Semafor to launch Gulf edition as third instalment in global expansion

The firm will hire “at least half a dozen journalists across the region,” co-founder Justin Smith said. (Semafor)
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Updated 22 July 2024
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Semafor to launch Gulf edition as third instalment in global expansion

  • Former Dow Jones reporter Mohammed Sergie set to lead platform
  • Transformation of Saudi Arabia one of the world’s biggest and most exciting stories right now, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith tells Arab News

LONDON: News platform Semafor will launch in the Middle East on Sept. 16 with former Dow Jones reporter Mohammed Sergie as editor, marking the firm’s third edition in addition to the US and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Semafor Gulf will feature original reporting and a thrice-weekly newsletter that will analyze the region’s financial, business and geopolitical scenarios and their impact around the world.

“The core of our editorial idea and model around the international news opportunity is this notion that most of the existing dominant English-language news media was created and designed in the 19th century by American and British newspapers, to a large extent, that were domestic news brands,” said Justin Smith, co-founder and CEO of Semafor.

These news brands would then “re-export their content to the rest of the world” almost as an afterthought and send their correspondents around the world to report back for their home country, he told Arab News.

As the world has changed and the number of English-language readers has multiplied, he continued, there is a need for a new model where international reporting “is not done exclusively to report back news for the home country, but rather is created for people around the world — news consumers in the regions where those journalists are, in addition to people who are interested in that region.

“This notion of a foreign correspondent in 2024 is outdated and not as relevant.”

Semafor Gulf, led by Sergie, will launch with a team of staff reporters as well as columnists covering Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, and will continue to expand through 2025.

Sergie, who began his career in the UAE, previously established the Saudi Arabia bureau for Dow Jones in 2008 and served as an editor at Bloomberg News.

Semafor is, in some ways, different from other news brands in that it is “source-agnostic” and is “trying to tell the story a little bit differently, engaging with a sophisticated audience,” said Sergie.

Being a “multi-source media platform,” Semafor features “expert distillation and curation of the best content out there” along with its original content in order to provide a holistic understanding of a particular story, explained Justin Smith.

And currently, Sergie added, “there is a gap in the market of a smart read that brings in information from all sources.”

For example, in Saudi Arabia, officials often share information through podcasts, which does not necessarily feature in “the traditional media diet people have,” he explained.

There is also a different “scene” in each country across the Gulf — a “renaissance” of sorts across different industries — that Semafor wants to capture and bring to the audience, Sergie told Arab News.




Veteran journalist Mohammed Sergie will lead Semafor Gulf. (Semafor)

In addition to culture and business, the Middle East is a geopolitically charged region posing both challenges and opportunities to news platforms.

“The Gulf is this incredibly important site for politics, and these things (politics and other topics like economy and business) are intertwined,” said Ben Smith, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Semafor (of no relation to Justin).

There will “definitely be a geopolitical aspect” to Semafor Gulf’s coverage, Sergie added.

The firm will hire “at least half a dozen journalists across the region,” Justin Smith said, and roughly half of them will be based in Saudi Arabia owing to it possessing the largest share in the Gulf market.

In line with catering to the region, Sergie said the company would “probably experiment with some other channels” such as WhatsApp to reach a broader audience, specifically in the Gulf Cooperation Council area.

Based on his non-journalistic experience, he believes that most corporate and political leaders are “glued to their email,” so will “always consume that way.” And while he agreed that the average reader does not consume news through email, they are not Semafor’s target audience, he said.

The news brand’s coverage is carefully curated for a specific type of reader. “We see the audience as everybody who is obsessed with this story, which certainly includes lots of people in the region, but also includes lots of people outside the region,” said Ben Smith.

Moreover, Justin Smith asserted: “We are not a mass news brand. We’re not interested in reaching every single person.”

Semafor is for the leadership class and for those people who are based in the region as well as those based outside it, but still “deeply interested” in it, he explained.

And that is a key factor differentiating Semafor Gulf from other English-language news companies in the region.

“My understanding is that some of the big global English-language news brands have not necessarily invested as aggressively into the Gulf region, commensurate with the growth of the Gulf story,” said Justin Smith.

Global legacy news media brands usually report for their home country, but we are going to “flip that on its head and actually report for the region and the world interested in the region,” he continued.

Semafor Gulf’s approach is to tailor its content for readers who are sophisticated and passionate about the region while removing the filter that the US or UK might apply to a regional story to make it more relevant for readers in their home base, explained Ben Smith.

