Friday 6 July 2007

Quiz: guess the "vibrant" media company

This ad landed in my inbox. I have cut out the name of the the company, let us see if you can all guess who it is, from the description:

[MYSTERY COMPANY] is a leading media company based in Dubai, one of the fastest growing, most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world, as well as being tax-free and sunny all year round.

Priding itself on ideas, solutions, speed and impact, [MYSTERY COMPANY] has a diverse range of operations...

Critically, the applicant must have an interest in the world, contemporary design and global trends, which will enable them to help stimulate and catalyse creativity, through thought-provoking and challenging ideas in a television environment.

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

errr, ummmm, is it, err can it ...be .. hmm , no i think not .. err maybe .. aahh i think it is the same company that brings us Emirates Toady ..


pssst do i get a lollipop for answering that one.

Anonymous said...

This is a doddle. AMG. Come on, guys, drop us a REAL test.

Anonymous said...

And I thought it was a new start-up business......

I'll get me coat.....

Anonymous said...

Ok, this getting dull. Anyone got anything new to post? Any gossip? Any scandal? Any embarrassing sexual couplings? Any PRs behaving like twats? Any outrageous decrees from management that will further make a joke of anything resembling a free press out here?

Anonymous said...

I agree. These posts are a bit dry. How about some City 7 discourse. There's a rich seam of sarcasm just waiting to be mined...

Or, Virgin Atlantic's DXB magazine, and it's wholesale lifting of style and content from our beloved Time Out Dubai. Then again, who gives a shit.

Just goes to show how much we need the Neil Petches of this world.

Anonymous said...

Virgin Atlantic DXB magazine? would that be the one with the former Time Out Abu Dhabi editor at the helm? And former Time Out ad manager?

Anonymous said...

what's the situation at KT? anyone?

Anonymous said...

Does anyone watch City 7? Or at least admit to it? A colleague of mine was a guest on City 7 the other week and he got an email from a friend congratulating him on his performance but it came with the disclaimer that she watched it by accident, wouldn't normally watch it etc etc...

Anonymous said...

yeah, but the editorial force behind virgin mag is the former time out dubai editor, who took the mag weekly. that might explain the so-called theft. so, which magazines are good? who has seen Bidoun?

Anonymous said...

also check out this piece of crap: http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/article1878608.ece

Anonymous said...

travel/article1878608.ece

Anonymous said...

Bidoun is a great mag - it's just indicative of dubai and its mindlessness that plasticsurgerypeopleporn like ahlan!!!!! etc sell in the gazillions (apparently) while you have to look around for gems like bidoun. think it's published in new york.

Anonymous said...

What is Bidoun? Is this one of those pointless mags that nobody seems to buy them. Like Jumeira Beach magazine. 20 dirhams for a load of advertorials. The new editor, recently fired by Motivate, has been emailing his former colleagues begging for contacts. What a pro.

Anonymous said...

Nah, Bidoun is a hifalutin culture mag, seems to be more about Tehran, Beirut etc rather than just the armpit of the ME. It is often critical. Wooooh.

Jumeirah Beach, Jumeirah, who reads that advertorial, dentist-waiting-room sh*te?

Anonymous said...

That article is a very sad commentary on the editorial standards practised by the Times. There's a lot to be said about Dubai but that article plays into some fantasy view of life here that only someone who hasn't been here could hold. Does anyone know the writer or editor of the Times travel section?

Anonymous said...

thats as easy peasy as AMG !!!!!

Anonymous said...

Agree - that article is almost in the same ridiculous league as the one in the Observer a few months ago, written in pure Orientaleese. Agree with Anon about Bidoun - in the latest issue there's an article critiquing all this stuff - these 'liberal' western hacks who come here for 5 mins, talk to one Hot100er and then scribble some rent-a-cliche bile about 'las vegas on crack', 'monaco on speed' yawn yawn...

Anonymous said...

Obviously only people with bad teeth read Jumeira Beach mag then. A quick Google search of the mag's name brings up an oh-so-glamorous advertorial that an orthopaedic hospital clearly paid for. Nothing says "glam Dubai lifestyle" like bone surgery and plaster casts. Unless it's for cosmetic reasons, naturellement.

