ABU DHABI // Friends of The National joined editors and other staff for a celebration of the newspaper's eighth anniversary picnic at Umm Al Emarat Park on Saturday.
As with any birthday, the milestone set the stage for festive recognition of the newspaper’s accomplishments, self-reflection and an opportunity to address challenges.
Since taking over as Editor-In-Chief just over two years ago, Mohammed Al Otaiba has spearheaded a number of community initiatives. #cycletoworkUAE, for example, was launched last year to promote cycling as a form of transport and daily exercise.
The #Startwalking Challenge took that notion farther, by encouraging people to get active by striving to walk 10,000 steps each day.
This year, The National's #UAEReads Challenge, in partnership with Scholastic, is calling on children to read more through monthly contests and weekly book giveaways. These initiatives have helped define a new role for The National, Mr Al Otaiba told the audience as part of a conversation with chief columnist Faisal Al Yafai.
“It makes me think, what are we? