Ifra Middle East Conference 2007

Turnkey solutions

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:07:45 CST

Anthony DeCristofaro, right, General Manager of iseemedia, Canada, offers complete modules for mobile phone services, which his company delivers to newspapers as turnkey solutions. With 1.5 billion mobile phones in use worldwide, newspapers can monetise those opportunities. Smart phones with high-resolution screens are growing tremendously in popularity -- and need content, DeCristofaro said.

Waiting for the guests

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:10:02 CST

The Diplomat Radisson Hotel in Manama, Bahrain, is the site for the third Ifra Middle East conference. On Tuesday, the 140 participants are waiting for the guests of honour, among them political leaders from the Gulf region and publishers from ten Arab countries.

Right on time

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:22:45 CST

The conference takes place at a time when newspapers need to develop a clear view of where they want to go. The conference therefore is just on time to discuss the issues and options. Jehad Bin Hassan Bukamal, Bahrain's Minister of Information, and Reiner Mittelbach, Ifra's CEO, right, are on their way to the opening ceremony.

Welcoming the audience

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:41:32 CST

Mohamed K. Alayyan (left), Owner and CEO of the Jordan United Press, is the chairman of the conference. During the opening ceremony, he welcomes the audience together with Ifra CEO Reiner Mittelbach, Minister Jehad Bin Hassan Bukamal and Nassser Mohd Al Othman, Secretary General of the Gulf Press Association. Some 140 people from 20 countries are in attendance.

Media must think globally

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 08:54:22 CST

Maryam Bin Fahad, Executive Director, Dubai Press Club (UAE), presents the most recent analysis of developments in the Arab media. The findings have been published as "Arab Media Outlook". One of the main messages is: Think globally. The convergence of telecommunication and broadcasting is creating dramatic changes in the media scene everywhere.

"Where NEWS?" Ifra can tell

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:51:13 CST

The future of the news publishing industry is not hidden in a crystal ball -- just the opposite. Ifra's ongoing research project "Where NEWS?" clearly shows the trends in society and in the media business landscape. CEO Reiner Mittelbach presents some of the findings of this extensive project and gives recommendations as to how to stay in business well into the future and find new revenue sources.

Ingredients of success

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 09:30:43 CST

It requires a lot of engagement, great ideas and a vision -- all presented in a convincing fashion. Ahmad Al Hammadi from the Arab Media Group demonstrates how success can be attained. His presentation is impressive even for those attendees who don't speak Arabic. At the end of the video clip, the moderator of the panel discussion, Mohamed K. Alayyan, Owner and CEO, Jordan United Press, clarifies a point.

Final panel discussion

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 10:49:06 CST

Various speakers addressed today's issues worldwide and especially in the Middle East. From left: Mohamed Fal, Managing Director of Al-Madina Press Establishment Co. in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Managing Director Saleh Al-Humaidan from the newspaper Dar Al-Yaum, Saudi Arabia; moderator Mohamed K. Alayyan, Owner and CEO, Jordan United Press, Jordan; Brooke Timmins-Taulelei, representing iMedia Advisory Services from its office in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.; and Anthony DeCristofaro, General Manager of iseemedia, Canada.

See you again - in Egypt

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:15:10 CST

The chairman, Mohamed K. Alayyan, Owner and CEO of the Jordan United Press, closes the conference, thanking the Bahrain Ministry of Information and all others who helped to make the conference a success. Ifra CEO Reiner Mittelbach presents Alayyan with a gift and congratulates him for making the most out of the many topics covered during the two days. Mittelbach announces that Ifra's Middle East committee has decided to hold another event in the region. It is scheduled for March 2008 and will convene in Egypt.

Birke Becker

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:52:22 CST

Ifra's events organiser Birke Becker looks happy after the opening ceremony. Everything seems to work fine.

Dinner for all

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:57:46 CST

Conference participants enjoy dinner Tuesday evening, courtesy of the Bahrain Ministry of Information under Minister Jehad Bin Hassan Bukamal.

Multimedia publishing

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:25:41 CST

Dietmar Schantin, left, chaired the breakout session about multimedia publishing. As Ifra's Newsplex Director, he is involved in many projects with newspapers that prepare for new ways of publishing news on any platform. He also is in charge of Ifra's training facilities where journalists can develop their skills in theory and practice. At right is Chris Lloyd, Assistant Managing Editor of The Daily Telegraph in London.

Convergence in practice

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:35:54 CST

Chris Lloyd, Assistant Managing Editor of The Daily Telegraph in London, reports about the company's intense approach to "convergence in practice."

Concern beyond Bahrain

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:28:37 CST

Always engaged: Mohamed A. Fal, Managing Director of Al-Madina Press Establishment Co. in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, participated in the discussions about the state of the Arab press.