Anonymous said...

Back-stabbing gimps of the world, I salute you!

Anonymous said...

I totally agree - if I have to read or hear one more idiot use the something on crack/speed/steroids analogy ...

Anonymous said...

Going back to the original thread, is it Motivate Publishing? I hear they need people. Apparently the editorial floor is now entirely staffed by highly-strung Aussie sheilas with bad hair and self-esteem issues that would give the Grazia girls a run for their money. Heh...

Anonymous said...

And it seems that everyone is bewildered by that last comment about Aussie sheilas with bad hair. WTF? Sounds like someone has a bee in their bonnet. Does anyone have anything else to report? Any new launches? Anything at all??

Anonymous said...

17:12: I've never worked at Motivate but I'm pretty certain I know exactly who you're referring to.

Anonymous said...

Design Director

Arab Media Group is a leading media company based in Dubai, one of the fastest growing, most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world, as well as being tax-free and sunny all year round.

Priding itself on ideas, solutions, speed and impact, AMG has a diverse range of operations including three daily newspapers, eight radio stations, an events company, an outdoor advertising company, a distribution company and a printing company. It is also currently developing several additional media related ventures and as such has a vacancy for a Design Director.

The successful applicant would manage the overall design components of the newspaper and its magazines, while ensuring that all publications and products are sent to press on schedule and are in keeping with the company’s editorial standards and guidelines.

Candidates must possess comprehensive knowledge of QuarkXpress, Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Flash for developing infographics. 3D knowledge is a plus.

All applicants must have a bachelor degree and a post-graduate design qualification plus 5-7 years experience in a similar field.

Key Accountabilities - Operational:
• Oversee that the newspaper and magazine style conform to the editorial guidelines, and are designed to the highest standards.
• Managing the workflow through the design department and liaising with all other relevant departments to ensure that all publications and products are produced on time and correspond to our corporate standards.
• Overseeing and enhancing the design standards of all publications and products through the creation and use of innovative ideas and concepts.
• Overseeing that all material sent to the printers is complete, error-free (from a design/print perspective) and saved in the correct format.
• In conjunction with the Production Manager, supervising print production and monitoring the standards of our printers and suppliers, evaluating and making recommendations where necessary.
• Managing the team and freelance budget (where appropriate) to generate the required volume and quality of content.
• Taking internal/external briefs and presenting and helping sell AMG design concepts to clients as and where necessary.
Team Management:
• Managing the design staff in a manner that encourages their creativity, professionalism and innovative development of creative solutions, and providing or recommending training as and where necessary.
• To attend and to hold team meetings and events that help to promote company’s teamwork.
• Performing weekly design clinics with each member of your team to ensure their continuous personal development.

Anonymous said...

Creative Director, TV Network

Arab Media Group is a leading media company based in Dubai, one of the fastest growing, most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world, as well as being tax-free and sunny all year round.

Priding itself on ideas, solutions, speed and impact, AMG has a diverse range of operations which include three daily newspapers, eight radio stations, an events company, an outdoor advertising company, a distribution company and a printing company. It is also currently developing several major television ventures, including MTV Arabia, and as such has a vacancy for a Creative Director:

The successful applicant will have previously held a creative director/assistant creative director position; have the ability to lead and manage a team within a multi-team environment; as well as motivate a team while maintaining high standards in the creation of strategically sound content.
Candidates must have a solid understanding of the creative framework behind all television projects, such as channel identities, rebrandings and image campaigns, as well as knowledge and experience of working within strict broadcast frameworks with varied budgets.

The ideal candidate should also have 8-10 years experience in the design industry, excellent copy writing skills, and be proficient in various design applications including QuarkXPress, InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. The candidate must also possess superior verbal and written communications skills, and excellent interpersonal skills.

Critically, the applicant must have an interest in the world, contemporary design and global trends, which will enable them to help stimulate and catalyse creativity, through thought-provoking and challenging ideas in a television environment.

