Monday 28 April 2008

International media up the pressure

One reader has asked us to open up the debate on the upcoming UAE versions of the Financial Times and International Herald Tribune. This follows on from the local edition of The Times.

How do you think these titles will fare? Will local papers like Gulf News and the newly-launched The National suffer? Or, will it just mean that existing FT and IHT buyers have easier access to their paper of choice, and there will be very little effect on the local market? And, will this further highlight the lack of available talent at the upper end of the local business media market (with newswires and publications already struggling to fill their vacancies)?

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Should help speed up the demise of Emirates Business 24/7 - when people can read proper business news covered diligently, honestly and objectively as opposed to only press release praise for Dubai Inc why would they choose the latter?

redstar said...

Ever since The Times arrived, I use the Gulf News web edition, with ads blocked...

Anonymous said...

If the FT can get its distribution sorted out, it will have a major impacy on all other English language media.
I also believe it will attract a great deal of advertising from local companies who want the prestige of seeing their brand in the pink 'un.
But how will the authorities react when the FT runs an honest, straightforward account of something like the current Deyaar fiasco?
We shall see....

Anonymous said...

The FT is the least read broadsheet in the UK, and its circulation has been in decline for quite some time.

I am not sure how much of a resource they have to invest in the ME. From what I understand coverage will be 'a page'.

It's more likely they are trying to exploit this region for ad revenue to support the sickly mother ship.

International publishers seem to be dipping their toe into these waters, without really committing themselves. They like the commercial opportunity, they're not convinced of the editorial environent.

While that state of play persists I don't think local fish wrappers really have much to worry about. unfortunately.

Anonymous said...

My understanding is it's a page of regional news, twice a week.

Perhaps they'll increase that in time, or perhaps it's just an ad get. My money's on the latter.

19thfloordubai said...

and word is the Daily Mail is looking at a Dubai distribution. the perfect match for Arabian Ranches, Springs' moms

Anonymous said...

I'd love to see the Daily Mail here.

'Immigrants are stealing our jobs' say....erm....

'Stop the flow of foreigners into our country say....erm....'

Anonymous said...

By the way, your poll about the national adds up to 101 per cent.

Anonymous said...

not convinced IHT made a wise strategic decision to go with Khaleej Times as their local distribution.

Anonymous said...

http://www.zawya.com/Channel.cfm/objE1209090997221122765512AD-9-12-2333-11/


scroll down to the 13th April for Martin Newland and the 28th for Roula Khalaf - this is what they say.

Anonymous said...

stupid text box!

go to www.zawya.com, then research tools then radio podcasts.

Anonymous said...

From todays The National ... it may be wire copy but someone should at least read it first, this is the Middle East right?

'Supporters of Hizbollah, which is backed by the US, and their allies blocked all roads leading to the airport - Lebanon’s only air link to the outside world - and other main streets, which has paralysed much of the city.'

Anonymous said...

I noticed that as well!

Hizbollah backed by the US? WTF?!

Anonymous said...

Guff News - let's hope its days are numbered - the news is anything but puff, most of the stuff is agency copy - and it's just filler around its ads anyway - Oh and a crap employer....reality bites

Anonymous said...

Yeah Gulf News - says it's the 'region's leading Arab daily' - piffle - If I was an arab i'd get my news from Arabic dailies - not English language ones.

The only time it ever prints gossipy stories is when it has a go at the 'West' yet it happily fills its pages with ads from western companies - what a joke - talk about bitng the hand theat feeds you.

Abdul Hamid - the evil 'hire/fire' ed in chief - should at least recognise the paper's real audience - expats who speak, well, English!

Anonymous said...

Was the post about Secret Dubai removed because she's a friend of the moderators and the post was, ever so slightly, insulting? There are plenty of worse insults using actual names on this blog. I don't suppose we can criticise the local media for censoring criticism of local rulers then can we?

anon_mediator said...

Anonymous : the post was removed for reasons of respecting anonymity.

Anonymous said...

The military Junta in Burma is refusing entry to aid organisations for reasons of national security.

Anonymous said...

Eh?
I saw the post - nobody was named in it.
It hardly narrows things down to say that she's left Dubai.
Normally DMO would be up in arms about a media owner lying to their readers. But because she's your mate, it sounds like you're colluding in keeping it a secret that Secret Dubai is being written by someone who no longer lives in the same hemisphere, let alone city...
I wonder if she's also a moderator on DMO. Let's see how long this post stays up...

Anonymous said...

Southern hemisphere then? Australia? New Zealand? South America? South Africa?

Anonymous said...

I'd have some sympathy with protecting her anonymity if she still lived in Dubai. But as it sounds like she doesn't, then what on earth is DMO thinking?

Anonymous said...

Well done, DMO. Looking afer your friends.
Looks like you're finally getting into Dubai media culture.

mediamonster said...

Yep. Now get over it and move on.

meeja tramp said...

anon @ 03.08 - it specified what city she was in, and who she worked for. And I can't imagine she's been lying on her blog. But then as it's blocked in Dubai, that would hardly matter!

Anonymous said...

Personally, I think 'lying' is a bit strong.
But it is a bit misleading though. It certainly feels like it's intended to be seen as a local view.
I did think it had gone off the boil (there are plenty of easy ways to get round the blockage - Google it), now I know why>