges Gap between Gulf Media and Technology

Arab Media Forum 2008 opened its seventh edition with a workshop on how the Gulf media is responding to challenges posed by technological advances. The session also brought under focus the unique predicament faced by private and public media organizations with the advent of new technology, on the back of burgeoning economic growth, which has prompted the enforcement of new industry regulations.

Moderated by Abdulla Al Murr Al Zaabi, Anchor, Abu Dhabi TV Channel, speakers at the workshop agreed new trends are driving the GCC media with socio-economic features and patterns only found in advanced and mature markets. A lot of the growth in the region is attributed to the support and involvement of public sector firms. The workshop also discussed the impact of commercial aspects forcing the GCC media to be more financially driven.

Access to state of the art technology, available resources, roles of the public and private sector firms in the media industry, floating regional media companies and their challenges in dealing with global IT players and collaboration between government organizations and media firms to better the state of the industry were some of the other concerns that drew the attention of the panelists.

The media industry in the region has evolved over the years and is continuously exploring new avenues to enhance content and programming in line with international standards. New and advanced technology is slowly changing the landscape with journalists facing dynamic challenges created by the introduction of innovative tools and interfaces.

Ahmed Al Shaikh, Managing Director of Dubai Media Incorporated, said: "The UAE government is committed to highlighting the importance of media and its role as an effective disseminator of information. In line with its directive, the government has actively promoted freedom of the media and encouraged the establishment of various media firms whilst maintaining responsible and ethical journalistic standards." Al Sheikh stressed the importance of organized industry patterns and urged organizations to move away from being mere commercial entities.

Commenting on the importance of trained resources, Jamal Khadoggi, Editor-in-Chief of Saudi Arabia's Al Watan daily, said: ?Lack of trained resources in the region is one of the most important stumbling blocks for the development of the industry. Nearly 80 per cent of media graduates in the kingdom are employed with private publicity and broadcasting firms, due to the lure of a more glamorous lifestyle creating a dearth of journalistic talent.

''We need to attract talents that understand the importance of media and its role in helping dispel myths associated with the Arab world." The panelists urged media organizations and institutions to come together and collaborate on projects that will help fill gaps to encourage fresh talent to join the industry and contribute to its growth and development.

"Bridging Arab Media Through Technology", the theme for the seventh edition of the forum, has drawn the participation of over 500 local, regional and international media professionals. Over 50 intellectuals and industry experts have convened in Dubai for the annual forum to hold in-depth discussions on the impact of technology within the regional media industry. WAM

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Arab Media Forum 2008

Changes brought about by technology to the media scene both in the Arab World and elsewhere, will be the focus of this year's Arab Media Forum 2008 under the theme "Bridging Arab Media through Technology."

The Dubai Press Club has completed preparations for the seventh edition of the Arab Journalism Award and the 10th edition of the Arab Media Forum, which will run from April 23 to 24 at the Monarch Hotel in Dubai.

Mariam Bin Fahd, Executive Director of DPC, said technology is the focus this year because many countries in the Arab World are still not benefiting from technology in media.

"We want to change this event from just a networking event to an institution where participants can share ideas and integrate suggestions that will help in developing the use of technology in media even further," she said.

More than 200 media, cultural and journalism personalities, who represent associations and Gulf, Arab and international media organisations are participating in this year's media forum.

Industry

Mariam said the forum and the award will cover 21 Arab countries for the first time.

The countries participating for the first time include Yemen, Sudan and Mauritania.

"The forum this year is more focused on the development process. There is networking every year, but this year, people will realise that the forum is becoming an industry forum," Mariam said.

The forum will also see the screening of documentary films that shed light on the current developments of the situation in Iraq and Palestine. The documentaries will be followed by expert commentary from some of the political figures from both countries.

Mariam said this year's journalism award saw 2,609 entries from 18 Arab countries.

She said the highest number of entries were for investigative reporting, interviews and politics.

"The new thing we are doing this year regarding the award is to announce how many entries were there in every category and the countries with highest entries. This gives the public and the winners an idea on how tough the competition was and gives a push for the winners," she said.

Mariam said the final ceremony will also include a presentation on the political, economic, journalism, media and other events of 2007.

