Posts

CARMA launches media intelligence mobile app

/in , /by

Global media intelligence provider, CARMA has launched a mobile app for its Insight portal delivery platform. The mobile app will provide PR and communications clients with multi-lingual media monitoring tools and analysis to their smartphones. The features of the new app will also cover global digital and broadcast media as well as print media and is compatible with both iOS and android devices.

“As technology develops and news media becomes increasingly social, it’s vital for the PR industry and c-level executives to be able to track conversations about their company, brands and products at any time, wherever they might be,” says Mazen Nahawi, CEO, CARMA. “Our app is fully customisable and enables content to be shared across various social platforms.”

Meltwater promotes Christo Van Wyk

/in , /by

Global media intelligence firm, Meltwater, has promoted Christo Van Wyk to the role of Area Director for India and the Middle East. With over eight years of experience, Christo joined Meltwater in 2009 as Client Relations Account Manager and was most recently Client Acquisition and Sales Consultant. In his new role, he will be responsible for leading Meltwater’s sales and customer service across the Middle East and India.

“I am looking forward to my new responsibilities and helping to grow our presence in the Middle East and India, which are both exciting markets,” says Christo. “With growing internet and mobile penetration and a tech savvy younger generation, companies in these markets are looking to maximise the value of data to reach new demographics and adapt their marketing strategies based on outside insights, which is where we come in.”

PHD expands regional network

/in , /by

Dubai-based media and communications agency, PHD has launched its operations in Lebanon as a part of its regional expansion plan. With an office in Beirut, PHD will bring its expertise and working methods to manage the interest of its clients across Lebanon and the Levant region. The new launch will also see the appointment of Maroun Hassoun to the role of General Manager, PHD Lebanon to oversee the team and report to Elda Choucair, CEO of PHD MENA.

“Having spent my entire career in the marketing industry, I can say that I have watched the rise of PHD with awe,” says Maroun. “I feel an equal sense of responsibility in maintaining and developing this mindset and excitement about the opportunity to tangibly make a difference in a market I know so well.”

Five Minute Focus – PR Pressure

/in , /by

Team TMN sits down with Sarah Mohamed, Founder and Director at Secret PR to find out more about the second edition of PR Pressure…

 Tell us a bit about PR Pressure and when it will be held.

Launched in May 2016, PR Pressure is a series of conferences that address the challenges faced in the industry. Topics for the conference are chosen by the target audience to ensure that they’re relevant and up to date. Our aim is to bring media and communications professionals together to share their experiences and help the industry come up with pragmatic solutions for the region. The second edition of PR Pressure will take place on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at the Metropolitan Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road.

What is the concept behind the conference?

PR Pressure is a place where everyone’s voice is heard. There are many existing conferences around the region that discuss similar topics and issues, however, speakers are usually redundant and many times, the smaller agencies are under-represented. We cannot grow without acknowledging different professional levels and this serves as a platform for students, freelancers, juniors and seniors to voice themselves.

Did you face any challenges when you launched the event last year?

I think our biggest challenge last year was setting the foundations for PR Pressure. Standing out from other similar platforms and creating a solid brand for PR Pressure was a priority. The team and I had to work on organising the event while also managing our existing clients, it was quite tough to manage our time internally while still maintaining a healthy work/life balance.

Why do you think the Middle East PR industry needs a platform like PR Pressure?

PR Pressure is not just for the suits and ties, it is a casual open discussion where one can ask a question and not feel like they’re the only one who’s not in the know. I feel that the industry needed a platform like this, with a unique environment unlike other such events.

How will 2017’s PR Pressure be different from the first one that was held last year?

Aside from the different topics, we’ve decided to include more people on each panel to better capture the various sectors of our industry. Last year’s attendees requested for more in-house and media insight and that’s something we’ve worked to achieve for this year. Unlike last year’s conference, the sessions in March will also have live English and Arabic interpretation to allow more people to get involved despite our language barriers.

 What will be the topics of discussion at the second edition of the conference?

The topics for the conference are selected keeping in mind the common challenges faced and suggestions from our PR and media circles. There exists a level of uncertainty about the legal aspects of our industry and so this year, one of the sessions, ‘Maintaining proper form’ will feature lawyers who will shed light on the same. The conference will also address other topics such as complexities of the Arabic language and challenges it presents for copywriters as well as the future of PR in the ever-growing digital realm.

Tell us about your target audience.

Our target audience includes media, marketing and communications professionals as well as students who are looking to specialise in these fields. We have partnered with MEPRA and the PRCA this year to try and get more in-house representatives involved. In the future we would like to welcome more attendees from the client side as well – although I’d have to make sure our primary target is open to that first!

What is the reaction you expect following the event?

