WMA open for registrations! be there or be square!

WOW! HOW MANY RADIO STATIONS IN DUBAI!

Arabic radio

• Abu Dhabi Radio (AM/FM)
• Al Emarat
• Hayat 95.6 "Gulf News Broadcasting"
• Quran Kareem
• Al Arabiya 99.0FM - Arabian Radio Network
• Al Khaleejia 100.9FM - Arabian Radio Network
• Al Rabia FM 107.8FM
• Noor Dubai 93.9FM
• Sawa 90.5FM
• Star 92.4/99.9FM

English radio

• Radio 1 - Top 40/Dance/R&B; 104.1 FM (Dubai), 100.5 FM (Abu Dhabi) Gulf News Broadcasting
• Radio 2 - Classic Hits; 99.3 FM (Dubai) 106.0 FM (Abu Dhabi) Gulf News Broadcasting
• Channel 4 FM - Top 40; 104.8 FM Channel 4 Radio Network
• Coast 103.2 - Rhythmic Adult Contemporary; 103.2 FM Channel 4 Media/Fujairah Media Network
• Dubai 92 - Adult Contemporary; 92.0 FM Arabian Radio Network
• Dubai Eye 103.8 - News, Talk & Sport; 103.8 FM Arabian Radio Network
• Virgin Radio Dubai - Top 40; 104.4 FM Arabian Radio Network
• Rock Radio 90.7 - The First Rock Radio station in the Gulf.

Hindi/Urdu radio

• Josh 97.8 Gulf News Broadcasting
• City 101.6 - Arabian Radio Network
• Radio Mirchi 95.6
• 102.4 Suno FM
• Hum FM 106.2 Gulf News Broadcasting
• Radio 4 - 89.1 FM
• 105.4 Spice FM

Malayalam radio

• Hit FM 96.7 FM - Arabian Radio Network
• Gold FM 101.3 FM - Channel 4 Network
• Super 94.7 FM
• Radio Me 100.3 FM
• Asianet Radio 657 AM
• Radio Asia 1269 AM
• Red94.7FM - Radio Asia Network
• Voice of kerala 1152am
• shakthi FM

Tamil radio

• Hello FM 106.5 FM

Filipino radio

• Tag 91.1 - Arabian Radio Network

Farsi radio

Radio Shoma 93.4 - Arabian Radio Network

The Basics of Writing a News Story

What are the 5 things that make your story newsworthy?

Michael Shaghoury WMA Academy Dubai Director gave us some great advice which we thought we would share. For further information on the course visit www.wma-dubai.com

 Timing

Human Interest

Significance

 

Prominence 

Proximity 

A Quick Guide to Native Advertising!

Writing a good press release

Tips and advice we picked up from THE PR EXPERT LECTURERS AT THE WMA!

For further details contact the WMA  +971-4-4332831

Raffles World Academy Dubai Campaign - Seat Belt Pledge

Mr Nicholas Gastaldi and his creative students of Grade 4A aim to raise seat belt awareness by inviting other schools to also to take the pledge!

Well done guys! awesome campaign!

Please take the pledge with your school now - go to http://rwagrade4a.edublogs.org/

A Selection of interesting PR Stunts Enjoy!

Can you think of any interesting PR Stunts that took place in the UAE? please share!  

Lidl treat journalists to ‘flash’ 3 course spread – for less than £10 a head

German supermarket Lidl – which has been gaining ground on the other supermarkets as of late for its no frills pricing – held a swanky dinner at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum last night.

The evening, attended by many national consumer journalists, was described as a chance to meet UK boss Ronny Gottschlich, who made a number of announcements.
First up was a new £20m TV ad campaign, debuted last night. The ‘LidlSurprises’ ad, according to this piece on the Express, ‘shows shoppers visiting a farmers’ market in London’s East End where they are surprised at what good value the fresh produce is – only to be told upon purchase that their shopping items were sourced from the German chain’.
Gottschlich also told how the chain has plans to create 5,000 jobs over the next five years as part of a £220million UK expansion programme, by increasing the number of its UK stores from 600 to between 1,200 and 1,500.
All this sounds lovely – but isn’t the reason it’s on this site. Here’s the menu, as tweeted by the Telegraph’s Harry Wallop. Sounds nice, right?