Anonymous said...

Infographics Editor

Arab Media Group is a leading media company based in Dubai, one of the fastest growing, most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world, as well as being tax-free and sunny all year round.

Priding itself on ideas, solutions, speed and impact, AMG has a diverse range of operations including three daily newspapers, eight radio stations, an events company, an outdoor advertising company, a distribution company and a printing company. It is also currently developing several additional media related ventures and as such has a vacancy for an Infographics Editor.

The Infographics Editor is responsible for overseeing the creation of all infographics and ensuring that the team produces graphics that are visually dynamic, creative, accurate, as per the brief, on schedule and in keeping with the company’s editorial guidelines and standards.

The ideal candidate should have an understanding of the UAE Publication and Copyright laws and have an awareness of the region’s political, cultural and religious sensitivities.

All applicants must be proficient in MS Office, QuarkXpress, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat. A solid understanding of Flash and 3D knowledge would be an advantage.

Key Accountabilities
• Responsible for creating, editing and producing ground breaking high quality inforgraphics for all parts of each newspaper.
• Also responsible for producing and editing infographics for the company’s website as well.
• Works closely with Editors and reporters and help them to decide on suitable subjects for graphics.
• To be aware of news stories developing around the world and to be aware of the local breaking new.

Competencies
• Work under pressure.
• Result oriented
• Creativity
• Team work.
• Eye for detail

• Knowledge/Education/ Qualifications/Experience
• Being conversant with UAE Press, Publication and Copyright laws and to be aware of political, cultural and religious sensitivities.
• Proficient in MS Office, Quark, Adobe (photoshop, illustration and typography, acrobat, pdf), Indesign, Flash, 3D Knowledge preferred.
• Scheduling and print procedures
• Layout techniques PC and Mac media
• 3 year course in the above software’s.
• Minimum 5 - 7 years

Anonymous said...

What's the point of cutting and pasting job ads here?

Anonymous said...

OK, it seems that those baffling iceberg ads in ET are for the new air conditioned abras on the creek.

A titanic effort from the RTA marketing boys!

Anonymous said...

Genius! Nothing advertises a nice boat ride like a reference to one of the great maritime disasters. Why didnt they just run a photo of Leonardo Di Caprio's blue face sinking beneath the water and be done with it?

Anonymous said...

Is it true that Emirates Today is going to get better? Let us hope so. I work here and am astounded this fucking brain dead loser is allowed to be in charge. Oxygen is wasted on this women. She is llegedly a doctor - she has a Phd in being fucking useless from what I can tell. The rest are just as bad. Alice will you please just fuck off. Other than that well done.

Anonymous said...

Ridiculed from the outside - torn apart from the inside...what a joke

Anonymous said...

There is a story today that demonstrates what a classy organ the Toady is: a cut'n'paste job from Dow Jones on "How to organise your finances". Sounds harmless enough - until you reach the lengthy section on the importance of completing your tax returns on time.
Good grief.

Anonymous said...

New thread! New thread!

Anyone know where former 7DAYS, ahem, 'editor' Neil Saywer is hiding?

Has he completed his induction at Brantano Shoe City?

Anyone seen him at all?

Anonymous said...

Why is XPRESS not on your poll?

Anonymous said...

the only thing that goes on my pole are lips and condoms...oh and my hand. NS

Anonymous said...

Dear desert orchid,
Do you have a certificate that says 'Moron'?
Which world do you inhabit?
Fact: all expats in Dubai need to file returns in their home countries.
Good grief indeed!

Anonymous said...

Fact: all expats in Dubai need to file returns in their home countries.

Fact: no they don't.

Anonymous said...

Here we go, another one of those that goes after those little insects.

Most countries, (including US, Russia, India, UK), if not all, expect expats to file returns. You might not pay tax at all on income earned as a non-resident, but you are advised to file returns in any case.

In this context the article by Dow Jones was spot on. The criticism was moronic.

Anonymous said...

Hi I am an Australian looking for a HR job in the media industry in Dubai, can someone suggest some leading media companies that I may apply for please. Thank you so much in advance.