Thomson Reuters celebrates 150 years in MENA
Thomson Reuters is celebrating its 150th anniversary of covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by showcasing glimpses of its history in the region at the 16th Arab Media Forum. At the Forum, Thomson Reuters is showcasing influential moments in its history presented through the eyes and words of Reuters reports. Thomson Reuters is displaying decades-worth of material from the Reuters archives at ‘Media Walk’ to the Forum’s high profile audience that includes industry leaders, experts and media professionals from the regional and international media industry.
The Media Walk, the focal point of AMF, features a Thomson Reuters installation that enables AMF guests to browse through key moments in the history of the company in the region. The installation features an iPad with a specially designed application that takes visitors on a 150-year journey of Thomson Reuters news and article archives.
Nadim Najjar, Managing Director, Middle East and North Africa, Thomson Reuters, said: “Our anniversary coincides with the 16th edition of the Arab Media Forum in Dubai. Over the past decade, the Forum has developed into a significant platform for local, regional, and international media to discuss vital industry issues. We are glad be part of the Forum as we celebrate our 150th anniversary and look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions on the future of media and information across the MENA region.”
150 years ago, Paul Julius Reuter ran the Reuters agency out of London. When Reuters started as a news service, it used the latest in electric telegraphy to report financial information, as well as stories of international importance. Telegraphy was the disruptive technology of its time.
“Information, which previously could only be transmitted by rail, ship or pigeon…was suddenly available almost instantaneously. What’s incredible is that not only did Reuters come to the Middle East 150 years ago…but that dusty telegraph office in Alexandria was in fact the first international bureau to be established.”
“On this occasion, we remember all Reuters journalists who have been killed in action. It’s a sobering reminder of the dangers that come with such fearless, independent reporting. Individuals who perished because they were committed to reporting the real story to the world. They stayed amidst the bombs and explosions, because they felt they had a duty to report the truth, despite the danger. They were a part of the history of this region, even as they reported on it,” Najjar noted.
Najjar concluded: “Today, in our offices across the Middle East and North Africa, in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and many more, we are a business that is inseparable from the community which we are a part of. We started our journey as a trusted voice providing unbiased news to the world. Today we continue to do so, while also partnering with customers to share information and insight with them, helping to grow industry and commerce through our solutions and actionable intelligence.”
Themed ‘Civil Dialogue’, the 16th Arab Media Forum is being held under the patronage of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on the 1st and 2nd of May 2017, at Madinat Jumairah.