I am confident that our attendees will love PR Pressure but the real reaction I hope to achieve is proactive change. I want people to take what they learned at PR Pressure and implement it − that is when we will know that PR Pressure was a true success.

Tell us about the key speakers participating at PR Pressure.

We try our best to ensure that we accurately represent the industry in the region and give the audience a greater variety when it comes to speakers. This year we are lucky to have panellists from local, regional and international companies as well as freelancers, journalists, lawyers, consultants and government agencies. The speakers include industry professionals from companies such as Tactics, The Qode, IHC, Al Roeya Newspaper, Digital Ink, Cicero & Bernay, Procter & Gamble, Cedar White Bradley Group, MCG Associates and the Dubai Sports Council.

How does one register to attend the event?

People can register by filling out a form on our website and for group registrations, you can send through delegate and company names to info@prpressure.com.

 What does the future hold for PR Pressure?

Most of the audience and participants of last year’s event said that they wanted more PR Pressures, so we are looking at either increasing the frequency of our conferences or creating other smaller get-togethers through the year. While we haven’t yet thought about expanding into more countries within the region, it is something that we could consider in the future. For now, I would like to focus more on the UAE as there is still so much to be done.

Sayidaty launches AboutHer.co

/in , /by

Women’s magazine Sayidaty has launched AboutHer.co – an English language lifestyle platform that aims to provide relevant content to women globally, covering a wealth of diverse topics. The website will focus on the triumphs and challenges of women in the region and will feature reports, advice, interviews and news on celebrities, nutrition, fashion, beauty and décor trends.

“AboutHer.co is the result of a lot of research and several studies, which reveal there is a need to portray Arab women in a different, more realistic light, underlining all the ups and downs and highs and lows,” says Mohammad Al-Harthi, Editor-in-Chief, AboutHer.co, Sayidaty and Al-Jamila. “It plays a leading role in Sayidaty’s broader, intercultural dialog and is a pillar in the Sayidaty global initiative that aims to promote diversity.”

Speakers announced for inaugural Let’s Talk event

/in , /by

Fekra Communications reveals speakers for the upcoming event, ‘Let’s Talk: Crisis Communications.’ Under the patronage of Sheikh Juma bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, the event is set to take place from March 8-9, 2017 at The Address Hotel Dubai Mall.

The panel of speakers will include:

  • Samer Costantini, Advisor at UAE Federal Competitiveness & Statistics Authority
  • Mazen Nahawi, Chief Executive Officer at CARMA
  • Saada Hammad, Regional PR Director at Ogilvy PR
  • Hassan Fattah, Partner at Brunswick Group
  • Moustafa Hamwi, Author and Speaker
  • Fakher Daghestani, Communications Regional Director at Boeing
  • Ahmed Naguib, Founder and CEO at El Masna3
  • Hicham El Amrani, Managing Director at ACG Communication & Training Consulting
  • Alexander McNabb, Digital Media & Communications Consultant
  • Maya Hojeij, Senior Bulletin Editor & Presenter at Dubai Media Incorporated
  • Rasha Kashkoush, Head of Communications MENA at Facebook
  • Saad Al Rubaiaan, Government Communication Advisor
  • Leila Hatoum, Senior Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Newsweek ME
  • Angus MacCormick, Vice President of Emerging Markets at vArmour
  • Mamoon Sbeih, Managing Director – Arab Region at APCO Worldwide
  • Fadl El Tarzi, Chief Executive Officer at Socialeyez
  • Brandy Scott, Presenter at Dubai Eye
  • Jonathan Shillington, Managing Director at Grayling Middle East
  • Khaled Abdulla, Head of Corporate Communication at Barclays MENA
  • Mohamed Al Nuaimi, Chief Executive Officer at Mawarid Finance
  • Khaled Hassan, Digital Marketing Director at IBM
  • Fadi Salem, Research Fellow at Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government.

New Op-Ed Columnist joins Arab News

/in , /by

Saudi Arabian daily newspaper, Arab News has welcomed Yasar Yakis to the role of Op-Ed Columnist. Previously Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Yasar is recognised as a founding member of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party and most recently worked at Oxford University as Senior Associate Member. In his new role, he will write a weekly column on Turkish, Arab, regional and international affairs that will be featured on Arab News’s print and online editions.

“Yakis joins the newspaper’s growing pool of influential columnists,” says Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief, Arab News. “Mr Yakis brings a broad global knowledge, many years of experience as Turkey’s chief diplomat, as well as a deep understanding of Arab affairs. We are thrilled that he has joined our pool of expert opinion writers.”

