Aimee Connor joins house of comms

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Aimee Connor has joined the every-expanding team at house of comms as Senior Account Manager. Bringing with her more than seven years of PR and digital experience, Aimee joins the team from the UK where she previously worked at Weber Shandwick UK, representing a number of international consumer and corporate brands. Most recently, Aimee worked as PR and SocialMedia Manager at Beaverbrooks, where she was responsible for spearheading the PR team, working with brands such as Omega, Gucci and TAG Heuer. Aimee will now boost the Senior Management team at house of comms.

“Making the move to the UAE was a big decision and for me and the most important factor was finding an agency environment where I could really excel my growth as a manager and as a consultant in a nurturing environment,” says Aimee. “house of comms was my number one choice – with its extremely impressive and diverse portfolio of regional clients and the vision the management team has for the future of the agency combined with their refreshing approach to PR. I am loving my new role!”

Abby Wilks, Founding Partner at house of comms adds, “Following our recent MEPRA award win for the Best Consumer Campaign in the GCC 2014, we have seen a significant increase in the volume of regional and international brands approaching us, which has meant a great start to 2015. This appointment for us was an important one – Aimee has an impressive portfolio and has worked across many consumer lifestyle, tourism and leisure brands while also having led teams for corporate clients too. She is an extremely driven individual and we feel that all of these factors combined make her an extremely exciting addition to the team.”

Asian Persuasion

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As Dubai gears up for spring, it’s unquestionably the best time of year for the UAE’s outdoor-loving residents. So, there couldn’t be a better way for Team TMN to spend the season than with a recently opened restaurant – outdoor of course – in the heart of the city…

What: Zeta Restaurant/Lounge

Where: The Address Downtown, Dubai

When: Daily, 12pm – 12am

The promise: “With spectacular views over Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Fountain, Zeta Restaurant/Lounge is an exquisite new outdoor dining experience in the heart of Downtown Dubai, specialising in Asian fusion cuisine. With an informal and relaxed look and feel, the new dine-in destination is envisaged to elevate the standards of hospitality through its family-style approach.”

Did it deliver? As we stepped out onto the terrace, the first thing that Team TMN were met with was the best of what Downtown Dubai has to offer. Directly overlooking the fountains and the iconic Burj Khalifa, the panoramic views were like experiencing dinner and a show and we couldn’t have asked for better seats if we’d paid for them. The minimalist décor was ideal, with nothing to distract from the restaurant’s main attraction – the view – though it still managed to capture the theme with subtle Asian styling.  While it had a large capacity for diners and bar goers alike – people were still arriving as late as 11pm – an intimate atmosphere was created which was perfect for a sophisticated meal with either friends, guests or for business.

We started off the night with one of Zeta’s signature ‘ubertails’. Extending the ever-popular sharing concept to its drinks menu, we sampled their highly recommended lemongrass & coconut cocktail. Arriving in a large glass server – enough for four – it was a novel concept and deceptively tasty – you definitely don’t need four people to enjoy it!

With Japanese cuisine ranking high on TMN’s flavours of choice, we were delighted to find the menu abundant with unique recipes, though not so many that it became impossible to choose. We began with a signature sushi dish – the Burj Roll – which came with salmon, avocado, chopped lettuce, lightly spiced mayo and tobiko. While some of the Team admittedly weren’t the biggest fans of sushi, the dish successfully won over even our more skeptical members.  Adhering to the sharing concept of the restaurant, everything was brought as made and we enjoyed the shrimp tempura, crispy and generously portioned, as well as the prawn avocado salad, which was delicious enough to make even a non-seafood eater think otherwise.

Moving onto the main courses, the stand out of the night was definitely the spicy wagyu beef tenderloin, which was accompanied with Japanese rice. Literally melting in the mouth, it had an intoxicating flavour which would bring us back again on that reason alone! Additionally, we tried the miso-marinated black cod with pickled ginger and yuzu emulsion – unique in flavour and an absolutely gorgeous recipe for seafood lovers.

