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Malayalam Media Revolution in Dubai
Deepika International has already started a Dubai edition. Other leading newspapers like Malayala Manorama, Chandrika and Varthamanam are also planning to start Dubai editions. At a time when Varthamanam, the youngest newspaper edited by the famous writer Sukumar Azhikode has been trying for a Dubai edition, Malayala Manorama the oldest and leading newspaper in Kerala is yet to enter the Dubai media market. After its application has been rejected twice by the Federal authority, the group is now optimistic of getting a license to start the local edition of Manorama and probably its fortnightly the Week. The group is already working in association with a well-known editor from Dubai, who is lobbying to get a license. Unlike the good old days when print media dominated the state politics, it is new channels like Indiavision which call the shots. Gone are the days when a front page scoop in the leading paper would be a landmark in the political scenario. Thanks to this late realization, the group is also trying to foray into TV channel.
A Even though it has been the cash rich number one daily, the group never felt the need to have a full time correspondent or bureau office still recently. Tempted by the success of Gulf Madhyamam, a successful venture in less than two decades all other newspapers with history of more than hundred years have started looking seriously towards the Gulf Malayali market. Since competition is growing and all rival publications have their presence in the UAE, the group too plans to start Dubai edition.
Recently Manorama group has appointed a new enthusiastic reporter Pradeep Pillai to cover Dubai. After two postponements, Deepika has already started a Dubai edition through a special arrangement with the Al Ghurari Printing and Publishing, representing a leading business group. It is headed by another seasoned journalist from Dubai, Mahsar Mohammed, who was earlier heading the Gulf Madhyamam Bureau. All the newspapers are trying to enter the Gulf market because of the grand success made by a seventeen years old newspaper, Gulf Madhyamam, which is now the target of a cheap intellectual assault by Chandrika, the League mouthpiece. Anyone with common sense would realize that the real reasons behind Chandrika's special stories against Madhyamam and a leading Muslim Association behind its publication. Madhyamam's bold stand against Kunjalikutty and Ice Cream Parlour has created more damage to the League within the Muslim community.
A Saudi based Malayalam publication has been an exception in paying decent salary and working conditions. It is high time the Malayali media groups start realizing the importance of keeping their journalists in good mood by giving decent salary and other working conditions. They should stop calculating salaries in Indian rupees and realize that cost of living in the Gulf is much higher than the corresponding cost back home.
New Eveningers, Dailies Enter Dubai Market
Another evening newspaper Emirates Post is poised to enter the market by the second week of December. Headed by Bikram Vohra, the experienced former editor of both Gulf News and Khaleej Times, the paper is being launched by Press Center, publishers of Arabia Friday newspaper in association with the former head of Khaleej Times. Already a number of journalists have joined the new evening paper, which is likely to be a broadsheet priced at Dhs.1 per copy. Business India group of Ashok Advani has been roped in as a management consultant for what is likely to be the first evening newspaper in the Gulf region. Emirates Evening Post, which was supposed to hit the stands a few months back, was delayed due to technical problems. A new English daily from a leading media group is in the planning stage. Seven Days, a weekly tabloid newspaper from Dubai Media City focusing on the western expatriate population has become a daily newspaper from this Sunday. Thus, both the English and vernacular media from Dubai are posed to witness rapid growth in quantity and quality. The established newspapers like Gulf News, Khaleej Times and Gulf Today are gearing up for the competition with additinal supplements and editorial staff.
Dubai Journalists - Intellectual Slaves of Media Barons
Long working hours and lack of job safety are other problems haunting many scribes here. A leading channel is known to have delayed salary to its representative for several months. Another channel gives its stringers a salary less than the monthly earning of a housemaid. Despite the glamour and status associated with the profession, actual living standard is like many other ordinary folks. Full Report
League Attacks Journalists in Kerala, Journalists Honour League MP in Gulf
Introduction to Dubai journalists... Malayalam Radio Revolution: One more radio station to close down!
After Hit 96 radio station is launched by the Arabian Radio Network, other radio stations have started feeling the pinch. While Asianet is planning to launch a satellite radio, Reji Menon Radio for the global audience, Kairali channel is keen to follow suit. It is learned that the Kairali chairman Mamootty has already registered a company with the Dubai Media City. However, one of the leading radio stations of yesteryears is said to be facing serious financial problems and staff members are looking for alternative job openings. While one of the oldest Malayalam radio stations in the Gulf is facing a critical period, new players are keen to fill the vacuum created by its exit.
Malayalam TV Channel Revolution
The visual media too has been witnessing new entrants like Jeevan TV and India Vision that have already started new offices in Dubai. While the story of Jeevan TV started sometimes back, the local partner has had a premature exit from the directorship of the media company. Journalists who were hired for the channel became jobless. Job safety is a major problem haunting journalists, especially from the Malayalam media, because after a job loss it is difficult to grab jobs in alternative newspapers. Many of them find it humiliating to seek job openings outside the media. Same thing happened when Middle East Television (MET) closed its operations due to mounting financial losses.
There is a general feeling that media, especially visual media, is an easy way to fame and money. Even Indiavision, one of the popular news channels from Kerala, is finding it difficult to make both ends meet. Due to the heroic role played by Indiavision in airing the new revelations about the Kozhikkodu Ice Cream Parlour Case before any other channels, its popularity has been on the rise. However, the League supporters have been trying to weaken Indiavision by encouraging its Gulf Wing (KMCC) shareholders to withdraw from the project. There was also a campaign to take over the channel from the existing management. However, the group seems to have succeeded in roping in a leading business group for the Dubai operations. Indiavision, which has got a good rating due its role in the latest revelations about the Kiliroor sex scandal is planning its official launch by the first week of January.
As the existing advertising revenue will be shared among the new entrants, it is difficult for the new players to break even within short period. Kairali TV, which was started with funding and support from the Gulf Malayalis, is yet to give reasonable returns to its investors. However, due to the better quality of programmes, the channel is already in the process of turning around by making marginal profit. Jeevan TV which has also been relying on some Gulf investors to run the show has tied up with a local advertising group.
While Malayalam channels have been doing well, the quality and substance of many programmes need much to be desired. Some of the news programmes presented by the visual media are nothing more than one day old translations of English and Malayalam news published by the local media. Even during the Iraq war when people were keenly watching TV channels for the latest news, a leading channel was testing the viewers' patience by airing very old stories from the morning dispatch copied from international channels. Even though cash rich channels could afford to send a reporter to cover the events in Iraq or Kuwait, they adopt a take it easy approach on the assumption that Gulf viewers will accept any substandard programmes. As they dont want to spend money to appoint professional journalists, most of the reporting is done by commercial franchisees that have no experience in journalism or media. Its payment to part time and full time journalists is pathetic as some of them are getting salary as good as a housemaid.
