With close to two decades in the Public Relations and Communications discipline, I have decided to setup my own blog to share and interact with fellow practitioners on professional and intellectual levels, for the betterment and progression of the industry not only in the Middle East and North African (MENA) regions but across the globe as well. Welcome onboard!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Adaptation Vs. Innovation
When will the Arab World move toward innovation in place of adaptation? A question I often ask myself and dwell in the answer and the reasoning of why we, the people of the Arab World, prefer the shortcut and easy route instead of actually burning few brain cells to come up with some ingenious ideas to call our own.
When I watch the TV, I can't help think that the game shows are adaptations of popular Western programs - e.g. Arabs Got Talent! Who wants to be a millionaire! Star Academy! Talk of the Town! and the list goes on and on and on. When I scan the various media, all I can see is Western print titles that are translated to Arabic! Not to mention that enjoying an afternoon out with friends or family should or most often is at a Western franchise.
We must admit that the Arab World has become used to import; we import food, cars, movies, clothes, essentials, and most importantly ideas. I was appalled to read a report that mentions clearly that the entire Arab World's registered patents in one year equals the patents registered in one small state in the US in one month!
So where am I going with this? I believe the Arab World has a lot to offer but has gotten used to paying for comfort, rather than earn it. When I decided to launch the first magazine in the Arab World that focuses on the Transport industry, I was asked by many in the media field why I would not make my life easier and buy the rights of an already existing Western magazine! It would be easier to advertise in such magazines, they advised! But where is the challenge in going with this easy route? We should start thinking that our inventions or ideas should be exported and the title that I created for the magazine can and should be bought by someone in a different language. Nothing is impossible and innovation is key to taking this part of the world to a higher level.
What is the matter with our region? Why can't we admit that we have talent that is worthy of nourishing and developing? Why can't we have more inventions and patents registered that can make the world a better place? Is the region void of talent? I honestly refute that premise and strongly reject the notion that the only thing the Arab World is capable of exporting is "terrorism", as perpetuated by the Western media, not to mention Hollywood, whose movies we graciously purchase and subtitle!
I believe what we are in dire need of is a talent academy; an enterprise that is well funded by entrepreneurs and whose main objective is to attract and nourish regional innovation. The history books in the Arab World need to contain a fresh and newer version of accomplishments, besides Jubran Khalil Jubran, Ibn Sinna, Alfarabbi, etc.
The Arab World's "Got Talent" for sure, and it should not be limited to a TV program!
Food for Thought, as usual.
When I watch the TV, I can't help think that the game shows are adaptations of popular Western programs - e.g. Arabs Got Talent! Who wants to be a millionaire! Star Academy! Talk of the Town! and the list goes on and on and on. When I scan the various media, all I can see is Western print titles that are translated to Arabic! Not to mention that enjoying an afternoon out with friends or family should or most often is at a Western franchise.
We must admit that the Arab World has become used to import; we import food, cars, movies, clothes, essentials, and most importantly ideas. I was appalled to read a report that mentions clearly that the entire Arab World's registered patents in one year equals the patents registered in one small state in the US in one month!
So where am I going with this? I believe the Arab World has a lot to offer but has gotten used to paying for comfort, rather than earn it. When I decided to launch the first magazine in the Arab World that focuses on the Transport industry, I was asked by many in the media field why I would not make my life easier and buy the rights of an already existing Western magazine! It would be easier to advertise in such magazines, they advised! But where is the challenge in going with this easy route? We should start thinking that our inventions or ideas should be exported and the title that I created for the magazine can and should be bought by someone in a different language. Nothing is impossible and innovation is key to taking this part of the world to a higher level.
What is the matter with our region? Why can't we admit that we have talent that is worthy of nourishing and developing? Why can't we have more inventions and patents registered that can make the world a better place? Is the region void of talent? I honestly refute that premise and strongly reject the notion that the only thing the Arab World is capable of exporting is "terrorism", as perpetuated by the Western media, not to mention Hollywood, whose movies we graciously purchase and subtitle!
I believe what we are in dire need of is a talent academy; an enterprise that is well funded by entrepreneurs and whose main objective is to attract and nourish regional innovation. The history books in the Arab World need to contain a fresh and newer version of accomplishments, besides Jubran Khalil Jubran, Ibn Sinna, Alfarabbi, etc.
The Arab World's "Got Talent" for sure, and it should not be limited to a TV program!
Food for Thought, as usual.
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