Global news outlets often contextualize stories of and about the region in ways that make them more “exotic” or relevant to readers in their home country, he said.

These global media outlets are in a phase where they are “constantly rediscovering the shifts in Saudi Arabia” as if it is a new story; but Semafor Gulf would like to “write with the assumption that people (readers) actually know what’s going on,” Ben Smith explained.

In terms of distinguishing itself from regional media outlets, Justin Smith said, Semafor Gulf will add a “global lens” and “connect the dots” between global and regional stories resulting in a more international “macro sensibility” that is less “Western-centric.”

He continued: “Semafor is a mosaic of multiple sources put together very carefully and very intentionally to bring ideological balance, and so you will see us looking to bring that kind of geographic and ideological balance together, even in the Gulf.”

And so, Justin Smith added, Semafor describes itself as an “intelligent service, as much as a news brand” because as “readers try to triangulate this incredibly complicated news landscape,” Semafor offers a multitude of expert content for readers to consume “quickly and get a much deeper, more insightful, more balanced understanding of any given news story.”


Athar Festival hosts 4 academies to train next generation of creative talent in Saudi

Updated 07 November 2024
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Athar Festival hosts 4 academies to train next generation of creative talent in Saudi

  • 2 academies designed for students, 2 for industry professionals
  • Focus on creativity, marketing

DUBAI: The second edition of the Athar Saudi Festival of Creativity opened on Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza RDC in Riyadh.

Hosted by the UAE-based Motivate Media Group and communications consultancy TRACCS, the event featured 100 regional and international speakers and several training initiatives.

One such initiative was the Young Talent Academies, which boasted four academies aiming to foster talent in the creative and marketing fields in Saudi Arabia.

The four academies were the Student Creative Academy, in partnership with regional advertising group Middle East Communications Network; the Student Marketers Academy, in partnership with Arabic entertainment firm UTURN; and the NextGen Creative Academy and NextGen Marketing Academy, in partnership with the Saudi Tourism Authority.

The first two were tailored for students, while the latter two were for young professionals already working in the industry.

The Young Talent Academies were a key component of the festival and are dedicated to “nurturing the next generation of creatives that will shape the future of Saudi Arabia,” said Ian Fairservice, chairman of Athar Festival and managing partner of Motivate Media Group.

He told Arab News: “The remarkable interest received is a clear indication of ambitions being aligned, and the lineup of immersive workshops and mentorship and networking opportunities at the festival promised to equip participants with invaluable insights and transformative career lessons.”

The Student Creative Academy, in partnership with MCN, brought together experts from across its agencies, which included FP7 McCann, MullenLowe MENA, UM, Initiative MENAT, MRM, Jack Morton, and Weber Shandwick.

Designed to “equip the next generation of creatives with skills and insights, while also instilling the fun of being a creative,” the academy provided participants “with a curated program of talks, mentorships, and creative brief challenges judged by industry leaders, culminating in an awards ceremony,” Ricarda Ruecker, chief talent officer of MCN in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkiye, told Arab News.

UTURN’s Student Marketers Academy’s participants consisted of 60 percent female and 40 percent male students representing universities including Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, University of Business and Technology, King Saud University, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

Led by Salwa Bankhar, Webedia Saudi Arabia’s business director, the academy featured eight speakers with expertise in content creation, marketing skills, storytelling, networking strategies and self-promotion.

Both MCN and UTURN are committed to developing local talent in the Kingdom and the academies were part of these efforts.

The Athar Saudi Festival of Creativity plays “an active role in shaping up the creative and marketing industry in Saudi Arabia” and provides “much-needed visibility and exposure to local Saudi talent,” said George Maktabi, CEO of UTURN’s parent company Webedia Group.

“Students take a sponge-like attitude to learning, but also give back candid observations and raw perceptions that puts everyone on a different learning curve,” he told Arab News.

The company is “established around young local talent, and by structure it acts as a hub for Saudi talent,” he added.

For MCN, the academy is of “strategic importance” to the company and a “natural extension” of the initiatives it has in place to foster talent development, Ruecker said.

Earlier this year MCN launched a six-month graduate program in Saudi Arabia to attract and train young local talent. It will launch a second edition in February 2025.

Although MCN and UTURN did not directly offer jobs or internships to participants, both companies said they have various initiatives in place for talent development.

Maktabi said: “UTURN is continuously headhunting talent and young marketers.