Balanced scorecards

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:49:44 CST

Methods of improving printing performance are demonstrated by Saad Al-Dossary, Printing Complex Director of Dar Al-Yaum in Saudi Arabia. Balanced scorecards are the foundation for achieving the highest possible efficiency in all areas. His team also examined every aspect of the production flow to eliminate redundancies and misunderstandings.

Networking during break

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:56:36 CST

The opportunity to meet with colleagues from around the Arab world is as important as the presentations of the Ifra Middle East Conference. The coffee breaks during the event offer an ideal time to discuss the issues even further.

Quick break-even

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:22:18 CST

During the panel discussion "The Bahraini Newspaper Landscape," Ebrahim S. Hameed, marketing and information manager for Al Wasat, based in Manama, described how his newspaper broke even within one year of its startup.

An exciting device

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:23:22 CST

After lunch, Ifra Research Director Manfred Werfel announces an exciting device, light in weight with an excellent full-colour display and easy navigation, fully recycleable, and that can be folded and bent: the newspaper. During a breakout session on "Printing with quality," he promises we will see a lot of enhancements in the near future.

Much needs to be done

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:09:23 CST

Managing Director Saleh Al-Humaidan from the newspaper Dar Al-Yaum (Saudi Arabia) touches on some critical issues: first, the lack of talented manpower. It is difficult to find experienced people in the home country and difficult to get experts from outside. Thus developing skills is the primary task. Secondly, it is difficult to get reliable statistics on which to build the business. Third, the legal structure still hinders the rapid development of the media, and there are barriers obstructing a competitive environment. If you don't catch up with the economic boom, you will go out of business, he warns.

Mobile everywhere

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:57:59 CST

Nobody travels without a mobile phone, says Dietmar Schantin, Ifra's Newsplex Director. While the handheld devices penetrate all areas of our daily life, Schantin is presenting the endless opportunities to publish news on mobile phones seven days a week, around the clock.

Ready for discussion

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:54:58 CST

Listening to the presentation of The Arab Media Outlook, the conference participants get prepared to discuss pan-Arab issues.

Give correct numbers

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:41:43 CST

In addition to Maryam Bin Fahad's presentation, Hazem Galal, Partner Advisory Services at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the United Arab Emirates, gives detailed figures for the six markets that were not included in the Arab Media Outlook. His basic advice is not to try to manipulate figures, because advertisers are very sensitive in that respect.

Galal presentation

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:37:53 CST

The presentation by Hazem Galal, Partner Advisory Services at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the United Arab Emirates, is

Call for innovation

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:47:46 CST

Jehad Bin Hassan Bukamal, Minister of Information, Bahrain, is pleased to cooperate with the world-known associations Ifra and the Gulf Press Association. The conference, he says, will address the most innovative topics. The state of Bahrain is determined to use the latest technology and to improve the performance of the publishing companies and to cover the needs of the readers.

Simultaneous translation

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:44:27 CST

The conference is an international event, and about 35 participants come from outside the Middle East. Interpreters handle the translation to provide all the information to everyone in the audience.

Staying ahead

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:41:19 CST

Reiner Mittelbach, Ifra CEO, explains that newspapers must change to stay ahead of the changing media world. Their customers, too, are changing. Ifra wants to be the partner of the industry in the Middle East to make sure that newspapers become -- and stay -- the strongest force in news publishing, not only in print but on all platforms.

A free, responsible press

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:49:17 CST

The audience listens to the speech of Bahrain's Minister of Information, who urges increased competitiveness, quality and credibility of content. He expresses his wish to secure a free and responsible press.

Getting badges

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:58:25 CST

Early Wednesday morning, participants line up to get their badges for the third Ifra Middle East Conference.

Opening address

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:38:03 CST

Nasser Mohd Al Othman gives the opening address on behalf of the Gulf Press Association (GPA) and emphasises the close cooperation with Ifra. The importance of this partnership for the future of the newspaper business is growing, he says.

Coverage from Kuwait

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:28:30 CST

Hamza S. Olayan, Director of the Information Center and Studies at Al-Qabas Newspaper, Safat, Kuwait, sent a PDF of the page of conference coverage from his newspaper. available for downloading as a non-printable PDF. Participants will be given access to printable files of presentations next week.

Boosting revenue

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 10:50:56 CST

Brooke Timmins-Taulelei, representing iMedia Advisory Services from its office in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., focused on business models for boosting revenue from subscriptions and advertising. While we become more international, she says, we need to know what's going on in the industry and how our customers change. Journalism becomes a dialogue.