And here, after the meal, is a receipt given to each of the 185 diners, showing the cost of each ingredient at Lidl – and that the ‘flash’ 3 course menu had cost less than £10 per head.

 

 

Link to original post:

 



http://prexamples.com/2014/08/lidl-treat-journalists-to-flash-3-course-spread-for-less-than-10-a-head/

 

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

By now you’ve seen countless individuals dumping a bucket of ice over their heads in support of ALS, including celebrities such as Bill Gates, Taylor Swift and Oprah Winfrey. Apart from the silliness, the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” has been serious business. The ALS Association, a national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s disease, received $31.5 million in donations between July 29 and August 20 compared to $1.9 million during the same period last year.
That’s one heck of a successful PR campaign! And one heck of a great cause!

Video attracted more than 2 Million Views on You Tube!

Selection of Interesting PR Case Studies

A selection of case studies, all very different proving that if you are creative, love pressure and variety then consider a career in PR!  

1)Retired doctor goes on 2,500-mile kayak trek for nonprofit

Deb Walters, a 63-year-old retired doctor, set out on a 2,500-mile solo kayak expedition from Maine to Guatemala to raise funds and awareness for Safe Passage.

 

For full details of the case study click on the original post link:-

http://www.prweek.com/article/1323121/retired-doctor-goes-2500-mile-kayak-trek-non-profit

2) AirRun iPhone App PR Case Study

The AirRun iPhone app PR case study demonstrates the talents that our Chicago iPhone app PR team can bring to bear for companies launching innovative apps.

For full details of the case study click on the original post link:-

 

http://www.walkersands.com/AirRun-iPhone-App-PR-Case-Study

 

3)Campaign name: "Pets Make a Home"
Client/ PR Team: Taylor Wimpey/ Remarkable Group

Campaign Details

Objectives:

1. Through viral spread, raise awareness of Taylor Wimpey’s social media channels and, as result, the company as a whole
2. Increase the number of likes on the Facebook page
3. Drive traffic to the Taylor Wimpey website
4. To collect user-generated content, in the form of images of pets looking cute, for press releases and potential use in show homes at a later date
5. Collect data for potential use in a CRM exercise at a later date

- See more at: http://www.prca.org.uk/default.asp?pid=2102#i_2721

 

For full details of the case study click on the original post link:-

 

http://www.prca.org.uk/default.asp?pid=2102#i_2721

AJ+ video journalism strikes a cord with Millennial news consumers



 

 

EMPOWER - ENGAGE - EXPERIENCE

"We highlight human struggles and achievements, empower impassioned voices, and challenge the status quo"

At one of our Media broadcasting classes, Michael Shaghoury (Program Director) of the WMA Dubai introduced us to AJ+. Recently launched by Doha based Aljazeera Media Network, AJ+ is an online news channel specifically targeted to capture audiences that only consume their news on the internet.  Demonstrating that Al Jazeera is being very avant garde and moving with the times to provide news in a format to appeal to the millennials.      

AJ+ is proving to be very popular, is primarily based on You Tube and has 664 videos uploaded with approximately 4267936 views and 21920 subscribers to date.  The videos are generally short, very visual and comprise key concise information which is in line with how new millennials consume their news online.  Viewers are subsequently encouraged to spread the word and share the content through social media. 
  

 

(What Do The Hunger Games And ISIS Have To Do With Each Other?)     

The channel is currently looking for Video Journalists all over the world to shoot, edit and produce video content. 

For a more detailed job description and other vacancies available please click on the following link:-

 http://www.ajplus.net/jobs/      

 

Also for more information on AJ + visit the following links:-

http://ajplus.net/ 

https://gigaom.com/2013/11/22/an-exclusive-behind-the-scenes-look-at-aj-al-jazeeras-upcoming-online-news-network/

http://www.ixonos.com/news-blogs/news/ixonos-dream-delivery-for-al-jazeera-plus-experience-engagement-and-empowerment-for-the-connected-generation

REMEMBER OUR ADVICE ON HOW TO BECOME A VIDEO JOURNALIST!