“Recruitment is of course competitive-based, and it is important to maintain an open call for talents to ensure open and equal access to all talents.”

The Student Marketers Academy is aimed at guiding students and empowering them “to pursue new opportunities more proactively, and UTURN is always approachable,” Maktabi added.

Ruecker said that MCN already had internship programs across the region and was “committed to inspiring students at the Student Creative Academy to pursue rewarding paths with us, whether through our graduate program or full-time roles across MCN’s agencies.”

The festival took place on Nov. 5-6 with the academies featuring from Nov. 3-6.


Taliban shut down Radio Zhman over alleged music broadcast

Updated 07 November 2024
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Taliban shut down Radio Zhman over alleged music broadcast

  • Officials closed the radio station after warnings about broadcasting background music during programs
  • Afghanistan Journalists Center says closure is a ‘significant infringement on the fundamental rights of free media’

LONDON: Taliban authorities have shut down Radio Zhman TV in Afghanistan’s southeastern Khost province, accusing the station of using background music in its broadcasts, a violation of the Taliban’s media policies since their takeover of the country in August 2021.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center condemned the closure on Wednesday, calling it a “significant infringement on the fundamental rights of free media” and warned of potential repercussions if restrictions on local media continue to escalate.

According to AFJC, Afghanistan’s media law stipulates that journalists and media organizations should be able to conduct their professional duties without undue restrictions, and that authorities have a responsibility to support media freedoms.

US-based Amu TV reported that the decision was made during a commission meeting at Khost’s Directorate of Information and Culture, which included representatives from the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, local intelligence, police, and information officials.

The commission determined that the station’s use of light background music in a social issues program was a breach of the Taliban’s strict media policies.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue, which enforces its interpretation of Islamic law, had previously issued warnings to broadcasters about playing music, which the group deems inappropriate.

Radio Zhman, established in 2017, broadcasts a mix of political, social, cultural and educational programming from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., reaching listeners in Khost and parts of neighboring Paktia province.

It is the second local media outlet to be shut down in Khost recently. Gharghasht Radio was closed on Oct. 31 but allowed to resume operations three days later on the condition that it refrains from broadcasting any music.


Dubai ‘most reputable city’ as Middle East shows strong progress in Brand Finance Global City Index

Updated 07 November 2024
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Dubai ‘most reputable city’ as Middle East shows strong progress in Brand Finance Global City Index

  • Emirati city moves up 4 places to 5th in overall global rankings, based on all measured attributes, behind London, New York, Paris, and Tokyo
  • Riyadh and Jeddah climb 4 and 6 places respectively to rank 75th and 79th on the overall global list

LONDON: Dubai claimed the title of most reputable city in the world in the 2024 Brand Finance Global City Index, which revealed notable improvements across the region.

The brand valuation and strategy consultancy firm’s second annual global survey on city perceptions, the results of which were released on Thursday, placed Dubai fifth in the overall global rankings, which are based on all measured attributes, behind London, New York, Paris and Tokyo.

Last year, the Emirati city ranked ninth. This time, the survey found it had made substantial gains in terms of investment appeal and reputation, bolstered by strong governance and strategic investments.

Riyadh and Jeddah also improved, climbing four and six places respectively to rank 75th and 79th on the overall global list.

Riyadh enjoyed some impressive gains in specific attributes, moving up 37 places in the rankings in recognition of its high-profile sports teams and clubs, 24 places for its private schools, and 20 places for its shopping, dining and nightlife options, making it one of the fastest-growing cities by these measures.

Andrew Campbell, managing director of Brand Finance Middle East, attributed the rapid improvements in the regional rankings, particularly the success of Dubai, to strategic investments by governments in infrastructure, tourism and the business sector.

“The substantial improvements in Dubai’s consideration metrics further highlight the city’s increasing allure as a premier destination for visitors, residents, businesses and global investors,” he said.

Dubai’s appeal in terms of business and innovation, along with a stable economy and favorable corporate tax policies, were credited with moving it four spots higher in the overall rankings than a year ago. It also achieved significant improvements in its rankings for local working (from 16th to 8th) and remote working (from 24th to 4th).

The index is based on a survey of more than 15,000 respondents. It measures factors related to familiarity, reputation and consideration to assess how desirable a city is viewed for living, working, studying, visiting, retiring and investing.

Abu Dhabi ranked 30th on the overall global list, the same as last year, but improved in terms of science, technology and economic appeal.

