Scottish communications agency working in tandem with Middle East media giant Al Jazeera

Aberdeen-based AVC Media Enterprises has been selected by Middle East media giant Al Jazeera to provide communications and media training to key members of its team at its headquarters in Doha.

The only Scottish agency to have been approached by the network at the beginning of the year, AVC Director, Spencer Buchan travelled to Doha to see the organisation’s set up and meet a number of key individuals with the view to sharing skills and providing training to core members of the Al Jazeera media team.

The partnership comes at a crucial time as Al Jazeera prepares to launch its English speaking service into the US and European markets. The first English speaking channel to be based in the Middle East, Al Jazeera offers a unique opportunity to report on Middle Eastern events, while also providing a balanced perspective to news in the West.

Spencer Buchan, AVC Director comments,

“This is a very unique and exciting opportunity for AVC. We were approached by Al Jazeera through our diverse range of skills, services and the quality of our work. Al Jazeera was impressed by our own staff development programmes and the innovative ways we train and build on the knowledge, expertise and experience of our team across all disciplines.

With over 90 staff based at its Aberdeen headquarters, AVC is already in the process of facilitating training courses for Al Jazeera in Doha across a number of different disciplines, from television production and filming to editing, public relations and journalism.

Doctor Amar Elsheikh Mohamed, head of the Al Jazeera Media Training Centre comments,

“We researched the Scottish media market and saw that Televisual had rated AVC the top production facility in Scotland and made contact, we have been very impressed with AVC ’s diversity and flexibility and have now entered into a growing relationship. We are pleased to be working with AVC, such a forward thinking organisation, their experience and enthusiasm will benefit us hugely and really take us and our people forward.”

Working with Al Jazeera at their state of the art media training facility in Doha, Spencer adds:

“The facilities in Doha are second to none, where they are already providing a quality service, our aim is to fine tune the skills of the team and share knowledge to increase the channel’s diversity in the media industry. Our unique training programmes and vision means we are perfectly placed to achieve this.”

“There is no denying that working with Al Jazeera has presented a huge opportunity for AVC too. We are already operating globally with a number of clients across many industry sectors, however experiencing the international market place and working with such a predominant media force in the Middle East is invaluable in terms of our own growth and development. The opportunities are endless and we are considering establishing a long term presence in Doha following this contract win.”

Al Jazeera has grown in popularity through its bold reporting and coverage of significant events in the Middle East and across the World.

Spencer continues:

“Due to their good and pioneering work in the Middle East media industry we are relishing the challenge, opportunity and huge potential for AVC working with Al Jazeera. We have already developed a great working relationship, which we hope to nurture and grow.”

With several members of AVC’s team set to make the trip to Doha over the next six months AVC hopes to continue to develop its relationship with Al Jazeera and is considering a more permanent presence in the Middle East.

May 1, 2008