Following the appointment of Manuel Arnaut as Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Arabia, the title has welcomed Alexandra Venison to the editorial team as Beauty Editor. Having worked across fashion and beauty titles including Emirates Woman at Motivate Publishing and VIVA and Harper’s Bazaar Arabia at ITP Media Group, Alexandra will head up all beauty content in her new role.
Thomson Reuters has promoted Shane McGinley to the role of Head of Editorial Content. Having joined Zawya in 2016 as Web Editor, Shane previously worked with 7DAYS as Business Reporter and most recently with Arabian Business, a publication of ITP Media Group, as Executive Editor. In his new role, he will oversee and develop content for a wide range of digital properties within the Emerging Business department and work across its regional websites, including Zawya.com, Salaam Gateway, My Salaam, Thomson Reuters Projects and Accelerate SME.
PR professionals Peta Thorpe-Evans and Chloe Ragg have teamed up to launch new communications agency, Soho Communications. With experience in the PR and marketing industry, Peta previously worked as Marketing Director at Praias Boutique and recently as a freelance PR, Social Media and Marketing Consultant across a portfolio of clients such as MA Models, Lucia Clinic and Vii Dubai.
Chloe brings with her, experience in media and PR having worked with Gulf News Broadcasting, Time Out Dubai andcurrently as Managing Director of Fox and Hound Communications. The new agency will operate as a PR, social media and events consultancy with a focus on lifestyle and hospitality clientele across the UAE.
“We’re both really excited to announce the launch of Soho Communications in Dubai,” says Peta Thorne-Evans, Co-Founder, Soho Communications. “We’ve both been working separately across the hospitality and lifestyle division for quite some time and have seen a real opportunity to join forces and work together on offering clients a personal, in-house approach.”
AMEinfo, part of Mediaquest Corporation, has welcomed Hina Latif to the role of Journalist. With over six years of experience in the media and publishing industry, Hina previously worked with Ahlan! magazine, a publication of ITP Media Group, 7DAYS and most recently with dmg events. In her new role, she will write across AMEinfo’s digital platforms and work towards gaining coverage of the biggest stories of the day, the week and the year.
“We have ambitious plans for the future and with my appointment, I am confident that I will contribute to the continued positive development of AMEinfo,” says Hina.
Ahlan! magazine, part of ITP Media Group, has made major appointments and structural changes to reveal a brand new editorial team. Mark Dinning, previously Editor-in-Chief of British film magazine, Empire has been appointed to the role of Editorial Director. He brings with him extensive experience in the publishing and entertainment industry and will focus on new projects as well as the development of the brand’s digital and print portfolio.
Following the appointment of Andre Neveling as Editor, Ellen Kerry will be joining him as Deputy Editor. Having previously worked in the UK with heat magazine as Style Editor and most recently as a freelance Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Editor, Ellen will take on her new role and work alongside Andre across local and international editorial content of the title.
Elizabeth Ingram will take on the role of Managing Art Director, ITP Consumer. With experience in working on global media titles including Time Out magazine as Group Art Director and Grazia magazine as Senior Designer, Elizabeth’s new role will be to oversee the art direction of the Ahlan! brand.
Previously Advertising Director at Ahlan! magazine, Walid Chehab has been promoted to Commercial Director of the Ahlan! Group. In his new role, he will be responsible for driving the revenue across the brand’s print, digital and event portfolio.
Ahlan! magazine, part of ITP Media Group, has appointed Andre Neveling to the role of Editor. With over ten years of regional and international experience in the media industry, Andre previously worked in South Africa with Media24 and in the UK with Northern and Shell Media Group, before joining ITP Media Group in 2015, where he worked as Online Editor of Ahlan! and then Editor of Time Out Abu Dhabi. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the magazine and its website as well as leading news, interviewing celebrities for features and deciding on cover lines on a weekly basis.
John Marsland, former Art Director at Motivate Publishing has gone freelance. John brings with him 11 years of experience and has worked in the UK as a Product Photographer and in Dubai with ITP Media Group and BNC publishing before joining Motivate, where he worked on illustrating content and photography as well as across consumer and customer publications including Emirates Woman, What’s On, Emirates Man, Dubai Voyager, Good Magazine, Cyclist Middle East and Campaign. He will continue to work as a published illustrator and on photography for both in studio and on location as well as offer branding and graphic design services.
“While I had a fantastic time working at Motivate, I felt like the time was right to broaden my creative horizons,” says John. “I’m really excited about taking this next step and seeing what challenges lie ahead.”
