Baroque Film Launches

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Dubai-based creative production company Baroque, has launched Baroque Film. The new unit, which was formed as a result of Baroque’s acquisition of Milan-based Dress Code Film, will develop quality content from filmmakers and storytellers internationally. Baroque Film will be headed by Lorenzo Bassano, Co-Founder of Dress Code Film and will focus on producing culturally-tailored solutions for brands and agencies.

“Lorenzo and I go back a long way,” says Ali Mansoor, Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Baroque. “Now, as he takes on the leadership role at Baroque Film, Lorenzo will pass on his expertise and passion for film as well as his skills in interactive filmmaking for new media platforms to our roster of directors to ensure that we create groundbreaking work with passion, love and care.”

APO launches MENA Wire

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APO, the press release wire for Africa and media relations relating to Africa, has launched MENA Wire, a press release distribution and monitoring service dedicated to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The new service aims to be the market leader in press release distribution and monitoring in the region within the next 24 months and has a network that extents to print media, broadcasters, blogs and social media in 18 countries. Content from MENA wire is redistributed by several Middle Eastern and international partners, including; SyniGate, the Middle East North Africa Financial Network, Bloomberg Terminal, Thomson Reuters Terminal, Lexis Nexis and Dow Jones Factiva.

“The unprecedented success of Africa Wire, APO’s press release distribution service in Africa, has catalysed an increase in client demand for a Middle East service with the same quality and return on investment,” says Nicolas Pompigne-Mognar, Founder and CEO, APO. “At APO we listen to our clients and mould our service according to their needs. If our clients are happy, we are happier. I’m confident that MENA Wire will become the market leader within the next 24 months.”

Insignia launches Traverger

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Insignia Worldwide Group has launched Traverger, a digital brand engagement agency dedicated to the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. The agency aims to propel travel and destination brands to the forefront of online conversations through equipping clients to engage with increasingly elusive guests and time-poor travellers.

“Travel and hospitality brands have complex and unique marketing needs that are different from traditional FMCG products,” days Gaurav Sinha, Founder and CEO, Insignia Worldwide Group. “Online visibility and engagement is at the heart of driving innovation in brand communication and marketing Our expertise in strategic planning and understanding of key feeder market dynamics is complimented by our insights on how potential guests or customers interact with online brand messages.”

Q Communications and PRCA MENA launch Qcademy

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Q Communications, in partnership with PRCA MENA, has launched Qcademy, a training academy that will provide each member of Q Communications‘ 18-strong team with access to PRCA MENA events alongside a rigorous, tailored programme of both internal and external training. PR and Communications professionals will be allocated a training budget as well as a bespoke guide and staff will be able to learn new skills, develop best practice and stay abreast of the latest developments in areas that they already operate in. The CPD-acredited programme includes both face-to-face training in the region as well as webinars and will be overseen from PRCA MENA’s office in Dubai.

“We are delighted to launch Qcademy, the first of its kind in-house training academy in the region,” says Katie Harvey MPRCA, Managing Partner, Q Communications. “In collaboration with PRCA MENA, the Qcademy initiative has been in the works for several months and we have designed a programme tailored for the UAE market and our team. At Q Communications, our team is the most important component of the agency; so developing a training academy is high priority for Elsa and myself.”

Leanne Foy MPRCA, General Manager, PRCA MENA, adds “I am thrilled that Q Communications have put together a comprehensive training plan and are investing in their staff with both internal and external training, developing talented PR and communications professionals.”

gourmet gets a new look

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The latest issue of gourmet magazine, part of ITP Publishing Group, has been given a new look that features more up-to-the-minute content from a new editorial team. The home-grown monthly publication was redesigned over the summer to celebrate its fifth birthday this month and will now be headed up by Editorial Director Mark Dinning, Editor Paul Clifford and Art Editor Elizabeth Stanley.

As well as a new design, a number of new regular features have been created including; a gadget section, barbecuing guide The Grill and Your Kitchen Nightmares, in which celebrity chef Greg Malouf answers readers’ questions about kitchen conundrums. The updated September 2016 edition of the magazine will also be the last issue helmed by former Editor-In-Chief, Jasmine Bandali.

WhiteFox and Yardstick to partner for new media portfolio

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WhiteFox Media Group is set to partner with Yardstick Marketing to launch a full media portfolio for the LuLu Group’s Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi. The portfolio, set to launch in November 2016, will consist of an online platform, digital magazine and a print magazine titled @AWM, which will be available in both English and Arabic. With a total estimated audience of over 100,000 for the portfolio via an initial print circulation of 10,000 copies, direct customer databases and online readers, @AWM will be distributed quarterly around the Al Wahda Mall, as well as in surrounding hotels and residential apartments.

“We are very excited to be working with Al Wahda Mall, Yardstick Marketing and a company as established as the LuLu Group,” says Chris Haill, Partner and Group Commercial Director, WhiteFox Media Group. “The magazine and associated media will offer the retailers an opportunity to promote their brands, products and services to a wider audience through our cross platform offering. Lastly, we believe the new partnership can increase the footfall to the mall through offering added value to the Al Wahda experience.”While we will be proactively speaking with brands, agencies and PR companies, I would encourage all to get in touch with me to be part of the capitals newest and most exciting media launch in recent years.”

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.”

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.”

Condé Nast Traveller Middle East website launches

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Condé Nast Traveller Middle East, an Arab Publishing Partners (APP) publication, has launched cntravellerme.com. Aiming to be the ultimate online destination for all things travel, the new website features a daily edit of stories, guides and tips on destinations across the globe, as well as new image galleries, expert opinions, news and special video content.

CNN launches Native 2.4

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CNN International Commercial – CNNIC – has formed a new partnership with native advertising platform Sharethrough to launch Native 2.4, a new solution that offers dynamic native and branded content advertising formats in prominent positions across CNN Digital platforms. The exclusive new formats and templates were developed and tailored to offer a seamless user experience and value to CNN’s advertisers. Native 2.4 features several key benefits, including; new dynamic formats, smart placement of native advertising and intelligent data insight.

“We are bringing together the full suite of new formats, prominent and seamless placement and the power of data and creative content for clients to truly engage with CNN audiences in a native environment,” says Rob Bradley, Director of Digital Revenue and Data, CNN International Commercial. “The result is an engaging brand storytelling experience created for peak performance and with the flexibility of dynamic optimisation. In an age of overused buzzwords, this solution, which we’re calling native 2.4, finally adds real substance to the term native advertising.”

Dan Greenberg, CEO and Co-Founder, Sharethrough, adds “Like us at Sharethrough, CNN believes in a future where ads are built on a foundation of respect and quality – ads that fit in. The CNN team has enthusiastically embraced this new advertising model and are using the Sharethrough platform in a unique and sophisticated way. When combined with the high quality content being created by CNN’s brand content studio, native ads have the power to engage and persuade unlike any traditional marketing strategy.”