Naturally, we had to try our hand at Zeta’s signature desserts. The perfect meringues – whipped and creamy at the centre – of the marinated mango pavlova with a refreshing coconut sorbet and almond crumble, really brought the evening home. For all the size of the portions, there wasn’t a crumb left! All that was left to do was sit back with a few more cocktails and soak up the scenery.

The verdict: It’s definitely more than just the view and the venue that’s the draw at Zeta. With a unique menu for both dinner and drinks, you can see why people continued to arrive throughout the night, as it’s a fantastic place to spend or end an evening. For the quality and portion sizes of the dishes, you definitely get what you pay for; you’d be forgiven for thinking it would be extravagant, but you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Do make sure you book ahead of time though – as the weather continues to get better, we can see this being the top spot of the season!

 

Ti22’s Dubai ON Demand

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Team TMN catches up with Reim El Houni, Managing Director of Ti22 Films, who offers an insight into the upcoming launch of Ti22 Film’s online channel Dubai ON Demand, set to go live early this year… 

Where did the concept for Dubai ON Demand originate?
I have spent a few years visiting the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in the US as well as watching industry trends from abroad, and could see the focus on digital was increasing year on year. Over the last couple of years in particular, original content online has started to become more mainstream with players like Netflix and Amazon. What I found even more interesting was watching how YouTube acted as an equaliser with a very low barrier for entry, allowing anyone to put content out there. There has been a big shift in viewing patterns generally with audiences preferring to access content anytime online, so YouTube felt like the place to be. It’s still an untapped market in the MENA region, but I know that it’s just a matter of time.

I’ve been very impressed with a number of online channels and concepts from the US in particular, and feel that it’s time this region aimed for that. So that’s the next goal. I also believe in signs, and although this was something I had started speaking with people about a while ago, the changes at Dubai One were a catalyst, reaffirming that this was the right time with the right team.

Tell us a little more about what we can expect to see on Dubai ON Demand…
You can expect to see a bit of everything! Although predominantly lifestyle, we will be happy to explore niche programming as well.  We have a range of shows at the moment from makeup tips and how-to guides with Aishwarya, to adrenaline-fuelled experiences with Layne, celebrity specials with Dina and comedy news round ups with Nitin. When reviewing all the possible shows we could have done, it came down to what everyone was most passionate about. I believe that if you are passionate about something then you are going to do everything you can to make it work, so I am glad to say we have a team who are each presenting shows they really care about.

Dubai ON Demand is set to go live on YouTube. Why do you think launching an entertainment channel online will be more successful than launching through traditional channels?
I think anyone who is in touch with viewing trends knows that audiences are primarily watching content online than on traditional channels. In the US this will be the first year that online viewing actually surpasses TV viewing. Online viewing is also up by 250% compared to this time last year. Regionally, Saudi Arabia is the largest consumer of You Tube content globally!  As well as all this, we have conducted our own research on where marketers are spending their budgets and they are all shifting towards digital, as the ROI is much clearer than an ad spot on TV.  I have seen this shift through my own company and clients over the last year in particular; so online is the place to be!

You have a number of well-known personalities from regional media that will be collaborating with the channel. How did this come about?
Once I had decided that this was the time for the project, I contacted the team, gave them an idea of what I wanted to work on and asked if they would be interested in exploring it with me. Fortunately they all said yes! We met several times where I shared some of my learning and talked through the vision of the project. I’m very keen to develop a channel of high standard that is as interactive as possible and build a community. We are only as good as our last show and only as good as people think we are, so it really is about involving the public as much as possible. As I had worked with many of the presenters before in the capacity of an Executive Producer, an element of trust was already there and many of them are close friends. Our core team also reached out to a few more personalities who we felt could add value and be a great fit. It’s an exciting, diverse group and I think will be a great team to deliver some interesting and fun content.

