Hanif on Media

News Media, New Media, Politics, Culture & Spiritual Perspectives from South Florida to Infinity.

Hanif on Media header image 1

‘Web first, print surprise,’ and readers’ pictures on the front page, coming soon to an edition near you?

June 29th · No Comments · Newspapers

At the Gulf News, editors “publish online first and follow up on stories for the print edition with details that provide more background, context and a certain element of surprise.”

Media watchers, and other folks who keep asking “What’s happening to our newspaper,” may appreciate this look at the Dubai news organization’s strategies.

As reported by Magda Abu-Fadil, director of the American University of Beirut’s Journalism Training Program:

“In the West, it’s evolve, or die, or suffer,” said (hub editor Adam) Flinter. “There, it’s done out of necessity; here, we don’t have to do that yet.”

And about readers sending pictures, videos, stories, and consulting with the paper’s editors?

“You make yourself relevant to your audience,” noted Flinter. “That culture is what we’re trying to spread. The sheer simplicity lets everyone come.”

In other news he can use, Flinter said both the online and print editions make money, with only 3% of the audience reading online in the low broadband using United Arab Emirates.

Tags: ····

No Comments so far ↓

There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.

Leave a Comment