The LA Times has an article (10 April 2008) about the amazing growth of the newspaper industry in the UAE and the rise of The National. It says:“As many papers struggle, Abu Dhabi's new National daily has ambitious plans, luring Western professionals and, despite government funding, trying to take an independent stance.”
“Although most newspapers are laying off reporters and editors, the English-language National, which launched in April, has quickly built an editorial staff of about 240 reporters, stringers and editors, luring many from Western papers.”
“While many newspapers in America are scaling back, the National plans to expand by adding a seven-section Saturday edition, and it has stationed correspondents around the world.”
"It's just a newspaper that's funded properly," said deputy editor Hassan Fattah, a former reporter for the New York Times and Associated Press.
To read the entire article:
In Emirates, Newspapers Still a Growth Industry, LA Times, 10 April 2008.
Dr Geoff Pound
Image: The first issues of The National hitting the streets in April 2008. (Photo courtesy of LA Times from the above link)
