CNN Arabic launches internship program

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CNN Arabic has formed a new partnership with UAE-based community network program Promise of a Generation (POAG) to launch the CNN e7 internship program, an annual program that will support POAG’s vision of creating a generation of socially responsible women. The internship, which will take place in CNN Arabic’s Dubai bureau, will follow a rigorous application and selection process directly reviewed by CNN Arabic’s professionals and top journalists to shortlist 35 participants every year; 70% Emirati and 30% long-term residents from across the seven Emirates. The candidates will be given a chance to engage in world affairs as well as an opportunity to learn from experienced CNN professionals.

“Our region has talented young women and it is in our interest to identify them and offer them an opportunity to intern with CNN,” says Caroline Faraj, VP of Arabic Services, CNN. “We are excited to welcome the e7 interns and are proud to be able to offer this opportunity as it diversifies our workplace and allows us to play an active role in the enrichment of the community.”

Adela Acevedo-Sarna, Co-Founder and Co-Visionary, e7, POAG, adds “We are thrilled to partner with CNN Arabic in our vision towards an improved future for the next generation of female leaders in the UAE. A major pillar in this initiative is to involve our wider community in creating a positive impact among our communities aligned with the UAE’s vision and strategic objectives.”

Pura and simple

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When Team TMN found out about a new meal delivery service that promises to provide healthy results through clean eating, we couldn’t wait to put it to the test…

What: Pura – Clean food, clean body meal delivery programme.

Where: Delivered to your door

When: Meals delivered the day before consumption, at a pre-selected time slot

The Promise: “Founded by best friends and avid chefs Colm Carmody and Gavin Gleeson who, between them, have worked in five star hotels and michelin-starred restaurants, Pura began as a fusion of Gavin’s love of fitness and Colm’s passion to create healthy, tasty food. All plans are personalised to provide maximum results.”

Did it Deliver? The process for signing up to Pura is not a massively short one, but it does ensure that all dietary requirements are taken into consideration, leaving you with a highly personalised meal plan. Following a quick phone call from a representative to discuss our meal plan options, Team TMN were presented with a form to fill in which asked questions about diet, aims for the programme, intolerances and preferences. We proved a fairly fussy bunch, requesting a mainly plant-based diet with some fish, no dairy, no mushrooms and no aubergines. After the form was submitted, a menu was drafted and sent across to us for approval.

When our first box of food turned up, containing multiple containers and meals, it was a bit like a healthy, foodie Christmas. There was a massive amount delivered, all super fresh and colourful in appearance. The volume of food that arrived was a little intimidating at first, but when this was broken down into the portions and meals specified by our meal plan, it seemed a lot more manageable and exciting – the prospect of a healthy eating programme that encouraged us to eat was a massive bonus for Team TMN!

Overall, our meals were incredibly tasty. Pura’s focus on macronutrients, as opposed to calorie-counting, means that ‘clean’ ingredients are chosen for their nutritional value and positive impacts as opposed to calorie content, which kept everything fresh and flavoursome, and feeling a whole lot more sustainable than the average diet plan which relies on depravation and will power alone. The protein pancakes for breakfast, with fresh blueberries, proved a particular hit with Team TMN, so much so that we are still craving them. Each meal contains protein, carbohydrate and fat elements – for example, white fish comes with a side of fibrous veg and coconut oil – and all of these were served in perfect portions so we were left feeling full without feeling like we’d overdone it.

By the end of the month-long meal plan, we felt considerably lighter and more energetic. The fact that our mid-sections were thinning out was a massive bonus, considering that health and fitness were our initial goals, as opposed to weight loss. With phone calls from Pura every week to see how we were doing, alongside emails to check our progress, the combination of automated and personal service allowed us to make any changes without skipping a beat. We were inspired to continue a clean eating lifestyle and can still feel improvements! The plan has definitely helped Team TMN on our health kick and it’s a great all-rounder for people who want to feel better about themselves and their bodies by creating a sustainable lifestyle that’s a lot more convenient than others on offer. We also loved the fact that the individual meals were ready to go, so all we had to do was carry our coolbag with us and we were set for the day!

The Verdict: Pura is a fantastic option for people with a genuine interest in being healthy and treating their body well. The macro nutrient focus of the meal plans means that meals are individually tailored to help you meet goals without feeling deprived or starved. Quality of ingredients and regularity of meals makes Pura a considerably better investment than a lot of other plans or ‘detox’ programmes, and we would definitely recommend this to our gym loving friends, as the meals on offer can be specifically designed to perfectly accompany different levels of exercise. The way Pura meals are designed and delivered also makes them perfect for professionals looking for a health-kick, as they require nothing in the way of food prep and can be carried around for the whole day – allowing you to eat well-sized portions of healthy, clean food while not having to slow down.

