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New website for The Mothership

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Parenting blog The Mothership has been rebranded and given a new website, themothershipdxb.com. Launched in 2015 by magazine Editor and Broadcaster Helen Farmer, the improved website platform and brand identity will now allow for more blog posts, reviews, recommendations and news, as well as make it possible to work with select partners. There are also now options for user interactions, social sharing and advertising space, created as a response to demand from both UAE companies and followers.

“I started blogging as a way of dealing with the newness and weirdness of being a mum and I’ve been overwhelmed by the reception,” says Helen. “It isn’t about ‘perfect’ parenting – it’s about connecting UAE mums, sharing honest and reliable content and keeping a sense of humour throughout. I’m really looking forward to working with great brands that are in line with my values, and having the opportunity to share information with The Mothership’s audience.”

Styly.com launches

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Savoir Flair has launched new Arabic-language website, Styly.com. The website launches with a focus on world-class editorial and photography, offering Arabic readers premium luxury content on the same platform as sister website, www.SavoirFlair.com. Styly.com will offer content on fashion, beauty, lifestyle, trends and weddings in the Middle East, all curated by expert editors in Arabic and the website will be headed up by Managing Editor, Heba Abdalla.

Serviceplan Middle East launches Mediaplus Espresso

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Serviceplan Middle East’s media arm Mediaplus has acquired local agency Espresso, to form Mediaplus Espresso. The newly-formed mid-sized agency will work on new ways of connecting brands and consumers through platform strategy, data analytics and precision targeting, with the aim to enable the delivery of successful campaigns for brands. Mediaplus Espresso will be headed up by Azhar Siddiqui who will take the role of Managing Partner, having 15 years of regional experience managing the media buying portfolios of several, large, global and local accounts including; McDonalds, Mastercard and Unilever.

“Espresso sprang from our desire to break away from the ‘network’ culture and to draw clients’ attention back to the added value of strategy and planning,” says Azhar. “Partnering with Mediaplus is an ideal move, since we become part of a wider group, enabling us to compete more effectively with global networks, while retaining our independence and working with like-minded entrepreneurs from within the Serviceplan Group.”

IJNet Arab launches third mentoring center

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International Journalists’ Network’s Arabic channel – IJNet Arab – will launch its third mentoring programme for individuals and organisations with digital startups in the Middle East and North Africa. The programme will equip eight mentees with the business, technical, managerial, digital and mobile media skills and strategies needed to help their existing media startups to thrive. Applicants for the programme must have already launched their startup, that targets Arabic-speaking audiences, in order to qualify and 16 semi-finalists will be selected to compete for the eight places available. At the end of the programme, IJNet will award US$5,000 in seed funding to the most promising of the eight projects.

Bloomberg expands into Middle East

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Bloomberg is set to expand its media offering in the Middle East with a suite of new, regionally-focused editorial platforms to serve its audience of business and financial consumers based, or interested in, the region. The expansion will combine the resources of Bloomberg’s 80-strong Middle East editorial team, as well as new senior talent, with local expertise, giving business and financial professionals better access to the region’s newsmakers and market-moving news via a variety of new platforms including; a dedicated digital destination, original television programming, a new television studio and major new conference convening the Middle East’s most influential leaders in business and finance.

The expanded media offering in the Middle East includes a dedicated Middle Eastern edition of flagship online destination, www.bloomberg.com. www.bloomberg.com/MiddleEast will dedicate expertise to globally significant themes, appealing particularly to readers across the Middle East.

“Bloomberg’s latest regional editorial products build on more than 20 years of newsgathering across the Arab world to introduce new platforms for storytelling on the companies, markets, economies and politics shaping the Middle East,” says Riad Hamade, Managing Editor, Middle East and North Africa, Bloomberg. “Adding new media platforms will allow us to deliver more relevant stories to our growing audience of business and financial professionals across the region.”

