Copywriter Journalist

Advertising blog by Farrukh Naeem, journalist and copywriter in UAE (Abu Dhabi, near Dubai)

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Dubai Lynx Awards 2008 - Pictures of winners in Print, Direct and Media May 10, 2008

Dubai Lynx Awards have passed and I have blogged about the exciting bits, before and after the awards. But my blog’s readers want more. The Dubai Lynx website has so much coverage this time, with shortlisted ads up there too open for anyone to lookup, I felt putting up the winners here was unnecessary.

But then, everyone loves pictures - and I do have some nice ones readers of the blog would like, taken by me from right under the stage (the press seats and my agency tables were at a distance so I just sat on the carpet - with all the journalist buddies - in true paparazzi style. Closer to the action.) 

So here goes another post with some great Dubai Lynx memories in pictures…

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Dubai Lynx shortlists, advertising seminars and workshops keep delegates busy on Day 1 April 1, 2008

The first ever Dubai International Advertising Festival and the 2nd Dubai Lynx Awards started off well on Monday, 31 March 2008.

Two things most looked forward to on this day were the shortlist of Print, Outdoor, Media and Direct categories and the chance to listen to David Droga - the first seminar after the inauguration of the festival by the Crown Prince of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Chairman of TECOM.

The shortlist announced today had a total of 383 entries - 195 in Print, 109 in Outdoor, 50 in Direct and 29 in Media. The overall standard looked pretty high this time.

The much awaited Droga5 seminar was packed with ad professionals eager to hear what one of the world’s hottest creative directors has to say about creating positive brand momentum. Seminars and workshops included those by Getty, Eardrum, IAA and EMAAR, Text Appeal and Jumeirah, Brandhome and Eurosport.

I met up with many friends in the ad business. Zeid Nasser of Adblog Arabia and MediaMe who’s come all the way from Jordan. Samer Marzouq of the Jazarah blog. Shehzad of Pirana Dubai, who has been on the jury of New York Festivals. Kerry Platts of Wunderman MENA, a wonderful CD to work with when it comes to Direct, who has been on the Cannes jury from UAE.

Amanda Benfell, the event’s PR and Press Manager, has been very helpful all along. The Press Centre is well equipped. The award-winning work showcased from Cannes and Eurobest makes one feel like a little, tiny dot in the creative universe.

If you’re at the Dubai Lynx, why not share your notes and experiences here? I’d be happy to post inputs from attendees on this blog for everyone’s benefit. And you’re most welcome to call me at 050 7151722 - maybe we could meet up for a coffee when I’m there. You could also show me your work if it’s made it!   

Which is the most creative country in the Middle East and North Africa? Dubai Lynx Awards country-wise analysis March 23, 2007

Dubai Lynx Winners, when arranged countrywise, give some kind of indication on the relative creative output country by country. For people like me who are fascinated by tables, analysis and data (although I am a creative guy - not a ’suit’), this post should be a welcome break from all the goody-goody pictures I have been posting so far.

Dubai Lynx Winners By Country

UAE shows a very strong lead on all counts. But then, compared to its neighbours, Dubai and the UAE have been successful in attracting the world’s leading advertising networks as well as top talent from all over the world. In many other countries participating in the awards, the creative demographic is somewhat different, with the work done more by locals, for locals whereas in the UAE, work is done by a cross-cultural teams for its mutlinational residential mix.

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Creative Ideas in Integrated, Interactive and Direct Bring Trophies To Gold Dubai Lynx Winners (Pictures) March 21, 2007

Presenting the Dubai Lynx Awards Gold winners in the Integrated, Interactive, and Direct categories. Not presenting the Dubai Lynx Gold Winners in the Radio category. Why? Scroll on to find out…

Dubai Lynx Awards - Integrated
Integrated is one category in which the jury did not find a single entry worthy of winning a Dubai Lynx Grand Prix award - the best we have in Integrated is the Gold winner. What’s sad is that to be judged for creative excellence in Integrated advertising, the entire Middle East North Africa (MENA) region could come up with only 22 entries out of a total of 1,679 submitted in all categories.

Makes one think - are we all looking for quick-fixes and short bursts of creative brilliance in the region rather than communication ideas that build integrated campaigns with ‘legs’ and keep running long after we are forgotten? Or is agency specialisation the culprit here? Feel free to agree or disagree in the comment section of this post.

Brandcom Middle East UAE team won a Gold Dubai Lynx for the cheeky Axe Deodorant’s Integrated campaign.

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• About...

  Farrukh Naeem is an advertising copywriter and journalist based in Abu Dhabi, right next to Dubai, UAE.

  
  This blog aims to highlight news, views and opinions on advertising, marketing, corporate communication, PR and creativity in business.

  
  Feel free to email Farrukh at farrukh.copywriter(at)gmail.com or have a friendly chat with him on his cellphone at 00 971 50 7151722 if you are:

  * an editor or journalist looking for insightful coverage of the advertising and marketing scene in the UAE and the Middle East

  * an eccentric creative director who believes good soulful copy isn't dead, yet

  * a brand manager or marketing communications chief wishing to have coffee with a copywriter who's studied Philip Kotler, heard Tom Peters, and can understand marketing strategies and annual reports

  * an advertising, marketing, media, or public relations professional with some hot, sizzling news, event or opinion you want me to feature on this blog

  * a young, enthusiastic person looking for simple tips for your advertising or journalism career but being brushed away by those who have made it big but forgotten how they, once upon a time, were like you too...

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• Copyright (c) 2008 Farrukh Naeem. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  No part of this blog including text, pictures, opinion, quotes, ads, illustrations may be reproduced, posted or published without the expressed written consent of the author. For permission to republish this blog's content, please write to farrukh.copywriter(at)gmail.com. If you are in a rush, you can speak to me on +971 50 7151722. You are welcome to cite or quote text excerpts (not images) of this blog under Fair Use conventions provided that you credit the source as Farrukh Naeem and link back to www.copywriterjournalist.com.

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