"We will also honour two personalities who played a vital role serving journalism and Arab media and were attacked or threatened while carrying out their jobs," she said. Source

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The National - Pros and Cons

On the evening of 16 April, Martin Newland, editor-in-chief of The National, unveiled the front page of the world's newest daily newspaper at a gathering of the great and the good in Abu Dhabi's monumental Emirates Palace hotel.

The National is made of ink and paper, but it is different in practically every other respect to any newspaper previously launched in the region.

Its editorial team of 200 is the largest working on an English-language daily in the Middle East. It includes former members of famous newspaper teams, including Newland himself, editor of Britain's Daily Telegraph from 2003-05.

So much choice

The newspaper will be the biggest new launch of 2008 and is one of the most ambitious for more than a decade. But there is no obvious business case for The National.

Fewer than 500,000 adults with English as their mother tongue live in the UAE. Addressing their needs on a daily basis are five newspapers of varying degrees of adequacy: Gulf News, Khaleej Times, Gulf Today and the free-distribution 7Days, all privately-owned, and Emirates Business 24/7, part of the Dubai Government's Arab Media Group.

No English-language newspaper market in the world has so much choice on a per capita basis. If there is a gap, it is probably for a popular newspaper aimed at Hindi speakers.

Bulky as a Sunday paper

But the clue is that none of the five are printed in Abu Dhabi. Since its government closed Emirates News in the 1990s, the emirate has relied on others to supply its resident Western expatriate newspaper buyers. It now has its own voice once more.

The National has strengths and weaknesses. It has adopted a broadsheet format - which is going out of favour in the West - combined with a modern design that uses white space and large colour photographs. Its editorial management has decades of experience working on top newspapers. At least a dozen of The National's senior reporters have credible experience working for leading news media operations.

The newspaper's breadth of coverage is impressive. It includes about 20 pages of business news and daily sports and arts supplements. The first edition was as bulky as a British Sunday newspaper. A plan for a seven-day operation is in hand.

Press freedom?

But this is where the questions begin. Newland has finessed the issue of 'press freedom' in interviews before the launch. This is wise. The phrase is one of the most misused in the English language. No country allows the media unrestricted freedom to print or broadcast whatever it likes. Apart from libel laws and constraints on reporting of private matters, every editor comes under pressure from the state. In the developing world, this is often obvious and crude. But it exists everywhere.

The US government employs press officers that outnumber those reporting on its activities several times over. The BBC is owned by the British people but controlled by the state - as the corporation was reminded when a reporter charged the government of distorting the case for the 2003 Iraq war. Every major corporation has large communications teams to ensure good news is emphasised and bad news suppressed.

In the UAE, the proliferation of the media, particularly English newspapers, has eased restrictions on reporting in the past five years.

(MEED)

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Arab Media Forum to focus on technology

The seventh edition of the Arab Media Forum, to be held on April 23-24 at Hotel Monarch, Dubai, will discuss the changes that technology has brought about in the media sector both in the Arab world and outside.

Being held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Arab Media Forum 2008's theme will be 'Bridging Arab Media through Technology'.
Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of Dubai Press Club, said the different sessions and workshops would highlight the salient features of the changes that are sweeping the media today.

"We are glad to see the Arab Media Forum progress to become the region's leading platform for constructive dialogue on issues impacting the media industry in this part of the world," said Al Marri.

"The programme content is not only a reflection of the current media scene in all its variety, but also an attempt at looking into the future to explore key challenges and opportunities lying ahead of us," Al Marri pointed out.

While the different sessions during the two-day programme seeking to address all the vital issues that concern the media in the era of new technologies, the workshops will focus on preparing a select few of the journalists for the new challenges. Source

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Printing industry reaches Dh19.5b

A regional event organiser is taking advantage of the Middle East's growing printing industry, which reached Dh19.5 billion ($5.3 billion) in 2007, by putting up two exhibitions in Dubai next year dedicated to the packaging and printing industries.

The region's package printing sector accounted for 41.8 per cent of the whole industry, followed by the print advertising, commercial printing and newspapers sectors with a combined share of 33 per cent.

