Interview on Creativity and Advertising in UAE and the Middle East June 15, 2008
Posted by Farrukh Naeem at www.copywriterjournalist.com in : Uncategorized , trackbackZeid Nasser, a good friend and founder of AdBlog Arabia and MediaMe, asked me some good questions about the state of advertising in the UAE and the Middle East for an interview he’s been wanting since we first met in Dubai.
He’s asked me what challenges copywriters face in the Middle East. How do Beirut and Cairo compare to the UAE in terms of creativity. And why I think blogs are a good idea for global exchange of ideas.
For all those readers who’ve been mailing me and asking me about the creative life in the region, it is a detailed look at what it’s like. Have a read at the MediaMe.com homepage or the interview’s direct link.
You’ll also notice that Zeid’s being a media person puts up regional media rates too on MediaMe.com. And jobs in advertising. So, I’m sure you’ll find his sites useful. Go for it!
Comments»
Thanks for the kind words Farrukh …. indeed it a pleasure to feature a good friend and colleague like you on mediaME. Your answers are thoughtful and thorough!
Cheers!
Thanks for the opportunity to interview, Zeid. You’re doing good work for the region with MediaMe and AdBlog Arabia.
farrukh
HI, i’m a journalist from iran. i read your writing, do you know copy writing is forbiden in iran?and i wonder if you tell me, how could i find journalis job in dubai or UAE?
Hi Sally,
I don’t think copywriting is forbidden in Iran. I’ve got a good friend who managed a big global account in Iran - they couldn’t have done it without copy I think.
Correct me if I am wrong.
For a journalism job in the UAE, you have to go through the usual channels. Job sites. Publisher’s sites. Headhunters. Emails. Interviews.
Some of the top newspapers are Gulf News, Khaleej Times and The National.
farrukh
i have a question
when u think mid east advertising and creativity - does israel play any role for you and if it does do you look at hebrew and arabic israeli media?
Welcome back Lirun,
Good to see you again. How are things back home in Israel?
When I think advertising and creativity, I don’t think of it in country or nationality terms unless the post is analysing a country trend or it is relevant to the ad’s theme whether it’s Israel, Saudi Arabia, the USA, India, whatever.
Since I live in the UAE currently and am exposed to the GCC media circuit, that’s what I cover most in my blog. When I feature ads, mostly these are from English media - being an English language blog. One writes about what one knows.
If I spoke or read Hebrew or had Arab Israeli ads around me and knew the stories behind those ads and the people creating the stuff, I might have found something to write about and discuss. But my guess is that Hebrew isn’t a widely spoken language across the Middle East and hence doesn’t have the kind of regional media exposure like Arabic does.
On a personal note, if I come across an ad campaign that is effectively making a difference to Israeli AND Palestinian people’s lives in a positive way, I’d be more than happy to feature it - being a peace lover just like you
Hi Farrukh.
you right, copy writing is not forbiden in iran, but i’m seeking a media or journlaist job, i work for a famous news agancy in iran, but i’d like to progres and learn new experience by working in UAE. so, what is ur opinion? is it possible for me to find a good job in UAE’s journals? thnax a lot .
best regard:sally
Hi Farrukh,
My Name is Yasmin, and i’m an Advertising Student at the American University of Sharjah, i have a blog as well on the Media in the Middle East but mainly in the UAE.
But i thought it’d be very interesting to look at the English - Arabic translated adverts in most media excluding web.
I often come across incorrect translations. For example, in Spinneys i saw the they tranlated “Nice Price” into “Al saar al jadeed” which means “the new price” .
I think the problem is that the UAE is building up so fast the everyone else can’t catch up to the same quality standards.
My friend (who wants to get into copy writing) and i have also been follow yours’ and zaid’s blogs ,which are brilliant by the way, and have inspired me to make my own.
Hi Sally,
I was travelling in July - sorry for the delayed response to your comment. If you are working for a reputed news agency, I am guessing you could get news organisations here interested. But remember that a lot of news in the papers in the UAE is from the global wires rather than content from their own coorespondents.
farrukh
Welcome Yasmin… yes, it’d be great to look at funny translations.
Keep up the good work with your blog!
farrukh