Sept PR welcomes new Account Manager

/in , /by

Dubai-based lifestyle and communications agency, Sept PR has appointed Karima Karmouzi to the role of Account Manager. With over ten years of experience in marketing and PR, Karima previously worked as Marketing and PR Manager in the UK, Morocco and Oman. In her new role, she will focus on developing strong PR and communications strategies across GCC networks and secure top tier Arab media opportunities for client campaigns.

“Sept PR has an outstanding reputation in the market and looks after an exciting portfolio of clients,” says Karima. “We’re seeing a shift in the PR landscape which incorporates a consolidated digital element to campaigns so it’s exciting to be a part of an agency that recognises this and drives this forward.”

To Be Announced launches in the region

/in , /by

To Be announced (TBA), a creative solutions provider, founded by Mahmoud El Abed, has launched. With over seven years of experience, Mahmoud, previously worked with Addmind Group as PR Manager and most recently with COPIA Group as Communications Manager where he worked in client servicing and created marketing and PR strategies for clients. The new agency will operate from UAE and Lebanon with the aim to offer tailored strategies by forging relationships and delivering personalised services to clients.

“At a time where the current market is saturated with brands competing for attention, To Be Announced – (TBA) sees that the only way forward is with more customized and tailor made strategies,” says Mahmoud. “My idea is to collaborate and work closely with businesses to make their brands more relatable, connectable and desirable.”

In The Hot Seat – Crystal Chesters

/in , /by

Crystal Chesters, Group Editor for Hospitality titles at BNC Publishing tells TMN about her current role and what she thinks about the media industry in the Middle East…

Name: Crystal Chesters

Age: 30

From: Scotland

Current job title: Group Editor for Hospitality titles at BNC Publishing

When did you first arrive in Dubai?

November 2013

Where did you work prior?

Prior to arriving in Dubai I worked for VisitScotland looking after stakeholder communications and producing its publications for the tourism industry. I later moved to Dubai, where I worked as Editor of Hotelier Middle East at ITP Publishing before joining BNC Publishing.

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

It’s very fast-paced with small teams looking after large workloads.

Has your opinion changed much?

Not really, but now I’m used to it!

Tell us about your current role…

I oversee BNC Publishing’s hospitality portfolio, which comprises of the events, publications and digital activity of Catering News Middle East and Hotel News Middle East. I am also still the Editor of Catering News Middle East, a role I’ve been doing since January, 2016.

What challenges do you face?

I’d say the biggest challenge of my role is juggling a wide range of responsibilities – from social media to events and awards and of course the monthly magazines. In addition, dealing with a huge volume of emails with interview pitches, events, meeting requests and press releases is time consuming and can be stressful. However, this is part of my role and it’s important to be organised to stay on top of it all.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

Getting to try out the latest restaurant openings and travelling to different countries on press trips.

How would you rather be contacted at work?

By email – phone calls can be intrusive, particularly during deadline week. Whatsapp is even more intrusive, unless I know the contact already and that relationship has already been established.

What do you think of publications in the region?

I’d say overall the quality is lower than in more established markets like the United States and Europe. If you look at the teams on international titles here they are far smaller than the teams you’d find in London or New York and with the current economic climate, resources continue to be stretched and this, of course, has an impact on quality. That said, the Middle East is a very young and developing market when it comes to publishing and there are some great titles doing well in the region.

How has print media managed to stay relevant in today’s digital community?

I think it’s currently still relevant, particularly when it comes to B2B magazines. That said, publishing companies are being forced to diversify and move quickly into the digital age to keep up. I think challenging times lie ahead but there will always be a need for quality journalism.

What do you think of media ethics in the region?

I think it’s challenging. You’ve got to be careful when talking about anything culturally sensitive and the defamation laws are very different to what we’re used to in the UK. Working for trade magazines, it’s not a huge issue, but for those journalists working on newspapers I imagine it can be challenging.

What role has digital media played when it comes to reader engagement in the magazine industry?

It’s really important, you’ve got to push content on social media as a lot of your web traffic will come from this. All of our magazines have digital editions and every feature gets published online and in our newsletters, which go out to a large database.

Describe yourself in five words…

Adventurous, kind, open-minded, tenacious and forgetful.

What’s the most exciting thing to happen to you in your career?

Going on a press trip to New York. It was my first time there and I went to see the new Element brand from Starwood.

What’s your most overused saying?

At the end of the day…

Five things you can’t live without?

At the moment, my daily flat white from Costa, The Salad Jar, Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge, Kerastase shampoo and Bojack Horseman.

If you weren’t in your current role, what would you be doing?

I’d be a painter if someone would pay me to do that.

What is your favourite form of media (i.e; TV, radio, print)?

Does Netflix count?

How do you see the media industry changing in the Middle East in the coming years?

I think it will get harder for the newspaper industry in particular and we could see more closures and redundancies across the region. I think both newspapers and magazines will continue to diversify into digital and video.