Time Out Dubai, part of ITP Media Group has appointed Tim Skinner to the role of Deputy Digital Editor. With experience in the UK’s media industry, Tim previously worked with Telecoms.com as Features Editor before relocating to Dubai. In his new role he will join the digital team and contribute towards the brand’s growth across the Middle East, working with PRs to secure exclusive content and cross-platform projects.
International business communications consultancy, Instinctif Partners Middle East has welcomed David Thompson and Judecyll Eguia to its Dubai team following a regional expansion plan. With experience in journalism and previously a business-to-business magazine Editor at ITP Media Group, David has been appointed to the role of Consultant and will now manage the English language content and media relations for the regional and international press. Judecyll has experience in office management and generating new client leads as well as a background in government liaising and coordination. Taking up her new role as Account Manager, she will manage and work on developing communications strategies for Instinctif Partners’ portfolio of clients.
“We are delighted to welcome David and Judecyll to our Dubai team,” says Samantha Bartel, Managing Partner, Instinctif Partners Middle East. “They each bring a wealth of experience and unique knowledge as well as expertise and with their help I am confident our offer and reputation in the region will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Paromita Dey, Editor, Logistics News ME at BNC Publishing talks to TMN about her current role and what she thinks about the media industry in the Middle East…
Name: Paromita Dey
Age: 30
From: India
Current job title: Editor, Logistics News ME, BNC Publishing
When did you first arrive in Dubai?
2014
Where did you work prior?
I worked on Construction Week at ITP Media Group as a Reporter and before that, I worked with an independent real estate magazine, Gulf Property, for a year. Prior to arriving in Dubai, I worked in Oman with daily newspaper, Muscat Daily as a Senior Business Reporter and prior to that, in India with an online news portal as a Reporter.
What were your first impressions of the media industry in the Middle East?
Although we say that ‘first impression is the last impression’, it has not been the case with my first impression of the media industry in the Middle East. Coming from a journalism background in India where media is considered to be the fifth pillar of the economy, I was definitely in for a shock since the Middle East was still way behind in terms of exposure and content production.
Has your opinion changed much?
Yes, I would say the opinion is changing at a slow pace. Slowly and steadily, the industry is opening up to a lot of global exposure, which is pretty much needed to survive in these times.
Tell us about your current role…
My current role as the Editor of the Logistics News ME entails me to write about the thriving logistics, supply chain, shipping and transportation industry in the Middle East. It also includes taking full control of the content production, design of the magazine and timely delivery of the product.
What challenges do you face?
The main challenge that I face in my job is the adherence to deadlines. Even if one person fails to stick to the mentioned deadline, we have to burn the midnight oil to put the issue to bed on time.
How do you overcome writer’s block?
With music…
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is the moment when I receive the first copy of my magazine on the first day of every month. It represents my dedication and the hard work that I had put through in getting a fabulous product out for my readers.
How would you rather be contacted at work?
At work, I prefer for people to contact me through my official email. Receiving a phone call might be a bit difficult sometimes due to work commitments.
How has digital media impacted the role of the readers in the magazine industry in the UAE?
Print and digital media fill in the gaps where the other lacks. Print has its own brand recognition and high level of engagement, whereas digital media is more suitable for video storytelling and wide exposure. Readers enjoy both depending on the available circumstances.
Is traditional media still relevant in the UAE today?
Traditional media, generally referred to as print, is still quite relevant in the UAE because it is tangible, creates a huge amount of engagement, establishes the brand and creates a feeling of legitimacy for the advertisers.
Has the region’s diverse audience posed as a limitation or advantage in producing editorial content?
It has been a mixed bag. Not knowing the local language posed limitations, but one should know the ways to work around it to produce quality editorial content. And I have had to learn to do that.
Describe yourself in five words…
Hardworking, focused, charming, punctual and friendly
What’s your most overused saying?
I will get back to you…. (Although I do make it a point to get back to each one).
What’s the most exciting thing that has happen to you in your career?
Everyday has been new and exciting with different experiences. I can’t single out any particular episode.
Five things you can’t live without?
My appointments diary, my Samsung S7 Edge, my iPod, my Guess wristwatch and L’Oreal Slim Eyeliner.
If you weren’t in your current role, what would you be doing?
If it wasn’t for my current role, I would be a software engineer and in addition to that, I would be a choreographer.
What is your favourite form of media (i.e; TV, radio, print)?
It must be print because nothing still beats picking up a copy of a magazine or newspaper and reading it along with a hot cup of coffee.
What advice would you offer to someone looking to start a career in the media industry in the UAE?
The media industry in the UAE is quite competitive. Three tips for a young and budding journalist in the country – be at the top of their game every time, build contacts and be original.