Officials of Fairs and Exhibitions (F&E) yesterday quoted IMES, a Dubai-based management consultancy group, as saying that the UAE alone expects a 15-20-per cent growth in various packaging categories, such as dairy and soft drinks.

"Every country in the world has seen growth in its printing business," said Roger Pellow, managing director of Labelexpo, a series of conferences held worldwide in conjunction with various exhibitions. "I have no doubt it will grow here."

Sue Rothwell, group event director of F&E, yesterday said the Gulf Print and the Gulf Pack trade shows on 6-9 April 2009 would address the challenges on the growth in advertising, publishing and consumer spending across the Middle East.

Quoting data from Pira International, a regional information provider, Rothwell said the region's printing industry would grow 7.7 per cent per year until 2012, with market value of Dh28 billion ($7.6 billion). She said that some 400 exhibitors and 12,000 visitors from at least 60 countries are expected to take part in the biennial exhibitions, which last year concluded with Dh551 million ($150 million) worth of business.

Rothwell stressed that the Middle East is an emerging market bridging the East and the West. "These events provide a highly cost-effective and dynamic sales and marketing platform to promote the latest industry trends in the region," she said in a prepared statement.
She noted that regional economic prosperity, strong foreign investment inflows and changing lifestyles, including the rise in literacy rate, have spurred industry growth and the increasing number of publications in the Middle East. Pellow said that Labelexpo and F&E have developed a one-day conference dedicated to the labels market, which has an annual growth of 6-7 per cent worldwide. The conference will gather experts to discuss the impact that new technologies may have in the regional printing industry. He said there are tremendous opportunities for suppliers of traditional label production in the region because of the growing markets in retail, pharmaceutical, fast-moving consumer goods, airline cargo and travel. Source

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Free, credible media

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday called upon Arab media leaders to focus on training and qualifying the new generation so that it could cope with development in the media world.
He laid stress on the importance of media freedom and credibility, describing them as the main pillars upon which the successful media depends.
Shaikh Mohammed made these remarks during a visit to Al Arabiya satellite channel at Dubai Media City.

Among the newsmen

Shaikh Mohammed and his accompanying delegation congratulated Al Arabiya staff on the 5th anniversary of the channel. They were received by Shaikh Waleed Al Ibrahim, MBC Group Chairman, and the staff members.

Al Ibrahim expressed his gratitude to Shaikh Mohammed for his visit and pointed out that it was an encouragement to the staff to exert all efforts to develop the media service provided by the channel.

He paid tributes to Shaikh Mohammed for his initiative in setting up the Dubai Media City which has become a complex of Arab channels and a home for Arab media persons and those who are looking for the freedom of expression and betterment of Arab media.

The delegation which accompanied Shaikh Mohammed, included Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates Group and president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Department, Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Ahmed bin Bayat, Secretary-General of Dubai Executive Council, Khalifa Saeed Suliman, Director-General of Protocol Department in Dubai, Ahmed Al Shaikh, Managing Director of Dubai Media Corporation, and other officials.

The visiting delegation watched an experimental news bulletin Al Arabiya broadcasts every hour.

Impartiality

Shaikh Mohammed exchanged views with sub-editors and correspondents in the channel and urged them to demonstrate excellence by being realistic and showing impartiality in relaying news and pictures to the viewers and public, who are always eager to know the facts without them being doctored or exaggerated. Source

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Sign and Graphics 2008 expo opened yesterday

The 10th anniversary edition of the region's largest signage and outdoor publicity exhibition Sign and Graphics 2008 opened yesterday in Dubai.

The one-of-its kind show in the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and CIS has steadily grown over the years in tandem with the exponential increase in advertisement spending in the region.

The exhibition, organised by International Expo Consults (IEC), a member of the national group, Falak Holding, will run from February 17-19 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

Commenting on the enthusiastic response from the UAE, Abdul Rehman Falaknaz, President, Falak Holding and International Expo Consults, said: "The major participation from UAE-based companies at Sign and Graphics 2008 is a salient reflection of the continuing growth and increasing potential for the industry players in this market, which is estimated to be growing at some 22 per cent a year."