Augustus launches in Dubai

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New media advertising company Augustus, has launched in Dubai. Located in JLT, based out of Google Astrolabs, Augustus was Founded by Richard FitzGerald and is supported by a board of advisors including Zee Kane, former CEO of The Next Web and Helen Al Uzaizi, Founder of child entrepreneur program, BizWorld.org.

Augustus focuses on providing brands and agencies with services including; social media training, community management and strategy. The company also manages and operates publishing brand, Lovin Dubai and is the regional representative for Snaplytics, as well as other media software in the region.

“Augustus is a fusion between an agency and a media publisher, designed for new media,” says Richard FitzGerald, Managing Director, Augustus. “We decided to look at media consumption today and while many social platforms, tech companies and even publishing brands are being created to cater to the different ways people consume media, there aren’t many marketing companies created to provide services for these new mediums.”

In The Hot Seat – Jonathan Shillington

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Jonathan Shillington, Managing Director at Grayling Middle East, offers his advice to leaders in the communications industry and discusses how agencies must adapt to their environment in the Middle East…

Name: Jonathan Shillington

Age: 45

From: United Kingdom

Current Job Title: Managing Director, Middle East, Grayling

When did you first arrive in Dubai?

I have worked in Dubai since 2012, but only fully moved here in June. I am currently getting to know Dubai from a different perspective as a new resident, with my family – which is very different from flying in and out for work!

Where did you work prior?

I was Managing Director of Grayling’s business in Qatar, and for several years led an embedded team of advisers at Qatar Foundation’s communication directorate. Before that I was the head of Grayling UK’s Corporate and Financial practice in London. I started my career in London, working in marketing for a fund management company.

What were your first impressions of the media industry in the Middle East?

Coming from London, which has such a diverse, investigative and questioning media tradition, it did take a while to understand and appreciate some of the differences in the two media landscapes. What works in London does not necessarily work in Dubai, Doha or Muscat. Too many expats come here expecting to impose their home country’s ways of doing things, without taking the time to develop an understanding of the cultural differences and attributes of each country in the GCC and wider Middle East.

How has your opinion changed?

As economic conditions have become tougher in the last year due mainly to falling oil prices, communications and marketing budgets have tightened across the board in the GCC. Organisations are demanding more and more from PR – and are having to really demonstrate the tangible benefits of communications to their boards – usually in terms of proving how it is ultimately benefiting the bottom line. Helping clients to gain an increased share of voice by comparison to their competitors for the right reasons is key to what we do. This isn’t about lots of press releases every week or social media posts every day, but it is about ensuring the delivery of really great content and developing real understanding and relationships with people. This is about listening to and talking with your audiences as well as being as transparent as possible about how you conduct your business.

Tell us about your current role…

I am the Managing Director for Grayling’s business in the Middle East – responsible for all aspects of our PR business in this region. Absolutely key to what I do is making sure we provide the best possible service to our clients. We have long established offices in Dubai and Doha, and last year we opened an office in Muscat. Last week, we signed an exclusive affiliation agreement with PGt Advertising in Tehran, which is an exciting development for us as Iran becomes increasingly open for international business.

What challenges do you face?

You have got to be able to multi-task and keep calm under pressure. When I started out in the mid-90s you would tend to finish work at 6pm and that would be it until the next day. Now it is pretty much non-stop – you are on call 24/7. If you are not able to check your emails in the evening and on the weekend, PR probably is not the right career for you.

At the same time you have to be disciplined about organising your time so you can manage a decent work/life balance. You have certainly got to be flexible, as you never quite know what each day will bring, no matter how much you plan ahead!

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

Doing great work for clients, which is acknowledged by them is always fulfilling. At the same time, seeing our advice or work actually make a difference in terms of the desired outcome for the client is also very rewarding. Working with a team of people that are positive, keen to learn and willing to go the extra mile for the company and our clients is also key. We are lucky to have an incredibly bright, talented and diverse team here at Grayling, and a really positive and respectful culture – which is actually not as common as it should be, agency-side.

What do you think is the secret to successful leadership?

Leaders should not only be prepared to take responsibility and make difficult decisions, but they should also empower their teams, rather than micro-manage them. Being approachable and doing, not just talking, is also so important. Providing clear guidance on what is expected of your team and what the company is trying to achieve is also vital. People need to understand what they are working towards, and how the business is performing. I try to encourage colleagues to come forward with ideas and, if necessary, question things that they don’t feel are quite right. Everyone should have a voice and feel they are valued and respected.

What advice would you offer to someone looking to start a career in media in the UAE?

Read a lot. make sure you understand the media landscape across the country and develop your writing skills either in Arabic or English (or both, if possible!). Get creative with your job applications, and be tenacious. Do not just email over your CV. Do your research on the firm before contacting them and find out what they are working on – and think through how you can actually help them in a way that will get you noticed. It is all about getting your foot in the door. Once your foot is in the door and you do a good job, you will be up and away.