 

 

 

 

 

HOW TO BECOME A VIDEO JOURNALIST

Dev J Hadlar Programming Director, World Media Academy Dubai Faculty member

Looking for a career in broadcast journalism?

If you are looking for career in the Broadcast Media Industry, whether it be in Radio or TV, hands-on experience and practical training are the only way forward.

It is the opinion of many professionals in this field, that the art of broadcasting can only be learned and not taught. Mentors can guide you along the way but at the end of the day, the do-it-yourself approach is the best way to get your head around the business.

The three main pillars of good broadcasting are (1) Vibrancy, (2) Good writing skills, and (3) Technical know how.

Vibrancy is simply positive energy! Broadcasting is a fast moving business; live bulletins, deadlines and last minute changes occur everyday and hence there is no room for sluggishness. Vibrancy makes the job of broadcasting enjoyable and challenging. Positive energy is contagious, not only in the work place but also with your audience.

Good writing skills are a result of habit. The more you write the better you get. Good writing in broadcasting means being clear, concise and to the point. Unlike newspapers where the reader gets a chance to read over a sentence or paragraph at their own pace, in broadcasting you only get one chance to get your message across so you better get it right.

Technical know how does not mean you need to be an engineer. It means that you need to have a strong understanding of how broadcast technology works and be able to multi-task with different equipment if required.

As for qualifications, a Masters in Journalism from Columbia University is always a plus, but if you don’t have that, then start building up a decent show reel.

Practice makes perfect and that is what broadcasting is all about. One must be enthusiastic about the craft and what drives that enthusiasm is the anticipation of listening or watching your final product at the end of the day. Working hours may be long and tasks may seem tedious, however, when you get to that point when you can actually enjoy the result of your work on air, the pay off is quite exquisite.

The broadcast industry offers a variety of opportunities for young professionals. Although most people usually are drawn to the talent positions such as presenting and reporting, there are a variety of other roles that need to be filled. The spotlight is good for some, but many broadcast professionals much prefer playing a bigger role behind the scenes. 

Radio

In radio, radio jockeys, programming directors, newsreaders and writers are all positions that are up for grabs. The Radio Jockey maybe the most sought-after position but it is also one of the hardest.

Being live on air comes with a lot of pressure so make sure you are confident and can think on your feet to field challenges as they arise. If you prefer a more behind-the-scenes position which allows you take more of a planning and logistical role, a show producer or program director would be more suitable. To be a good newsreader, excellent writing skills are a must, as you will have to formulate and write the stories before going live on air. 

Television

Television Broadcasting is the primary means by which most people in the world get their news and that is not going to change for a long time. Dubai hosts a wide range of international, regional and local TV stations that are constantly on the look out for hard working-ambitious individuals.

Whether you want to be a reporter covering warzones or new editor setting the day’s news agenda, or producing an entertainment show, there are a few basics things you need to learn - such as writing skills for TV, story structure, news worthiness, the basics of filming, basics of video editing and sequencing and basic TV technology. WMA’s broadcast journalism course is designed to provide an overview of the many skills required.

Some of the different roles in television include being a show producer, where you have a chance to manage an entire production team and will need to develop your managerial and interpersonal skills, or a more specific position such as an editor or cameraman, which will need further technical training.

A good producer will never go hungry. If you can create, generate, and or manage content you will be in high demand. Editorial positions are also available such as news editors, program editors, as well as programming managers and production heads.

Some of these positions are senior and it is worth remembering that if want to get into this industry you have to start somewhere and it will likely be the bottom. Stars are not born overnight. Every personality you know on Radio or TV has started from the bottom and worked their way up. It’s a long a road but everyone has to somewhere.

Freelance video journalism

Freelance Video Journalism jobs are currently in high demand, not only from TV stations but from websites and social media marketers as well. A video journalist is essentially a one man band who is able to film, video edit, write and present his or her own television news report. Once one obtains these skills the possibilities are endless, and contrary to what you may think, the hardware is not that hard to come by. A regular DSLR Camera, a microphone and a laptop are all you need to start. 

The skills that one obtains in broadcasting such as writing, video editing, filming, and presenting are not limited to radio and TV. The rise of social media and digital technology has created an un-limited appetite for content from media and corporate outlets.