"For signage and outdoor publicity companies, this growth of the industry which comes in the context of the economic boom in the UAE and the region represents a major opportunity to grow their business. We are confident that Sign and Graphics 2008 will offer these companies a significant vantage point to pursue their growth goals." Source

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New internet TV channel to hit air Tuesday

The first-ever internet tourism TV channel will hit the air on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi during a colourful gala at the Emirates Palace Hotel.

''The ''Asfar TV Online'', to be launched by Asfar magazine, will transmit news reports, features and interviews on tourism via the internet from the UAE and around the world, according to Ibrahim Al Dhuhli, publisher and editor of the magazine.

The channel will be launched under the patronage of Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan.

The aim, he added, is to provide new online media service for the tourism sector in the Arab World.

''The project is not a mere tv channel .....it's a social website for promoting travel and tourism culture in the Arab World,''he affirmed. (WAM)

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Media festival

Thirty of the world’s leading media experts are to convene in Dubai to judge entries at the first Dubai International Advertising Festival (DIAF) and award the coveted Dubai Lynx trophies.

The Dubai Lynx competition, which was a standalone event in 2007, will be held this year with the inaugural DIAF from March 31 to April 2, organised by the Cannes Lions with local support. The Dubai Lynx competition will judge the most creative advertising in the Middle East and North Africa.

Philip Thomas, CEO of Cannes Lions, said: “We are delighted to bring together an international group of highly professional and talented judges whose expertise in the business will be of immense importance to the judging process and to the region’s advertising and communications industry.”

The jury will choose the most creative ads in categories including TV/cinema, print, outdoor, radio and interactive media. In addition, there will be a special category called Direct Communication Approach and Media Handling. Together, the top 30 professionals will form four juries to independently judge the winners of the various categories. The fourth jury will be an amalgamation of presidents of the three other juries, headed by Piyush Pandey, executive Chairman and National Creative Director of Ogilvy & Mather, India.

Dubai Media City will host the advertising festival in association with the UAE branch of the International Advertising Association. Last year, the Dubai Lynx competition received close to 1,700 entries in its first year. Held in March 2007, an international jury awarded 111 advertisements in various categories for their outstanding creativity and reach. About 1,200 professionals from the advertising and media world attended the high-profile award ceremony.

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Editors-in-chief set up watchdog for code of ethics

Editors-in-chief of local daily newspapers decided on Tuesday to set up a committee to monitor and follow up enforcement of the charter of honour and code of ethics they passed in October 2007 under the patronage of the UAE Journalists' Association (UAEJA).

The watchdog, whose members will be named by local dailies in the coming few days, will be chaired by Saeed Al Badi, member of the UAEJA.

The editors met today in Dubai to work out an affective mechanism to put the code and charter in place.

UAEJA Chairman Mohammed Yusouf said :''The committee will act as observer and an eye-opener in order to enhance regulations stated in the tow documents. It will have no censorship role that will involve restriction and accountability. (WAM)

''Press freedom is absolute and commitment to the charter's general guidelines is left to the will of papers,'' he emphasised.

He didn't rule out continuous amendments to the charter in light of new realities and practice on the ground.

He urged managements of media outlets to educate their journalists about the contents of the code of ethics.

The meeting was attended by editors of Arabic dailies Al Khaleej, Al Bayan, Al Ittihad and Emarat Al Youm along with editor of English daily Gulf News.

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CNN will broadcast from Abu Dhabi

CNN has confirmed it is to expand its UAE presence with full broadcast and production facilities in Abu Dhabi.
The broadcaster announced a raft of new appointments for the new office, with increased newsgathering operations set up alongside an existing editorial team for CNNArabic.com.
The new office will support current bureaus in Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo and Jerusalem as well as developing the network’s coverage of the Gulf region.
The move comes as part of a $10 million expansion which will see CNN International open permanent bases in nine new countries.

Tony Maddox, managing director of CNN International said “This is a major step forward for CNN as we ramp up our newsgathering capabilities around the world. Besides, the United Arab Emirates is the perfect location for an operation of this kind both editorially and logistically”.
The announcement comces on the heels of details recently released about new resources in India, Korea and Japan. New operations will be announced in Africa and parts of Europe in coming weeks, Maddox added. Source

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Intellectual Property Middle East forum 2007 kicks off

The IP Middle East Forum 2007, organized by Informa Group PLC, kicked off today at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai.
The forum aims at protecting and optimizing the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) to improve business performance and revenue.
Designed for a regional and international audience, this two-day Forum provides a platform to share cutting-edge experiences and enhance knowledge of crucial Intellectual Property (IP) issues in the Middle East.

