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Arab News
29-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Opportunities and potential abound in Saudi Arabia, says US media trainer
RIYADH: Former White House correspondent Bill Connor has praised the opportunities and potential available for media training in Saudi Arabia. A seasoned media professional with more than 20 years of experience, the CEO of Three Media Consultancy appeared on episode two of the latest season of The Mayman Show, where he announced his latest project — working with the next generation of aspiring media professionals to hone their presentation skills. In partnership with Spacetoon, a pan-Arab, free-to-air television channel specializing in animation and children's programs, Connor has created Smart Speakers for the Spacetoon Education division. 'We are going to launch — I don't know when the show is going to air — but we are launching it in May 2025, around the same time as you and I are talking right now,' he said. The program is for high school teachers and students, teaching them to communicate effectively and confidently at school, in life and, eventually, in their chosen careers. 'So it's going to be as a matter of fact the website is open right now. you can look at it. We think it will be pretty beneficial for teachers and for students as well,' Connor said. Connor has helped countless people around the world to master the art of presenting, making speeches and giving media interviews, including government officials and high-level corporate figures within the Kingdom. Aside from spending quality time with his family, since stepping aside as a White House correspondent, Connor said his favorite thing was to travel to Saudi Arabia to help professionals hone their skills. It all began with a chance meeting in the US with Saudi media professional Ahmed Al-Amri, he recalled. 'In 2012 I was at a conference in Washington D.C. Ahmad walked up to me and introduced himself and he said, would you be interested in coming to Jeddah to work with my CEO and the executive team at my corporation? I said, that sounds fascinating, I would love to do that.' Connor's training approach focuses on creating real-life situations to show people how to be disciplined, colorful and charismatic in their communication. He also teaches them how to break free of some traditional conventions often practiced when delivering a speech or presentation, during interviews, or while handling difficult situations and questions. 'So many people in leadership think that because they're talking about something that's really important, whether that is Vision 2030 or their own business or whatever it happens to be … that they have to be very serious,' he said, adding the secret of his training methods was to build skills beyond conveying a message: 'It's about figuring out how to tell your story credibly while still dealing with some questions that you might not want to deal with.' When asked how he thought the current US administration was handling matters, including providing timely and accurate information about presidential events, making public statements and barring major media outlets from press briefings, he said: 'Every presidency is different. The media strategy of every president is different. I will say President (Donald) Trump's strategy is totally different from every other president that came before him. And that obviously presents a lot of challenges for journalists. But by and large, journalists work really hard and they're trying to do the right thing.' Connor has traveled to Saudi Arabia every six weeks or so for the past 13 years, visiting around 70 times. He said he appreciated the work opportunities available to him in the Kingdom, which allowed him to work with 'extraordinary' professionals and enjoy warm friendships. He added his journalistic approach to media training had been well received. 'My style, which I suppose is a very American kind of style, has really been embraced here. I mean they keep asking me back. So I think the clients are reasonably happy,' he said.
Broadcast Pro
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
TwelveP brings exclusive Eid special of ‘Orange Moo Cow' as part of co-production
The series centres on Zoh, a lively six-year-old cow, and her curious four-year-old brother Boh. Abu Dhabi-based TwelveP Animation will co-produce a special episode of the beloved animated series Orange Moo Cow to celebrate Eid-al-Adha with Spacetoon. Marking the show's first locally produced special, the episode captures the spirit of Eid by emphasising family togetherness and the joy of celebration. Set to premiere across all Spacetoon channels on June 6 —the first day of Eid—this episode is part of a creative campaign featuring exclusive festive-themed content and original short songs designed to engage audiences and strengthen family bonds. TwelveP Animation is the studio behind Orange Moo Cow. Having already captivated audiences across the MENA region, Orange Moo Cow is one of the most-watched titles in the preschool category on the channel. Katerina Pshenitsyna, General Manager, TwelveP Animation, said: 'Co-producing the Eid special episode with Spacetoon is a big step for Orange Moo Cow brand expansion in the MENA region. The brand is extremely well-received by the audience here as it highlights traditional family values while still delivering quality entertainment. We are looking forward to more exciting partnerships!' Orange Moo Cow is an animated series for preschoolers, which follows the daily life of Zoh, an energetic six-year-old cow, and her little brother Boh, a sensitive and curious 4-year-old. Along with their parents and animal friends, Zoh and Boh are discovering the world around them – learning, growing, and having fun along the way!
Sharjah 24
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Sultan Al Qasimi attends opening of 3rd Sharjah Animation Conf.