At the end of the day, content is king. A video can be played on TV, but it also can now be viewed and shared through YouTube, Facebook Twitter and many other networks. Knowing how to produce and circulate content is going to be key to all future industries.

The UAE has set media as one of its primary drivers of economic growth not only in the area of content creation but media servicing as well and the industry is fundamental to the country’s future so it is an exciting place to be.

Internships are a great way to break into the broadcast industry. The secret is to do as many jobs as possible once you are inside so that when its time for you to go the station realizes how valuable you are and they don’t know how they are going to get by without you. Always go the extra mile and offer help wherever you can. It will pay off in the end.
 

Co-written by Dev J Hadlar Programming Director, Suno 1024 & World Media Academy Dubai Faculty member & Michael Shagoury WMA Director.

Original post:
 http://gulfnews.com/life-style/education/looking-for-a-career-in-broadcast-journalism-1.1205866
 

WE ALL HAVE REGRETS DON'T MAKE NOT WRITING ONE OF YOURS!

Exclusive to The Gulf Today
Birjees S Hussain: Regrets are the stuff of life

They say that opportunity knocks only once. Are you as regretful as Sean Connery or Christian Bale are? Do you wish you’d done B instead of A? Did an opportunity present itself but you ignored or turned it down because it didn’t seem right for you at the time?

It appears many people have regrets of this nature. Sean Connery regrets not taking the role of Gandalf in the movie Lord of the Rings because he did not understand the role. He also turned down the role of Morpheus in The Matrix. And on the subject of The Matrix did you know that the lead role which was played by Keanu Reeves was initially offered to Will Smith?

Christian Bale was offered the role of Steve Jobs but declined due to other commitments. Molly Ringwald was offered the role of Pretty Woman but turned it down because she was not comfortable with the concept of the story. In fact, Molly’s mother refused to even show her the script. Other actresses who declined the role were Meg Ryan and Michelle Pfeiffer which eventually went to Julia Roberts. And did you know that the role of Indiana Jones was initially offered to Tom Selleck who turned it down due to prior commitments with Magnum? The role, as we know, eventually went to Harrison Ford.

But you know what, normal, everyday people like us also feel regret at not grabbing an opportunity when it presents itself. And just like the celebrities, it usually relates to a job opportunity or a chance to live abroad, both of which you might deny because you weren’t sure it was the right move to make at the time.

Several years ago, before I started writing for The Gulf Today, I met the Managing Editor of a very prominent financial magazine in the UAE. I was hoping he might give me a role or, at the very least, some freelance work. But at the time, I hadn’t written as much as I have done now so I had very little published material to show him.

Therefore, in order to ascertain my competency he decided to give me a writing assignment. He gave me the subject of the article and the areas the topic was to cover. It was a financial article.

During the meeting this editor told me that if he liked the article, he’d publish it in his magazine and if he REALLY liked it, he would offer me more. What that more was he didn’t say... and I didn’t ask. In fact, I rather got the impression that he himself wasn’t sure what that something was.

Nevertheless I was intrigued by the unspoken offer and suspected it might be a regular freelance contributor’s assignment for the magazine. To cut a long story short, I submitted the article and he and I met again. At the next meeting he advised me he would publish it because he was impressed with the way I handled a financial related article.

He then offered me a job as Deputy Editor, saying that I did a far better job of structuring and writing the article than his existing deputy editor was doing. I wasn’t sure about the job because the salary was, how can I put it, not what I was expecting for that kind of position. The Editor tried to explain that he was giving me the opportunity to learn about the financial world and a chance to rise in the field of journalism. I still turned him down. Needless to say, he was quite miffed with me.

Now like Sean Connery and Christian Bale, did I regret not accepting the role of Deputy Editor? Considering the stresses of life that I recently underwent, I would have to say yes … a little.

But hindsight is 20-20. If we knew then what we know now, we’d make all the right decisions, wouldn’t we? But life is not like that. We are not supposed to know what will happen in the future.