Who will Dubai ON Demand be aimed at?
All of our content is in English and focused on the expat community, specifically in Dubai. Having said that, many of our shows have a much more general and wider reach and by being online our content is available for anyone to watch globally. I would say we cover a wide age range with some shows appealing to a younger group, possibly as young as late teens and some probably appealing to an older demographic. We will be putting some niche content out there which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that’s fine. I am quite happy for Dubai On Demand to become a channel of niches; looking into content that local TV wouldn’t necessarily create shows for.

Will there be advertising opportunities with the channel, and if so, how can agencies get in touch?
Yes there will be. We are currently speaking with a number of potential sponsors who are interested in getting involved with the channel. We welcome opportunities to speak with brands and agencies who are interested and we are exploring all suggestions, from product integration to potentially custom producing certain shows. As well as this, we will be offering more traditional advertising options. Agencies can contact info@ti22films.com if they would like to explore advertising opportunities with Dubai On Demand.

How can PRs get involved?
Our team has great relationships with PR companies, and we want to build on those and develop even stronger ties. Our aim is to be the must-watch channel for Dubai, so for that to happen we need to make sure our content is up to date and our cameras and presenters in all the right places. So, we encourage PR companies to get in touch and let us know what’s new! We do want to ensure that the content is a natural fit for our shows and we still prioritise the audiences viewing experience, but if the content will add value, then there is a lot of opportunity there. We would also love to give viewers access to exclusive events and celebrities in town, so we’re interested in everything that’s new and exciting in Dubai.

As Dubai ON Demand aims to fill the gap left by the closure of Dubai One, do you have any specific plans to attract Dubai One’s TV audience digitally?
To be honest, I think it will happen naturally. Our goal is to create interesting, fun content, and get viewers and the audience involved in ensuring we are producing what they want to see. That’s a general strategy to attract an audience and in time I am sure the Dubai One audience will find us too.

The launch of this channel will surely set trends in the UAE – are there any plans to expand Dubai ON Demand?
I’m a believer in having big goals, continually striving for them and setting new ones.  Having said that, I don’t think we should run before we can walk.  The next year is about getting Dubai On Demand out there and ensuring our content is as strong as it can be. Dubai on Demand is very scalable and although we are starting with nine personalities and shows, we have brainstormed over 30 others, so once our foundation is solid, there is definitely scope for the channel to grow.

What can we expect to see next from Ti22 Films?
Our mainstream business – producing films for corporates and broadcasters – is still going strong and we have plans to expand our team and offerings especially with the whole shift in the market towards digital. We hope to stay active on the international festival scene as well, but Dubai On Demand is a big part of our focus for the next year. We have a few other ideas up our sleeve but also believe we need to take one step at a time… so watch this space!

Does accepting press gifts compromise the integrity of journalism?

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An ever-present topic in a journalist’s world, Team TMN reaches out to two such professionals to get their opinions on the subject…

“YES” says Richard Jenkins, Deputy Editor, Hot Media Publishing 

RichJenkins“If a writer is sent, for example, a bottle of expensive perfume, then that brand will be at the forefront of their mind the next time a feature about perfume comes up and will almost certainly be featured”

To answer this question I’d like to start with a quick word from one of the fiercest minds in the last hundred years of writing – George Orwell. He said, “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.” For me, that should always be at the forefront of a journalist’s mind whenever they are working on a story. After all, why would a PR send out a gift if not to try and sway the journalist’s mind? At Hot Media, we are obliged to ask our line manager if a press gift comes to a value above AED75.

That said, it’s rare that I am gifted something material anyway. Most of the things that I am treated to as a lifestyle journalist is experiential – does a business class flight to a press conference in Switzerland count as a ‘gift’? Does dinner with a PR, who happens to look after several brands or clients relevant to our titles?

I think it’s unavoidable for journalists to be influenced by gifts. If a writer is sent, for example, a bottle of expensive perfume, then that brand will be at the forefront of their mind the next time a feature about perfume comes up and will almost certainly be featured. This is unescapable, and shows that from a PR point of view, gifting works.

