I have always felt journalism was fuelled by people with an insatiable appetite for information. As a journalist, I am, to put it bluntly, nosey.
As we reflect on the past 15 years of The National, and how the media landscape has morphed, we can probably all agree there has never been a better time to be nosey.
News has undergone a radical transformation over those 15 years. The widespread adoption of mobile devices and the internet has fundamentally changed how people consume media. Here at The National, we have been working to adapt to the environment we now find ourselves in, all while keeping the integrity of our brand.
One of the biggest changes has been the introduction of video content, particularly short-form video, which has exploded in popularity. Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels and Snapchat have pushed the growth in short, engaging videos, becoming a staple of audience engagement. Challenges have popped up with this rapidly changing environment.
In a recent talk I attended, a successful TikToker said “be where your audience is”. This might sound simple, but in reality it means being everywhere all at once, and one big challenge is keeping our brand strong while maintaining authenticity to the platform we are posting on.
In the multimedia department, we are trying to focus more on creating vertical formats that suit smartphones, and trying to talk to our audiences in a style that suits the platform they are on. But we also want to make beautiful content tackling subjects that aren’t explainable in a 30-second clip. Getting through these challenges feels like an uphill battle, and unfortunately the fight to stay ahead isn’t over. We are currently facing another monumental change in our industry, AI.
At this point I would like to confess that most of this article you have read was written using AI. I am a firm believer in accepting change but ChatGPT is making even me quiver. Writing is key to our existence, by forming and communicating ideas we grow as a society.
So what challenges will we face if more of us outsource our writing to AI, and will video eventually be affected by this new technology? Will we see complete movies and books composed by a digital overlord? I think for now, I will stick to my tried and tested reaction and continue trying to adopt and embrace. In the meantime I will be extra polite to my Alexa just in case they do take over.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
POSSIBLE ENGLAND EURO 2020 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Ben Chilwell, Fabian Delph.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Harry Winks, Jordan Henderson, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi.
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Four tips to secure IoT networks
Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:
- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version
- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number
- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently
- Always create a different guest network for visitors
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
THE SPECS – Honda CR-V Touring AWD
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Power: 184hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 244Nm at 3,900rpm
Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
0-100kmh in 9.4 seconds
Top speed: 202kmh
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
Price: From Dh122,900
RESULTS
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
AL%20BOOM
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