Link to original post:-
 http://gulftoday.ae/portal/9dba7931-0a8c-443c-a5d8-67c30f710b24.aspx

 

Career Girls: Dos and Donts for Getting a Freelance Journalist Job- Digital Director Mary Polizzotti

WATCH IT! DO YOU AGREE? 

 

 



Never Give up on your dream of being a freelancer!

We came across this old post and thought we would share. 

Sorry, I can’t get you a job freelancing

People have been emailing me asking if I could get them a freelancing job for Letterman, SNL or any other place. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Sorry, I wish I could but I am not allowed to give out any contact information or I would get in trouble.

People were also curious how I got started, here is the story -

(Opens fairy tale book)
Once upon a time I was walking by the Ed Sullivan Theatre and someone on the street asked if I wanted to see a live taping of the Late Show (they were low on audience that day.) It was funny because I was randomly in Manhattan trying to get a job, so I used the opportunity to pass on my resume to anyone who would take it. After a couple of interviews, I became a page for the Late Show with David Letterman. The pages are the people who keep the audience happy before and after the show.

After a year of paying my dues as a page and being told multiple times that they didn’t have room for another freelance writer, on June 7, 2004, I was allowed to fax over a handful of jokes. After I got my first joke on air, a handful of jokes turned into a full page of jokes. After my jokes made air on the Late Show, it was easier to pitch myself as a freelance joke writer to other places. Things basically blossomed from there.

The End.
(Closes book)
(Reading rainbow theme plays)
(Butterflies fly all over the place)
Original post:
http://www.rejectedjokes.com/post/541218127/sorry-i-cant-get-you-a-job-freelancing
https://twitter.com/rejectedjokes [ben shwartz@rejectedjokes]

Useful Networking tips for Freelancers in the UAE

"Things may come to those who wait, but only things left by those who hustle."

So true! don't wait for people to reach out to you or for news to fall into your lap! get hustling!
Conferences and exhibitions in the Middle East are a goldmine for freelancers! They are a great platform to meet people and to find out what is new and trending locally.

Here are a few we found useful:-

http://www.dubaicalendar.ae/en

http://www.definitelydubai.com/things-to-do/exhibitions-a-conferences/exhibition-and-conferences/easytable/53-exhibition-conferences?start=60

Conference organiser websites are also a good place to get acquainted with all conferences scheduled in the region.  They are generally broken down by topic!

   http://www.iqpc.com/redHome.aspx#



Join groups on Facebook and www.meetup.com and attend their various gatherings!

Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for information and referrals.

The WMA Academy gives you the confidence and the skills to do that!

ONLINE NETWORKING INCREASES YOUR EXPOSURE

I am  a good writer why do I need to spend time networking? I write good stuff! see for yourself!

We all wish by posting on the net our creative work that freelance gigs will fall into our laps.  Unfortunately, this is such a misconception and could only work in an environment where demand exceeds supply!  There are thousands competing for work and it is all about how to get people to notice you first. 

SO as a Freelance Journalist how do I shine in my craft above all?

Don't underestimate the power of LinkedIn! According to Arab Social Media Report there were  

8,445,515 registered users by May 2014 mostly in the 18 - 35 year old category. We recommend that when using LinkedIn you follow these steps :-

• Create a profile. 
• Keep it professional! (descriptions, pictures) appearances count.
• Search for contacts in your targeted newspapers and magazines.
• Do not use the standard LinkedIn invitation to connect.  Personalise it and explain why you want to connect.
• Join relevant groups.
• Post and share interesting content relative to your area of expertise. 

Get started and join www.linkedin.com

  
Nabbbesh recently turned 2 and has over 40000 members.  Founded by Loulou Khazen Baz, the website is a platform that links freelancers with businesses looking to employ them.  Nabbesh makes 12% commission on the jobs advertised.

Nabbesh has a review system that allows customers to post reviews on the freelancers they have used.  I caught up with Tammy James, Owner of Recruitment Village a website that brings employers and job seekers together, Tammy said 'I hired 3 people through Nabbesh.  It is a great website and is very handy for businesses like mine that have content writing requirements on an ad hoc basis.  The people that did the work for me were very professional and delivered projects on time'  

You can create your page in a jiffy. Make sure you fully complete your profile, add your portfolio and bio. 


