Tuesday 8 April 2008

Grand National?

From an anonymous commenter:

This month's issue of Commerce magazine [we couldn't find this online - do chuck us a link or scan if you have it] carries a five page interview with Martin Newland in which not only is this website namechecked, but he talks about censorship, Conrad Black, why he resigned at the Telegraph, and how he came to be in Abu Dhabi. He also talks in detail about his plans for the new paper. I think it is the first interview he has given since he's been here.

It also has an interview with the current Editor in Chief of Gulf News in which he talks about why he is not worried about the competition the new paper will present (he thinks all of the talent in Abu Dhabi will be gone in a year because they won't be able to deal with lack of free speech). He also talks about the other papers that have come and gone, and why the Gulf News will always succeed.

The new Abu Dhabi paper apparently changed its name from The Nation to The National because Gulf News ramped up its "The Nation" section in recent months.

NB: If you want to post your own stuff here which would be great, just drop us a line and we'll add you the team. dubaimediablog at gmail.

EDIT: the interview is available here.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Commerce? I think it's a Media Factory mag. you can buy it in the shops. what does Newland say about the black felt tip brigade?

Anonymous said...

newland in commerce: http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20080409071856/?query=martin%20newland

Anonymous said...

interview with Abdul Hamid Ahmed, Gulf News editor in Chief: http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm?id=ZAWYA20080409074137

Anonymous said...

news of the world has been blocked here, i think.
is it anything to do with the mosley video?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/09/pressandpublishing.formulaone

Anonymous said...

I didn't get the feeling anyone on the thread was trying to pass themselves off as Newland as he suggested in that article.

anonymous said...

20th of april announced as launch date of 'The National'

Anonymous said...

The interview is in this month's Communicate magazine too just to let you know :)

Anonymous said...

the interview in Communicate is very poor - massive wasted opportunity. launch date for Newland's paper is the 16th. FACT.

Anonymous said...

Launch date is not the 16th. FACT. Prick.

Anonymous said...

That's a lot of journalists in a place where there really isn't that much news.

Anonymous said...

'The National', 'The Nation' etc still don't like that kind of newspaper name. Rather flies in the face of Newland's claim that he want a regional type of publication. I still think 'The New Land' would have been best for Martin's latest offering. It's catchy, apposite and tells the reader what's on the horizon.

Anonymous said...

ABU DHABI MEDIA COMPANY NAMES ITS FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER
THE NATIONAL



Abu Dhabi, 12 April 2008 Abu Dhabi Media Company confirmed today that its new, much-anticipated quality English language newspaper will be called The National.

Editor-in-Chief Martin Newland commented, "The role of The National is to reflect society, help that society evolve and, perhaps most importantly, promote the bedrock traditions and virtues that must be preserved even in times of change and that is why we have called our paper The National."

The broadsheet, which goes on sale across the UAE on April 17, will contain 80 pages of intelligent and well-designed news, business, sports, culture and features coverage. An online version will also be available at www.thenational.ae. The 200 strong news team, which includes award-winning journalists from the emirates and around the world, will provide local and international coverage from across the globe.

The National will be officially launched at a gala event on April 16 under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
-ends-

Abu Dhabi Media Company
Abu Dhabi Media Company is a vertically integrated media company created in 2007 as a public joint stock company from the assets of Emirates Media Incorporated. Abu Dhabi Media Company employs 1100 people across its operating units which include publishing, television, radio, digital media, distribution, and printing.
Abu Dhabi Media Company owns and operates Abu Dhabi Television, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel, Emirates Television Channel, Abu Dhabi Radio, Emarat FM Radio, Holy Quran Radio, Sawt Al Musiqa, Al Ittihad newspaper, Zahrat Al Khaleej magazine, Al Super magazine and Majid magazine as well as other businesses including United Printing Press.
The company is headquartered in Abu Dhabi with offices in Cairo, Dubai and Washington D.C.

Anonymous said...

So not the 16th, or the 20th then.? FACT.

Anonymous said...

Launch April 16, on sale April 17.

Anonymous said...

"But not busy enough to prevent himself wading into debate with embittered third-rate journalists on an anonymous UAE internet message board."

embittered third rate journalists??! us?? what a bloody cheek.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sure no one on his staff will be logging on and chiming in either!

Anonymous said...

http://www.thenational.ae/imgs/Wednesday.gif">http://www.thenational.ae/imgs/Wednesday.gif

Anonymous said...

The paper looks a bit like the guardian...

Anonymous said...

"If a newspaper is a reflection of the editor's character, then the government backers of Abu Dhabi's new daily have made a wise choice in Newland. Open, experienced, humourous, inquisitive, lively, intelligent; if Newland can project these traits of his personality onto the UAE's newest and most ambitious paper, then surely the future looks bright."

Wow--this writer is good. You try saying all that with a mouthful of editor knob.

Anonymous said...

I've been one of the regularly cynical posters regarding this paper. (And I'm sure normal service will be resumed shortly.)

But with the launch now imminent, let's remember that if it succeeds, and proves that there is a place for good journalism in the UAE, it will help all of us.

I know that the pattern in the region so far has been one hopeful launches, followed by a gradual deterioration as the launch team becomes disillusioned when promises aren't kept. But at some point that pattern has to be broken.

Maybe this is the moment. There's a good team in place; they've made it to launch day.

I hope that over the next few months the National's team takes every pessimistic word that I, and many others here, have written, and shove it down our throats.

Go on, prove us wrong. Be good, and stay good. Find ways of getting interesting stories into print - and keeping the embarrassing, patronising sycophancy that makes us all a laughing stock off your pages.

Launch solidly, then improve. Stop us being embarrassed about the quality of journalism in the place we call home. Don't fill the pages with ceremonial pictures of the powers that be.

This is UAE journalism's best shot so far. Please - be good

There's a tough ride ahead, and I suspect it won't happen, but nonetheless, good fucking luck.

Anonymous said...

Hear, fucking hear.

Anonymous said...

We'll do our best.

Anonymous said...

Aaw shucks, How about a group hug and a prayer before we go on.

Anonymous said...

i think i'm going to puke.

Anonymous said...

Let's see what happens. Who knows, before we know it, all the Westerners will be flying out and their jobs will be taken over by Indians working for half the money.

Anonymous said...

What a pile of dull stories...the only half interesting one about Dubai and drownings (being the second biggest killer in UAE)is a story on lifeguard training which appeared in Arabian Business in July 2007...
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/495488-better-safe-than-sorry-?ln=en

Anonymous said...

why is a story about training lifeguards, or a column in arabian business, news?

Anonymous said...

What I don't understand is that why The National has not come out with a cracking story during its month-long existence. What happened to the so called "best brains in journalism" who promised "real" journalism? In my humble opinion a newspaper is known for strong, interesting stories and not for design or pictures.