How Dubai is driving smart and creative journalism

Freelancing options in media zones will help create diverse talent pool

The media landscape, much like the rest of the world, is currently in an era of rapid transformation.

Technological developments have completely revolutionised the system, with social media, digital and artificial intelligence offering the audience much greater power in terms of what, when and where they consume their news and content.

This is nothing new. In fact, media companies have been adapting to the new digital way for many years now.

Take a look at the Media zones in the UAE and you can see the wide range of players that are active and involved.

From global and international brands, regional print daily newspapers, broadcast, magazines, websites and more, there is no shortage of media options for a willing worldwide audience. In total, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City and Dubai Production City host over 96 TV channels and broadcasters, 180 production houses, 130 advertising agencies and several other industry players.

That audience, the consumer, may not necessarily pick up a paper or tune in to a particular station anymore. Many still do, but many more are just as likely to follow their favourite brands on social media, or even pick up the brand stories via friends on their social media channels.

In fact, the Arab Media Outlook 2016-2018 report tells us that about the ‘mobile first’ market of the Middle East and how important the small screen is to media companies.

Media companies are transforming their content, business and distribution models to navigate the new landscape, and new relationships are being formed between brands and their social media or online audiences.

You only need to look around the next time you are in the coffee shop to see how much time people spent on the phone, particularly on social networks and video. Again, the Arab Media Outlook report showed how in recent years an average viewer would spend up to 80 minutes and 28 minutes of time a day on social networks and video respectively.

It is not just the companies themselves that are adapting to the situation. Media professionals are also empowering themselves and developing new skillset. The days of editors, writers, sub-editors and picture desks working to tight daily deadlines in editorial newsrooms are almost gone.

The modern-day media professional needs to write, provide images and video content, and also understand ‘publishing’ in the sense of repurposing content on social media platforms.

They need to be tech savvy and multi-skilled, to adapt to a mindset of constant deadlines as content is published online first, posted on social media channels and then reworked for print editions. Many tend to be adaptable in other ways too. The media industry has been a competitive environment and the modern era is no different.

Like many other sectors in the modern world, the media industry has thrived thanks to the rise of the gig economy, where independent workers are engaged on short term contracts or on a freelance basis. This workforce plays an important part in the economies of many countries and regions worldwide.

The freelance pool in the UAE is supported in their endeavours by Dubai Media City with the ‘Go Freelance’ package which was launched earlier this year to attract and foster talent in the media and education sectors, and to transform the economy by infusing diverse skills into the community through this source of talent. It presents a unique opportunity for industry professionals to thrive and grow within the Dubai Media City business ecosystem, offering access to neighbouring markets and empowering freelancers to take ownership of their careers, and make the most of their skills and talents.

This package empowers professionals eager to make a mark in emerging professions such as content creators, by supporting both the individuals and

Media companies are transforming their content, business and distribution models to navigate the new landscape

the new platforms developing in the media sector.

The initiative is just one example of how Dubai is nurturing talent and also supporting the wider vision of Dubai Plan 2021, to become a ‘Pivotal Hub in the Global Economy’, and a ‘City of Happy, Creative and Empowered People’.

The media zones in Dubai and the UAE are more than fulfilling their potential. For over 15 years, Dubai Media City has cultivated a creative community that caters to the media industry, from multinationals through to agencies and individuals.

In a rapidly changing world, we continue to offer media professionals and brands an unparalleled ecosystem and infrastructure and a gateway to neighbouring markets in the region, providing unique growth opportunities to a broad range of players in the sector.