The only saving grace for myself is that, contrary to Mr. Orwell’s words of warning, lifestyle journalism isn’t exactly cutthroat. I’m not breaking earth-shattering news stories. Generally I’m writing about new hotels or luxury watches, where there really is only one story to tell: these things are good, and here’s why. If I’d stayed for a free night at a hotel and it was terrible, I wouldn’t write about how terrible it was – I just wouldn’t write about it at all.

An example of a different area of journalism where expensive gifts are regular occurrences is in videogames, where the difference between bad and good reviews is more pronounced. The company Ubisoft made bad headlines in 2014 when attendees of a press conference about its new game were gifted expensive Nexus 7 tablets – ostensibly to show off the game’s use of a ‘second screen,’ but really just a pricey way of guaranteeing some positive coverage. George Orwell wouldn’t have been impressed.

 

 

“NO” says Aby Sam Thomas, Managing Editor, Entrepreneur Middle East

AbyThomas“It falls upon us as journalists to ensure that the work we do is never swayed by the gifts that we receive”

If I take the question in its literal sense, then I can confidently say that accepting gifts does not affect the integrity of journalism. A gift is, after all, just an expression of goodwill from one to another, and it shouldn’t really affect either of the parties’ professional lives. We say ‘thank you,’ they say ‘you’re welcome,’ and that’s about it.

However, if the gift is being offered to the journalist as some kind of bribe, then that’s obviously a strict no-no—it thus falls upon us as journalists to ensure that the work we do is never swayed by the gifts that we receive. Of course, taking on such a stand will almost certainly reduce the number of freebies we get in the future—but then again, we are not in the business of news for the gifts, are we? And so, I don’t really think accepting press gifts affects the integrity of journalism—unless, of course, we, as journalists, actually allow it to do so.

Given this scenario, it’s easy to see why media organisations often impose a blanket ban on their journalists accepting gifts of any kind—it may not be the most elegant solution, but it does allow us to avoid ever having to worry about such quandaries in the workplace.

Shouldn’t I be paid for this?

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Wondering how you can start monetising your online video content? Margaret Davies, Global Vice President of Global Media Account Management at Brightcove discusses what you’ve always wanted to know but have been too shy to ask…

With the combination of great content, the right platform and an interested and engaged audience, it’s more than possible to start making more bang for your buck when it comes to your online videos

Increasingly, businesses, marketing and traditional media professionals in the Middle East are looking at how video can help connect them with their target audience more effectively, and there are several factors that are coming together to influence this change. According to a survey by Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), more than 135 million individuals are using the Internet in 22 Arab countries. Most interestingly, 49% of MBRSG respondents watch video clips at least once a day

In other studies, over 60 million young people (15-24 yrs) are going to transition to adulthood in the MENA, according to AMO, and 70% of these entrants are skipping the print versions of media and becoming digital-only consumers, says Strategy&.

In such a rapidly changing reality, traditional communication has to evolve through investing and building strong cross-platform assets – video being the obvious choice due to its impact as well as ability to adapt to traditional and online platforms. But, as this trend continues to grow, it’s important to understand that video not only increases engagement, but supports profitability.

We understand that the idea of monetising content sounds daunting; it’s like the awkward question when you’re out for dinner – who picks up the tab – but rest assured that it’s more straightforward than you would think. Here we’ll discuss three business models where each one works in a different, yet effective way.

Firstly, ad funded video uses payment from advertisers as revenue and often requires no payment from viewers. One of the easier monetisation models to set up; the hard work is attracting advertisers to your content.  What’s the best approach? Advertisers want to find videos that complement the brands that they represent and are more attracted to high quality, professional videos.

Another way to make money from online video is to simply charge people for it, better known as video on demand (VOD).  There are two main forms of paid online video – SVOD (Subscription Video on Demand) and TVOD (Transactional Video on Demand). While VOD is most often associated with entertainment, with high production values such as movies and TV shows, it’s possible to generate revenue by charging people for very specific niche content – for example, you can charge for instructional videos, highly localized news content or business analysis by an expert in the field.  How do you get the most out of VOD?  Make sure you have content that keeps customers coming back for more, either in the form of a video library or recommendations based on previously viewed content.