 Tasmeem ME also links freelancers with employers.  Tasmeem boasts a network of 14128 users and 1826 jobs advertised.
Creating a profile is also very easy to do.  Make sure your profile is complete, professional and concise!

    
Dedicate time to creating a blog with rich and relevant content.  

 

At the WMA Academy they don't just focus on providing the technical skills to be a good journalist, you are also given plenty of practical advise and they definitely insisted on the importance of NETWORKING.  WMA lecturers are very supportive and you are encouraged to approach them and ASK!ASK!ASK!.  As prominent figures in the UAE journalist community they are approached by freelancers on a regular basis and know what made them choose one freelancer as opposed to another.  Very insightful!           

 

SHOULD YOU BECOME A FREELANCE JOURNALIST?

 

 

 

First video from the A.S.K team.  I think it's awesome!  Do you? hopefully it made you think about what it takes to be a freelance journalist.  Watch this space! more to come soon!

   

Plan and prepare to be a Freelance writer in the UAE

To become a successful freelance Journalist in the UAE you will need to equip yourself with:- 

x 10 planning and preparation 

x 20 in patience

x 30 in courage

x 40 in persistence and tenacity

x 50 in dedication

All garnished with a sprinkle of realistic expectations and achievements!

 I am a great believer without being too cliche that you can achieve anything you want, BUT to do it you might have to roll your sleeves up and put in quite a bit of elbow grease! Pardon the pun, unless you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth nothing comes easy in life.  Everything takes time and effort and all the hard work will eventually pay off with a bit of planning, preparation and lots and lots of patience.

Planning and preparation is key! 

Being a creative and aspiring writer is not enough, in this competitive market editors don't have the time to correct copy! They expect a writer to have the necessary skills.  At the WMA Academy we were taught and practised the techniques to write articles to meet the requirements of newspapers and magazines in the UAE.

The WMA brought in lecturers from Gulf News  & 7 Days  to name a few! The latter provided helpful tips to identify the different newspaper and magazine styles which help maximise ones chances when pitching stories.

  

Specialist not generalist is name of the game!  

Being  a jack of all trades no longer pays off! newspapers and magazines are looking for FIELD EXPERT writers.  Francis Matthew, WMA lecturer and editor at Gulf News kept insisting that as students we needed to take time and pick a field of expertise and become a 'know it all' on the topic we chose.   By doing so, it would certainly increase our chances of being sought out by magazines or newspapers when they were looking for expert opinions.

         

A bucket load of Research is required!

Once you have picked your field of expertise start by researching all the newspapers and magazines that cover this topic.  Take a look at the magazine style and bear that in mind when preparing your article.  Find out the contact details of the editors you want to reach out to and personalise your pitch.  No  'Dear Sir or Madam!' A pet peeve of journalists..

Network!  Put yourself out there! 

Watch this space! Networking is so important that it warrants it own post! 

COMING SOON FOLKS!

Comment or write to us on wmastudentdubai@gmail.com we would love to hear from you. 

EASY STEPS TO REMEMBER THE CODE OF ETHICS THAT YOU HAVE TO ABIDE BY AS A JOURNALIST IN THE UAE!

As per of the print journalism module, Academia will cover a segment on the code of ethics that full time or freelance journalists have to abide to in the UAE!

The most comprehensive list of code of ethics that I found was published on Gulf News.
   
If you are like ME and and lose the will to live when faced with the prospect of reading and remembering a comprehensive list of more than 20 instructions! then just remember the following rules and you will be fine! 

Respect

the values of Islam and its traditions.

and value human rights!

and beware of getting involved in stories that would hint to sex or racial discrimination!

 the privacy of individuals and don't post anything without getting their consent first!

Neutral

Don't become  part of your story!

Be fair always show both sides of the story.  If one party declines to participate.  Mention that you reached out and they declined to comment!

A good journalist does not write for the purpose of slandering.

True

You are the eyes and ears of society! The public deserves the truth and nothing but the truth!

Stay True! check the facts you are given by your sources.  Warning! no false information.

Always present your sources with your
 true identity!

Breach of Code

 

Don't accept money or gifts from sources or from any one related to the article you are preparing!