Other cities in the Middle East and North Africa that appear on the list include Cairo (63rd place in the overall rankings), Doha (69th), Casablanca (73rd) and Tel Aviv (83rd), which dropped six places amid ongoing conflicts.


Saudi stories pique audience interest, says Bloomberg Media MD

Updated 07 November 2024
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Saudi stories pique audience interest, says Bloomberg Media MD

  • Visiting the Athar Festival of Creativity in Riyadh, Amit Nayak told Arab News: “We’ve seen a real appetite from our global audiences for content from here”

RIYADH: Stories and articles about Saudi Arabia and the region are among the most widely read by audiences, according to Bloomberg Media’s managing director in the Middle East and Africa.

Visiting the Athar Festival of Creativity in Riyadh, Amit Nayak told Arab News: “We’ve seen a real appetite from our global audiences for content from here.”

He said that with such a large and diverse team based in the Middle East, Bloomberg Media was able to bring local insights and perspectives to provide content based on what audiences wanted.

“We remain focused on deeply understanding our Middle Eastern audience, fostering direct relationships, and delivering trusted news and insights tailored to their needs,” he said.

“We work with leading entities across the region, such as Saudi Tourism Authority and Red Sea Global, using custom content across different platforms to help tell their stories to regional and global audiences.”

The use of smart technology has been big part of Bloomberg’s strategy for over a decade, with The Bulletin being a predominant feature on the app. Launched by Bloomberg’s Media Innovation Lab in 2018, it provides single-sentence summaries of the top three stories.

“We leverage first-party subscriber data through our AI-powered Audience Accelerator platform,” added Nayak. “This allows us to precisely target key demographics to inform machine learning models that predict the population of users on the site, enhancing campaign performance and building brand credibility.”

In 2022, Bloomberg Media Studios opened a regional studio in Dubai and earlier this year launched “Bloomberg Horizons: Middle East & Africa,” a flagship morning program.

Bloomberg News also launched the Mideast Money newsletter, which focuses on “the intersection of wealth and power, and the impact of regional sovereign investors and dealmakers in global finance.”

Evolving as a commercial team that, 10 years ago, predominantly sold advertising, Nayak said that as clients became more sophisticated and keener to reach global audiences, Bloomberg Middle East was fostering internal talent to better collaborate with them.

“We were well placed because we have invested heavily in our teams on the ground here — whether that’s expanding sales, building a client marketing team, or hosting events on the ground in the region,” he said.


Tunisia influencers sentenced to jail over content: media

Updated 06 November 2024
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Tunisia influencers sentenced to jail over content: media

  • Some Internet users condemned the spread of crude language and obscene images on social media, while others saw the move as a new restriction on freedoms

TUNIS: Four influencers on Instagram and TikTok have been sentenced to jail in Tunisia for content authorities deemed immoral, local media reported Wednesday.
The Business News outlet said an Instagrammer known as Lady Samara, with about one million followers, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison on Tuesday.
TikToker Khoubaib received four years and six months, while Instagrammer Afifa was sentenced to a year and six months and her husband Ramzi to three years and six months.
On October 31, as part of the same investigation, an Instagrammer known as Choumoukh was sentenced to four and a half years’ jail on similar charges.
The private radio station Mosaique FM also reported a series of sentences ranging from 18 months to four and a half years, without identifying those being sent to prison.
It said they were being prosecuted for “public indecency, dissemination of content contrary to good morals or adopting immoral positions, using inappropriate language or adopting inappropriate behavior that undermines moral and social values and risks negatively influencing the behavior of young users of these platforms.”
The investigation was opened after the justice ministry on October 27 urged prosecutors to “take necessary judicial measures and launch investigations against anyone producing, displaying or publishing data, images, and video clips with content that undermines moral values.”
The decision sparked widespread debate, both on social media and in the media.
Some Internet users condemned the spread of crude language and obscene images on social media, while others saw the move as a new restriction on freedoms.
Online magazine Nawaat, which frequently criticizes the Tunisian government, said the arrests come amid “a climate marked by repressive restrictions on freedoms.”
“Following the systematic dismantling of judicial power, the prosecution of opponents and journalists, and the repression of civil society, social media influencers — regardless of the quality of their content — are now in the regime’s crosshairs,” said an article.
Tunisia’s opposition and civil society have condemned what they call an “authoritarian drift” by President Kais Saied, who was re-elected on October 6 with a sweeping majority but low turnout.