Finally, there is authenticated viewing. This is the ability to view content on your TV, tablet and smartphones, with all the devices accessing the same content as and when required.  Although it doesn’t always generate a direct stream of revenue, authenticated viewing can be a great value-add for your existing customers to enhance viewing experience. If done well with the right player experience across each device and user friendly log in procedures, authenticated viewing can increase loyalty from your existing customer base and entice new customers.

The growing presence of online video highlights how important this medium is to consumers and customers. With the combination of great content, the right platform and an interested and engaged audience, it’s more than possible to start making more bang for your buck when it comes to your online videos.

 

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications MEA, Dan Corfield

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Name: Dan Corfield
Age: 31
From: London, UK
Current job title: Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Middle East & Africa for Hilton Worldwide

When did you arrive in the UAE?
I first came to the UAE in August 2014 and it’s my first time in the Middle East region.  Prior to that I was based in the UK.

Where did you work prior?
I’ve been with Hilton Worldwide since 2009. Most recently I was a part of Hilton Worldwide’s European Communications team in London as Senior Manager, Brand Public Relations.

What were your first impressions of the media industry in the Middle East?
Busy and interesting – a hotbed of action. I work mostly with media that have an interest in the travel industry and believe our sector has exciting and creative content to offer – everyone loves to travel, as well as hear about it!

Have these impressions changed much?
For me, it’s too early to tell – I’m rapidly discovering an intriguing side to Dubai – food, culture and art. It’s different to home, but I feel energy amongst the media here. I think we all have a crucial role in telling what is a fascinating story and showcasing the ‘secret sauce’ of what makes Dubai a special place to live, work and travel.

Tell us about your new role…
I work as part of a small, yet dynamic team, based at our MEA regional office in Internet City. We oversee communications across a region that consists of almost 150 hotels open or under development.

In my new role, my focus is on the corporate side, working with our senior leaders at a regional and global level – mostly in terms of our multi-brand growth story, profiling our company as an employer of choice, internal communications, as well our corporate responsibility programme ‘Travel With Purpose’ – which deployed signature activities in the Middle East as part of Hilton Worldwide’s Global Week of Service 2014.

Whether it’s our own team members, bloggers or journalists – there is huge appetite to hear about what we do as a company and I love helping my colleagues both at regional and hotel levels to tell that story.

What challenges do you face?
We operate across a diverse region, in multiple time zones and with a variety of stakeholders. Our approach is to act as an internal agency to our ‘clients’ in the business – which keeps us on our toes, given the 24/7 nature of hotels and the extraordinary passion for hospitality within Hilton Worldwide.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
I love hotels – everything about them from the back of house, to the busy lobby and especially the people who work across the many departments. I think this passion creates an incredibly rewarding environment to work in – I enjoy taking something, helping to make it bigger and better and then having the chance to tell everyone about it!

I also love researching Hilton’s almost 100-year history for the work we do. There has been so many Hilton firsts for the travel industry – it’s fascinating to understand Hilton’s international expansion of the 1950s and 60s, when Conrad Hilton was opening hotels in new cities across Europe and Africa. Having worked on the PR for many new hotel openings, from luxury to mid-market, it feels great to be able to play a part in this grand 100-year story.

What’s the most exciting thing to happen so far?
I went along to a pop-up restaurant run by Ghaf Kitchen at The Mojo Gallery – the event blew my socks off with the theatre of the kitchen and a beautifully crafted menu, all set against the backdrop of a contemporary gallery in a gritty industrial zone. It felt like an event you’d find in a trendy space in East London.

What do you think of the quality of media publications in the region?
Outstanding. It’s great to see regional spin-offs of some titles I’m familiar with in the UK and Europe. I also love to keep an eye on media at home – UK and European politics especially.

What sets you apart from other Corporate Communication Managers?
I’m fortunate to work in a sector that I love, that is also interesting to most people. I think getting under-the-skin of an industry is important and my background in hospitality helps me speak to the right people to quickly grasp the task-at-hand.

