Job Discussion Forums

SD BOY · Joined: 29 Mar 2009 Posts: 60

Has anybody else noticed that BBC World and CNN International seem to act as PR consultants to the United Arab Emirates? I have just returned to a post overseas and have begun watching again.
"Recession? Tell that to the owners of Abu Dhabi's new 27 star luxury resort..."
"Feel like feeding man-eating sharks? Welcome to Dubai's new 27 star aquarium..."
"Frustrated with the fate of Israeli-Palestinian relations?...Tune in to Doha's 27 star debating forum..."
If these news people are going to talk about the place, they might mention day-to-day issues like... the plight of sex-workers, dodgy banking practices, etc.
Rather depressing to see how easily the Fourth Estate can be paid off.

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

I wouldn't say they've been 'paid off'...On the contrary, the reportage you mention from these 'news' services is, unfortunately, entirely predictable.

mouse5 · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 142

Over the last couple of years, Inside the Middle East and the The Middle East Business Report have often covered the bleaker side of UAE, Bahrain, KSA and Qatar, including the plight of construction workers, the financial crisis, human rights and even prostitution.

SD BOY · Joined: 29 Mar 2009 Posts: 60

True. I'd forgotten about that. There was also a story last week about Indians forced to return home because of the financial crisis.
Still, I think there is excessive UAE coverage in general on these two networks.
Is anyone in Istanbul or Casablanca really interested in drag-racing competitions in Fujairah?
I've spent a lot of time in the Emirates and I know how desperate they are for good press abroad...and how willing they are to pay top-dollar for it.

mouse5 · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 142

You're right. Many ME programs focus on the UAE. However, CNN and BBC are dependent on advertising to keep going. Well over half of their advertising slots are sold to businesses based in the Middle East, mainly the UAE. Glamorous reports, with a few smiling thobes and gutras, from that neck of the woods gives the customers in the lands of oil and plenty the impression they'll always be at the center of the universe.

As somebody rightly pointed out recently, without the oil the Arabian peninsula would be about as significant as the Democratic Republic of Congo.