News Regional - Heba Hashem

ME Printer Aug - Sep 2010
4
Editor’s Note
Eskandar Jahanbani
Editor in Chief
This issue’s main focus is upon the newspaper industry. Throughout the
year, we have always dedicated one issue to the newspaper industry. Over
the past few months, especially after the global economic crisis hit this
region, we have seen talks and predictions about the newspaper industry
going down the drain, going around.
This issue of ME Printer could be a reliable barometer of the newspaper
industry’s health in our region. ME Printer got in touch with some top-notch
newspaper publishers and experts throughout the Middle East, who have
shared their insight with us this month. Based on their opinion, we can
conclude that dailies in our region continue to enjoy a healthy readership.
Regional newspapers also are taking advantage of state-of-the-art technology
to meet the 21st century challenges. One particular newspaper who
achieved outstanding success recently is Masar Printing and Publishing.
Three newspapers Al Bayan, Emarat Al Youm and Emirates Business 24/7,
which are published by Masar, have won the coveted printing quality award
of the International Newspaper Colour Quality Club of IFRA.
You can read the full story plus our exclusive interview with Faisal Bin Haider,
Masar’s general manager in this issue. Masar’s recent accomplishment is
a clear example of a high caliber newspaper publisher that has achieved
outstanding quality through dedication and hard work.
In this issue we have also included a series of interesting interviews with top
executives from HP, Heidelberg and Flint Ink.
Last but certainly not the least, you can read my travelogue about the Paju
Book City in Korea where architectural aesthetics have helped the publishing
industry to flourish. Paju book City is the only industrial city in Korea
which was established by private sector and is currently being managed
by a non-governmental consortium to develop the publication and culture
industry in Korea.
We are also going through the last quarter of 2010 with a sense of optimism
about 2011, when regional graphic arts industry enters into a period of
hyper activity for Gulf Print & Pack exhibition and drupa 2012. So stay tuned!
Dailies in our region
still enjoy a healthy
readership