Work calls via landline, mobile or both?
Either – I’m good on Skype and Whatsapp too. LinkedIn for professional networking.

What’s your most overused saying?
Since I arrived in Dubai, I frequently find myself saying: “I think it’s near to…”

Five things you can’t live without?
New experiences – especially travel, Whatsapp – a great way to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues across time zones, friends and family (count as one), protein shakes and aviation.

If you weren’t in Corporate Communications, what would you be?
An explorer.

 

Brazen launches in Dubai

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Leading UK PR & content marketing company, Brazen, has opened its first global office in Dubai Media City and is now operating across the UK and UAE. Established in 2001, the multi award-winning agency, based in Manchester, offers brands four core areas of expertise – public relations, social media, digital engagement and live events. Brazen’s UAE operation will be headed by Managing Director Louise Jacobson.

“We are excited to be in the UAE to provide a fresh, different and unique approach to communications in the region,” says Louise Jacobson. “We may be the new kids on the block, but we bring a wealth of cutting edge techniques and expertise to the region and leave no stone unturned when it comes to strategic and creative solutions, and we have a proven track record of success. The UAE and Manchester are both places of innovation and vision, and for us there was no question that our first office needed to be here. It’s truly an exciting time for Dubai in particular and we feel privileged to be a part of it. We already have a few opportunities in the pipeline and can’t wait to get started.”

Nina Webb, CEO of Brazen Global adds, “For more than 13 years, Brazen has been home to big and beautiful ideas that make our clients famous. We consistently go the extra mile and our results, awards and international clients, some of which we’ve had for over ten years, speak for themselves. Dubai is rightly considered to be a leading commercial hub with a state-of-the-art infrastructure and a world-class business environment, and is a huge business opportunity for Brazen. We’ve done our homework and we’re confident that our famous brand of PR & content marketing will be as successful in the UAE as it has been in the UK.”

Ketaki Banga promoted at BPG Cohn & Wolfe

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Ketaki Banga has been promoted to the position of Group Account Director at BPG Cohn & Wolfe. Ketaki boasts extensive experience as a media professional with a career that spans 15 years, having held the position of Senior Editor for SME Advisor Middle East, Group Editor for CPI Business and Account Director for Active Public Relations, before joining BPG Cohn & Wolfe in 2013 as Account Director.

In her new position, Ketaki will oversee the corporate, technology and financial PR practices for BPG Cohn & Wolfe, as well as the social media, with clients that include KPMG, Jumbo Group and Brightcove.

Bloomberg Businessweek ME appoints new Editor

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Cathal McElroy has been appointed at the new Editor for Bloomberg Businessweek Middle East. Formerly with ITP Publishing Group, Cathal was Editor for MEP Middle East since 2012 and brings to his new role a range of editorial experience, having previously been based in the UK working with the BBC and in online media before moving to the UAE. In his new position, Cathal will oversee the fortnightly English publication, which provides a compelling mix of local and international business, politics and social content.

104.8 Channel 4 FM launches new breakfast show

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The Channel 4 Radio Network has today launched a new breakfast show – ‘Mornings with Marwan & Eve.’ Scheduled every weekday morning from 6-10am on 104.8 Channel 4 FM, the breakfast show is co-hosted by UAE-based media personality Marwan Al Awadi, also known as ‘DJ Bliss’, and resident Channel 4 radio presenter Eve Jaso, who has been hosting the breakfast show for the last 12 months.

“I’ve searched every corner of the globe for the right person to take the reins of this show, but only after taking a step back, and re-reading my own mission statement of, ‘building a show specifically for the UAE’ did it dawn on me that the answer to achieving that was right here,” says Tom Ferguson, Programme Director, Channel 4 Radio Network. “If you’re looking for a more real and relatable conversation in the morning, I’m confident ‘Mornings with Marwan & Eve‘ is exactly what you’ve been waiting for. It’s going to be full of energy, cheeky (but not childish) and home to the biggest prizes and the most hit music.”