Rate cards ignored

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:10:53 CST

Mohamed Fal, Managing Director of Al-Madina Press Establishment Co. in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, observes that advertisers in the Middle East tend to ignore rate cards and demand heavy discounts. He is afraid that the existence of even more media outlets will encourage customers to ask for even greater rebates. Newspapers must think about how to strengthen their market position.

Klaus von Pr�mmer

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:32:04 CST

Klaus von Pr�mmer, senior editor, newspaper techniques, is the multiblogger at this year's Ifra Middle East Conference. He is using a cameraphone and a camera to capture highlights of the event.

Mobile multimedia

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:20:12 CST

Ifra's multiblogs are an extremely sophisticated form of the popular weblog format. Weblogs are a kind of online diary or journal wildly popular with individuals as an outlet for personal expression. However, Ifra has merged the format with the latest in mobile and wireless technology and with mainstream editorial standards and a professional publishing workflow to turn it into a serious news-reporting vehicle.

Mobile journalists on site at the event are equipped with a variety of tools including laptop computers, high-end mobile phones with image and video recording capabilities, digital audio recorders for podcasting, and the latest in digital still and video cameras. This equipment allows them to not just record the conference’s goings-on but to do it in whatever medium is most appropriate to each piece of content and then to post that content online within moments.

Each entry in Ifra's multiblog documents a single aspect of the conference – an attendee's comment, a speaker’s summary, an exhibitor's explanation, busy aisles, quiet corners, people energized, tired, talking, planning, confused, informed. Each entry stands alone as a piece of micro-journalism. Collectively, however, the entries accumulate to eventually form an intricate mosaic revealing the larger trends and tones of what is an intricately multifaceted occasion.

Supporting those mobile multimedia journalists is a newsflow editor, based in Darmstadt, who manages the overall process, directing the journalists toward the ultimate goal of providing a distinctively comprehensive and engaging presentation of this event.

Both on-site and remote visitors can interact with the multiblog by browsing it online, downloading the pictures, adding their own comments and even submitting their own entries via mobile or email. Media worldwide also use the multiblog as a source for high-resolution print-quality photos and broadcast- or webcast-quality video for their own reports on the event.

Overall, Ifra's multiblog process melds some of the best attributes of in-depth, wide-ranging, detail-oriented newspaper reporting and real-time, putting-you-at-the-scene, visually engaging television coverage, leveraging the capabilities and reach of online with the latest advances in mobile and wireless. It is a thoroughly convergent media experience.

Kerry J. Northrup
Director of Publications, Ifra

Ready for presentation

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:24:34 CST

The audience anticipates the next presentation Wednesday in the ballroom of the Diplomat Radisson Hotel in Manama, Bahrain.

Synergies

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:33:56 CST

From Agora, Poland, Tomasz J�zefacki recommended developing content in such a way that a publisher may gain synergies for multimedia publishing. He is the head of his company's Internet division, a section that still offers great potential.

Insight from India

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:07:02 CST

Kasturi Balaji, Director, Kasturi & Sons Ltd., India, describes how his operation enhances printing quality with carefully selected equipment, including dryers for hybrid production. Also important is the implementation of tight controls throughout the process.

Managing change

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:38:05 CST

Sarah Schantin Williams, Ifra Associate Consultant, explains why change management is not only necessary but needs to be carefully implemented and maintained. Even if the people in the newsroom are excited about new developments, the change management may fail for many reasons. The journalists usually expect change -- but it must be clarified what exactly needs to be changed.

Black and white -- and read

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:24:47 CST

During the panel discussion "The Bahraini Newspaper Landscape," Osama Mahan from Al Meethaq recalled the launch 31 years ago of his paper, which was printed in black and white only. Keeping up with the changes in the industry has been necessary all the time.

Lunch with a view

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:15:42 CST

Wednesday's lunch was served on the 14th floor. Participants enjoyed the view.

Getting rid of your press…

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:11:56 CST

...is an option you should consider, advises Jochen Dieckow, Business and New Media Research Manager at Ifra, which has done a survey on separation of print and publishing. Contract printing is not really a new development, but more and more newspapers decide to abandon their own presses to get their product out in multiple locations with the highest quality.

Retain independence

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:52:39 CST

Asked about the value of cooperation with advertising organisations such as Google or Yahoo, Ifra CEO Reiner Mittelbach responds that groups of newspapers could use similar technologies themselves and thus retain their independence.

"Very good event"

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:35:53 CST

After Wednesday evening's gala dinner, hosted by Al Riyadh, we met Garbis Kesisoglu, Media Consultant with H�rriyet Gazetecilik ve Matbaacilik. Kesisoglu works in the U.S. as well as Europe, and says he finds the Middle East Conference to be a "very good event."

Blog of 2006 event

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:37:49 CST

The multiblog of the Ifra Middle East Conference 2006, held 28-29 November in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is