Category: World Service
Date: 14.03.2006
Printable version
BBC World Service has appointed a News Editor for its Arabic Television Service to be launched in 2007, it was announced today.
He is Salah Negm, 50, a former BBC programme editor, currently General Manager with the Middle East Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) in Dubai.
His wide editorial and management experience in the region also includes working as Director of News after the launch of the Al Arabiyah satellite channel and roles with the satellite broadcaster, Al Jazeera.
"I'm very excited about re-joining the BBC to help launch and run its Arabic TV service," says Salah.
"It's the best job in broadcasting for me - a chance to use my experience as a journalist to offer a television audience throughout the Middle East, a news and information service in Arabic informed by the BBC values of accuracy, independence and impartiality.
"I don't underestimate the challenge - or the competition in a crowded media market-place.
"But BBC Arabic will be the only major international news provider in the Middle East offering a service in Arabic across television, radio and online - sharing views and perspectives across the region and the wider world with access to unrivalled resources for gathering and analysing news which will have wide appeal."
Jerry Timmins, BBC World Service Head of Africa and the Middle East, said: "Salah Negm is a well known journalist with a long and distinguished track record.
"He is committed to the values which have won the BBC huge respect in the Middle East."
Nigel Chapman, Director, BBC World Service, added: "Salah is joining a powerful team who will lead this channel to success.
"We are fortunate to have someone of his calibre and track record who understands both the competitive market in which our Arabic TV service will operate - and the core BBC values which will underpin the new service."
Salah will work to the Launch Director, Gary Rogers, a former Editor with BBC Television News and Channel Five, who has launched TV channels in Asia and the Middle East.
Other colleagues will include the Head of the BBC's Arabic Service, Hosam El Sokkari, responsible for ensuring the new service becomes part of a multi-media offer alongside the existing 24/7 radio and online services in Arabic.
The Project Manager is Elwyn Evans, a former Editor with BBC television news who has launched channels in the UK and abroad.
Notes to Editors
Salah Negm's career
Studied mass communications at Cairo University and Florida State University
Radio Cairo (newscaster); Radio Netherlands International (reporter and producer covering Arab and Gulf summit conferences and Middle East peace talks in Washington)
BBC Arabic TV (producer and Programme Editor)
Al Jazeera - set up news department; Newsroom Chief Editor
Al Arabiyah - Director of News after launch
Al Ekhbariyah - consultant on setting up the Saudi news channel and on re-vamping Bahrain TV news operation
Middle East Broadcsting Corporation (MBC) - General Manager
BBC World Service Arabic TV service
The BBC World Service Arabic TV service will be launched in 2007 - initially broadcasting to the Middle East for 12 hours a day and available free via satellite or cable connection.
It will be the first publicly-funded international television service launched by the BBC.
International and major regional issues will be covered along with multi-media discussion programmes and debates in conjunction with the BBC's well-established and trusted Arabic radio and online services.
BBC Arabic will be the only major international news provider in the Middle East offering a service in Arabic across television, radio and online - sharing views and perspectives across the region and the wider world.
Recent research from seven capital cities across the Middle East indicates that between 80 and 90 per cent of those surveyed are likely to watch an Arabic Television service from the BBC.
It will draw on 68 years of BBC experience covering the Middle East in Arabic - supported by its global newsgathering operation: 250 news correspondents reporting from 50 bureaux allowing a global rather than purely regional perspective.
It will be totally independent in line with BBC's long-held reputation for impartial, trust-worthy news reporting and analysis.
BBC World Service
BBC World Service is an international radio and online broadcaster delivering programmes and services in 33 languages.
It has a global audience of 149 million per week.
Monthly page impressions to the BBC's international news site, which include audio and visual content and offer users opportunities to discuss world events, is 460 million.
This equates to around 32 million monthly unique users.
The BBC World Service has more than 2,000 partner radio stations around the world which take BBC content, and numerous partnerships supplying content to mobile phones.
BBC World Service is funded through Grant-in-Aid from the UK Government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The grant for 2005/6 is £239m.
BBC World Service Press Office
