2007
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Clooney at DIFF
US actor, director and writer George Clooney is to attend the upcoming Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), taking place from December 9-16, reported the Khaleej Times. The film Michael Clayton, which stars Clooney, will open the event. Clooney was previously in the UAE when making Syriana, which featured the plight of migrant workers in the Gulf.
Reporter kidnapped in Baghdad
Muntadhar Al Zaidi, a reporter with the Iraqi satellite TV channel Al Baghdadiyah, was kidnapped last Friday, according to agency reports. Al Zaidi disappeared on his way to work in central Baghdad. His un-named editor claimed a stranger answered Al Zaidi's phone when he tried calling him; Al Baghdadiyah broadcasts from Cairo and is often critical of the government and the US military presence in the country.
Geo TV could quit Dubai
Pakistan's Dubai based Geo TV, which has seen its news channel be forced to stop broadcasting by Dubai Media City authorities under pressure from the Pakistani government, could move out of the UAE if it is not allowed back on air, reported Gulf News. Geo, along with ARY One World, had the plug pulled from their transmissions yesterday, Saturday. Both channels had been critical of Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf.
UAE minister slams journos
Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, the UAE Labour Minister, has said a number of foreign journalists are 'pre-judgemental' regarding labour disputes in the country's courts, reported Gulf News. Al Ka'abi said the reporters rely on 'improper sources and inaccurate statistics'. He added that the improved work in the labour courts demonstrated that labourers' rights were protected in the UAE.
Viola opens office in Dubai
Abu Dhabi's leading communications agency, Viola Communications, has opened its first branch in Dubai at Dubai Media City. Viola provides advertising, public relations, outdoor media, production and event management services.
Somali radio crackdown
Media groups are condemning the closure of a Somali radio station in a government crackdown on journalists in the country, reported AFP. The government ordered independent local broadcaster Shabelle Radio off air on Monday and briefly detained two of its senior staff. Somali officials gave no reason for the closure, but deny accusations of harassing local media.
Sheikh Mo website upgrade
The website of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has undergone a revamp, reported the local WAM news agency. The site, which was first set up in 1999, now supports images, video clips and can also handle live video transmissions. The site also contains Sheikh Mohammed's written works and visitors are able to send in emails.
TV review set for Bahrain
Bahrain's Information Minister Jihad Bu Kamal has pledged to review the quality of television programmes in the country and their effect on social behaviour, reported Gulf News. The move comes after a wave of protests from conservatives regarding a 30 episode show, Moment of Vulnerability, which was broadcast during the recent month of Ramadan. The show depicted a liberal lifestyle and conservatives labelled it as a 'perversion of Bahraini morals'.
Dubai journos cleared
The Dubai Court of Appeal has overturned a two month jail sentence handed out to two Khaleej Times journalists, reported Gulf News. Egyptian Mohsin Rashid and Indian Prem Chandran were convicted in September of libelling an Iranian woman in an article about a bounced cheque on June 28 last year. After the initial court ruling, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said no journalists should be imprisoned for simply doing their jobs.
Egypt keeps libel law
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak has said no change will be made to the country's libel law as it would be deemed 'unconstitutional', reported Reuters citing an interview with the state-run Al Masaa newspaper. Since September, the law has been utilised to jail 11 journalists for offences ranging from criticising Mubarak and his son Jamal to misquoting a government minister.
BBC Arabic to host workshops
BBC Arabic will host a series of interactive workshops called The World as You See It for aspiring broadcasters across the Arab world. The workshops will be held at universities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Egypt and Morocco. Experienced BBC journalists will share their knowledge and experience with media students, encouraging them to complete short video packages of stories they believe will be of wide interest. The best work will be featured on the BBC.
MTV Arabia launches VJ search
The Arab Media Group stand at the 2007 Media Marketing Show will be open to the public as MTV Arabia opens its first official VJ search. MTV Arabia is on the lookout for VJs aged 18-22 with the vitality and music knowledge to be able to connect with millions of viewers across the Middle East region. Those interested in auditioning should report to the MTV Arabia stand from 12:00 to 21:00 from 11 to 13 November, 2007.
Marketers fail at targeting women
Women today represent one of the most challenging, yet potentially rewarding consumer groups in the Middle East, according to the New Arab Women Forum held in Dubai recently. Gulf women represent 35% of the national workforce, 45,000 are working in businesses, and 70% of the 2006-2007 graduates were female. Yet many Gulf marketers are failing to target women across the region and this is having an adverse effect on their advertising and marketing campaigns.
Gulf News available via mobiles
Gulf News has launched a new service that allows people to get a stripped down version of gulfnews.com on their mobile phones. Users can read local, regional and world news along with sport, business, cinema listings and horoscopes on gulfnews.com/mobile.
OBG Dubai appointment
The UK based Oxford Business Group (OBG) has appointed Cristina Franco as its Dubai Director. Franco, who has been with the OBG since 2004, takes up the post after acting as OBG's Country Director in Qatar; she has also worked for the firm in Egypt, Syria, Turkey and Romania. Franco will have responsibility for OBG's The Report: Dubai 2008, which will be available in print form and online.
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