YouNow launches in the Middle East

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Live streaming platform YouNow has officially launched in the Middle East. The website and mobile app enables real time interaction between broadcasters and fans, while also offering influencers the opportunity for revenue. The platform has over 100 million user sessions per month and 150,000 hours of live video consumed every day, making it a creative hub that facilitates live content creation from performers, celebrities, social influencers and brands, to encourage personal interaction with fans across the globe.

“YouNow is an opportunity for the world to see what the Middle East has to offer,” says Chereen Zaki, Arab Markets Manager, YouNow. “There is so much culture, art and diversity in the region and it will allow individuals to not only display their talents, but connect with fans from all over the world.”

Candace Tossas, Head of International Markets, YouNow, adds “As far as I am aware we are the only social network out there that facilitates consumer-to-consumer payment. This means artists are given a good opportunity to earn a fair wage directly from fans who appreciate their skills. We have had broadcasters give up their everyday jobs to be a full-time YouNower because they are earning enough money to support themselves.”

CNN opens new Abu Dhabi hub

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CNN has unveiled new state-of-the-art broadcasting facilities at its redesigned Middle Eastern hub in Abu Dhabi. The network has completely reconfigured its studio to feature the latest HD broadcasting equipment and a re-imagined space to open up a range of new possibilities for news, programming and community initiatives. The bureau will also now offer fresh opportunities for CNN’s established internship programme, as well as new initiative The Rooftop Sessions @ CNN, which will bring together creative minds, artists and thought leaders from the UAE to perform, discuss and engage with the CNN family.

“There are two parts to this project: we’ve integrated the latest HD cameras and equipment, touchscreens, lighting and a quite stunning LED wall into the main studio space, which create a completely fresh look and feel on air,” says Becky Anderson, Managing Editor, CNN Abu Dhabi. “On top of that, we’ve reconfigured our rooftop space, giving us new scope for our show teams to get creative. The overall result is a versatile, hi-tech hub that is the perfect base for our Middle Eastern operation.”

Maryam Al Mheiri, Acting CEO, Media Zone Authority Abu Dhabi and twofour54, adds “We’re celebrating a partnership that’s changing the face of media in the Middle East. Since CNN established its fourth broadcast hub here in Abu Dhabi, it has shared stories of our society and culture with the entire world. Abu Dhabi has been welcomed into living rooms globally every weekday for the past six years; that’s around 5,000 hours of editorial coverage, with a value in excess of US $820 million.”

Chloe Allan launches The Digital Dose

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Chloe Allan, former Editor of The Girl That Lives In The Desert, has launched new online magazine The Digital Dose. A Dubai-based website, The Digital Dose will cover all things fashion, beauty and lifestyle with three main sections; The Fashion, The Beauty and The Social Scene. The Social Scene will feature everything from newly opened hotspots to exclusive interviews with chefs and restaurateurs.

“I wanted to create a place designed to excite, inspire and have fun with fashion and beauty in a relatable and accessible way,” says Chloe. “To talk to talents from all areas of the industry and reveal a side of the region that readers from other parts of the world can also relate to.”

 

CNN to push news through Facebook Messenger

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CNN International is set to be pushing more personalised news through private message on Facebook Messenger.  The company has unveiled new capabilities for businesses and publishers on Messenger, allowing users to chat directly with CNN to get breaking news and personalised stories.

“With three billion global users, messaging apps represent the single most crucial global growth platform for businesses,” says Alex Wellen, Chief Product Officer, CNN. “Messaging apps are particularly ripe for news – they enable both the intimacy of a one-on-one conversation as well as the medium to broadcast a crucial message at scale. When someone adds the CNN Channel to Facebook Messenger, they are doing something far more intimate than “following” an account, they are putting CNN right alongside the people that matter most to them, and demanding a two-way, personal conversation.”

Samantha Barry, Head of Social News, CNN, adds “We know that more and more people around the world are engaging with messaging apps, and it’s not just to chat with friends. They’re using those same platforms to share news and content. The language we’re using on these apps is more personal, conversational and bespoke to the messaging audiences.”