The Forum will tackle issues related to the legal update on copyrights, trademark rights and patent rights, IPRs protection and enforcement, IPRs improvements and their commercial implications, IP portfolio management, international treaties and IP and mediation and arbitration.

The event targets in-house and private practice lawyers with responsibility for trademark, copyright, patent, and commercial law in addition to IP experts, directors, strategists, analysts and consultants.

Participants will be able to understand the importance of enhanced IPRs, become acquainted with the most crucial IP developments, keep up-to-date with current IP laws in the Middle East and their implications, explore key methods to manage IP portfolio more efficiently and assess best practices to master IP challenges and IPRs disputes.

Some of the main speakers are Vice-Chairman and CEO of Rasameel Structured Finance- Kuwait Issam Al Tawari, IP Counsel of Hikma Pharmaceuticals- Jordan Hiba A. Zarour, Head of the IP Department of Al Tamimi & Company- UAE Hoda Barakat, IP Manager of Nestlé Research Center- Switzerland Dr. Beat Mollet.

Media partners include the Arab Society for Intellectual Property (ASIP), the Licensing Executives Society-Arab Countries (LES-AC), the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) and to many others.

Informa Group PLC is a business information group committed to delivering essential business information to clients worldwide using a broad range of media formats such as newspapers, magazines, newsletters, books, exhibitions, CD-ROM, internet, electronic online services, conferences, training courses, workshops, seminars, distance learning courses, in-house sessions and managed events for leading international companies and governments. Source

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Does media offer the true picture?

When the media, including television, newspaper and the Internet, have entered our lives like never before, the big question is ‘does it offer the true picture’.

Karim Lotfy, a bank officer in Abu Dhabi, says: “There is so much happening around and if there was no media, making so many decisions, especially pertaining to financial investments and stocks, would have been difficult. Media is the greatest source of information during an epidemic in any part of the world, a natural calamity like the recent cyclone in Bangladesh or a political crisis like that in Pakistan.
“We heavily rely on the television and the Internet for immediate updates on the latest, and the newspaper is the recorded history of the present. Even an average person is aware of the recent happenings and events but he doesn’t know what the happening is all about,” Karim says.
Anisha, a student, says: “Everyone in India is talking about the 123 agreement (part of nuclear deal with the US) and why it must or must not be signed. Well, I too have my take on it, but I don’t know what the 123 agreement actually is. Nobody seems to be talking about what are in it.”
Ryan Elner Melliza, a local resident, says: “We live in an information age. News, entertainment, political and other views and tips about various aspects of life are all offered to us on a platter by the media.”
“We are forced to believe whatever is told to us by the media. Actually there is too much faith in the media and sometimes I feel the media is exploiting us. The media keeps throwing soundbites, images and ideas constantly at the public. And many of us are striving to match the stereotypes created by the media.”
Karim Lotfy too believes the media is constantly building stereotypes. “They (media) show us something and it is immediately being a part of our lives,” says Karim.
Satyadayanand, a banker, also believes stereotypes are being created by the media but, he says, “they don’t influence our imagination”.
“The media was once held in esteem for giving a voice to the masses but today the media has reached a degree of influence where the voice of the masses is stifled. The media shows what they want. I am sure we are not getting enough of the true picture of what’s happening. It’s all biased,” declares Anisha.
Talk shows, discussion fora and news channels convincingly take a stand on issues and showcase images to support their views and the public has no choice but to take it, she says.
“It is true that some television channels are biased and show material to support their interests. But I hear what I want to hear and I read what interests me,” says Karim.
Asked how does he ascertain the genuineness of the information given by the media, he says it all depends on the source. Ryan says the media gives two sides of every issue. It is for a person to look at the positive side. Its about optimism, Ryan adds.
However, Anisha is convinced that the media is creating an ideology. “The media is relying on the interpretative frameworks consonant with the interests of the dominant classes,” she says. Media is autonomous and subtle but dangerous too,” says Satyadayanand. Source

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