Rivals unite to back Middle East publishing summit

And the two leading global bodies representing publishers are also collaborating for the first time to ensure the success of the event.

Their combined co-operation is testimony to Dubai's status as a facilitator for staging significant international gatherings, according to Ahmed Al Mansoori, president of the Dubai Consultancy, Research & Media Centre, lead organisers for the event.

'This event will set international standards for the regional industry and foster the adoption of best practice,' he said.

More than 300 media experts from across the world will be attending the Middle East Publishing Conference (MEPC), and under the banner 'Discuss, Educate, Interact' they will present global best practices to help the development of the region's publishing industry.

MEPC marks the first collaboration between the World Association of Newspapers (WAN), and the International Federation of the Periodical Press (FIPP), whose members produce about 130,000 newspapers and magazines worldwide.

Rival Middle East newspapers and publishing houses are also joining forces for the benefit of the regional publishing industry as a whole.
Support has come from major media companies not only from the UAE, but across the region.

Backers include competitors such as Al Bayan newspaper and Al Sharq Al Awsat and Okaz (Saudi Arabic daily), English dailies Gulf News and Saudi Gazette, and the Saudi Research & Publishing Co's English language Arab News.

Al Ghurair is a leading publishing house and competes with fellow-sponsor Motivate Publishing. The conference is also backed by a group of Internet publishers such as AME Info, specialising in economic and business news, and Al Bawaba - an Arabic e-publishing site, as well as by competing advertising agencies such as AGA and Concept Media.

Saudi Research & Publishing Co produces 18 daily, weekly and monthly newspapers and magazines, including Arab News (Saudi Arabia's first English daily newspaper for Arabs and expatriate readers), and Asharq Alawsat.

Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) is the holding company for all the UAE government's media assets, comprising four TV channels, four radio stations, and the Al-Bayan newspaper. Motivate is responsible for a stable of 18 magazines and more than 200 books.

'This is the first time ever that the global publishing industry has got together on such a scale,' said Mansoori. 'Business rivalries have been set aside in the interests of industry advancement and it's a fantastic achievement for Dubai to be instrumental in making this happen.

'From a regional and international perspective, this event marks an unprecedented degree of co-operation between the leading players in the publishing business and we are very proud to be the catalyst.'

MEPC is being staged under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, by the Dubai Consultancy, Research & Media Centre in conjunction with the International Media Production Zone in Dubai (iMPZ) and Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI).

Mohammed bin Ghalib, director of the International Media Production Zone said: 'This conference signals the beginning of a new era in Middle East publishing. It brings together experts, leaders, and professionals to share knowledge.

'We at iMPZ are proud to be the facilitators in keeping with our commitment to providing the regional publishing industry with a highly cost-effective base to establish their operations.'

Key topics under review include:


• Impact and opportunities of new media and technology

• Middle East publishers and the Internet

• Media research - the basis for a profitable business

• Establishing media credibility

• Challenges and opportunities in developing markets

• Effective distribution systems

• Editorial responsibility

• Cultural sensitivities

Prominent media experts on the speakers' panel include:

• Aroon Purie, editor-in-chief and chief executive of the India Today group

• Gavin O'Reilly, chief of operations at Independent News & Media and incoming president of WAN

• Mike Gillam, media buyer for Unilever - one of the world's biggest advertisers - which has adopted a policy of buying space only in publications that can provide independent proof of circulation figures

• John Alexander, chief executive of PBL Media, the top Australian publishing house

• Alan Marshall, chief operations executive of the UK's Associated Newspapers group

• Joseph Ghossoub, incoming president of IAA, the global body for the advertising industry