This came in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority. The event, the first of its kind in the region, is organised by the Sharjah Book Authority and takes place from May 1 to 4 at the Expo Centre Sharjah. Extensive Programme and Global Participation During the opening, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah was briefed on this year's conference agenda, which features a rich lineup of specialised events including 26 professional workshops, 21 interactive panel discussions, film screenings, and themed exhibitions. The conference hosts 72 speakers from among the world's top animation creators. His Highness also toured the conference halls and exhibitor booths, learning about the creative tools presented by participating entities from around the globe. Celebrating Arab Animation His Highness also viewed a short creative film produced by the Sharjah Book Authority. The film, presented in a visually rich and narratively innovative style, chronicled key milestones in the development of animation in the Arab world—from its early days in tents and marketplaces to modern productions that shaped generations, such as 'Bakkar,' 'Freej,' and 'Shaabiat Al Cartoon.' The film shed light on early Arab efforts in animation, prominent regional productions in the 20th century, and the role of dubbing in reintroducing global works through an Arab voice and identity. It also spotlighted the 'Spacetoon' experience, which marked a transformative moment in Arab children's media. The film concluded with an inspiring message affirming that Sharjah is paving the way for Arab content creators to produce visual works rooted in their culture and delivered to the world in the language of Arab creativity. Opening Remarks by Khoula Al Mujaini In her opening speech, Khoula Al Mujaini, Executive Director of the Conference, stated: 'We inaugurate the Sharjah Animation Conference, a comprehensive initiative launched by the Sharjah Book Authority under the patronage of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and under the supervision and guidance of the Chairperson of the Authority, to empower content creation in the Arab world through new tools and innovative approaches.' Al Mujaini added that the conference embodies Sharjah's vision of establishing a sustainable environment for content creation, through an integrated year-round ecosystem designed to discover, develop, and connect talents with production and publishing platforms. It serves as a bridge between publishing and production, writers and illustrators, imagination and execution, and between the generation writing today and the one that will dream twenty years from now. She concluded by saying: 'It's time to tell our stories ourselves. The Arab world is brimming with exceptional talent that needs not creativity—but rather space, opportunity, and support. Today in Sharjah, we dream, plan, and work so that the world may one day watch world-class animated works with an Arab identity—rooted in our culture, speaking our language, touching the hearts of our children, and captivating global audiences.' 'du' CEO Highlights Investment in Culture and Creativity Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of 'du,' the official sponsor of the conference, said: 'Our sponsorship of this conference stems from our deep belief in the importance of investing in culture and creativity as drivers of positive change and key enablers of the future economy. The Sharjah Animation Conference reflects our shared vision of empowering a new generation of creators, storytellers, and content makers who are shaping the digital landscape in our region.' He added: 'Creativity is one of the pillars of the digital transformation we aspire to in the UAE, in line with the vision of our wise leadership. Conferences and events like this offer emerging talent the opportunity to refine their skills and provide all the tools and space needed for creativity and meaningful contribution to a more connected and innovative future.' Celebrating Japanese Anime and Global Industry Icons This year, the conference celebrates the art of Japanese anime, which has influenced generations of animation lovers worldwide. It welcomes a distinguished lineup of Japanese creators, including Masayuki Miyaji and Tamiya Terashima, both of whom contributed to iconic Studio Ghibli productions such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. The event also features Tom Bancroft, CEO of Pencilish Animation Studios, Tony Bancroft, known for his work on Disney's Mulan and Aladdin, and Sandro Cleuzo, the character designer behind Anastasia, Tarzan, and Chip 'n Dale. A Platform for Global Trends and Creative Synergy Now in its third edition, the Sharjah Animation Conference is advancing its status as an international platform for exploring the latest trends in animation. This year's discussions include intersections between animation and artificial intelligence, visual storytelling, and adapting literary works into visual productions—affirming that animation today is a universal language where art, technology, and cultures converge.
Broadcast Pro
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Spacetoon welcomes Ahmed Al-Ghandour for new animated series
Ahmed El-Ghandour is widely recognised for making complex scientific and historical concepts accessible through engaging and humorous storytelling. Spacetoon has announced the addition of Ahmed Al-Ghandour, famously known as Al-Daee7, to its lineup. Al-Ghandour will lend his voice and signature charisma to the upcoming animated series, The Last Al-Daee7 on Earth, marking a collaboration that blends education, entertainment and humour. As part of its 25th-anniversary celebrations, Spacetoon is unveiling this new animation, reaffirming its legacy of storytelling magic while stepping into a bold new chapter. The Last Al-Daee7 on Earth (آخر دحيح على الأرض) is set to premiere soon. While plot details remain undisclosed, Spacetoon has teased an upcoming full reveal, urging fans to stay tuned with its iconic tagline: 'لا تنسى أن تبقى مع سبيستون' (Don't forget to stay with Spacetoon). The announcement has already sparked massive buzz across social media, with hashtags like #Spacetoon25 and #AlDaee7 trending. This isn't El-Ghandour's first venture into new platforms. In 2020, he introduced Mathaf El-Da7ee7 (El Da7ee7's Museum) on MBC's Shahid, where he applied his signature storytelling approach to explore historical topics.
Al-Ahram Weekly
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Al-Daheeh to host TV show on Spacetoon channel - Screens - Arts & Culture
The prominent Egyptian YouTuber Ahmed El-Ghandour, founder and host of the popular educational YouTube show Al-Daheeh (The Nerd), will host a TV show on the Arabic cartoon satellite channel Spacetoon. The new animated show, Akher Da7ee7 3ala El Ard (The Last Nerd on Earth), comes as Spacetoon celebrates 25 years of entertaining and educating children. Currently broadcasting in 22 countries, Spacetoon began airing on 15 March 2000 in Damascus, Syria. The channel primarily focuses on broadcasting animated content for young audiences. Since 2014, El-Ghandour has launched over 200 episodes on various topics, from ancient civilizations to modern scientific discoveries, from stories about influential politicians, rulers, artists, and sportsmen to psychology, human behaviour, pop culture, and media. Many episodes are 10-20 minutes long, while others are more than one hour long. Combining wit and humour with well-researched educational content, most of Al-Daheeh's episodes garner millions of views within days of their release. One month following Israel's war on Gaza on 7 October 2023, Al-Daheeh released an episode titled The Story of Palestine, which amassed over 24 million views. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
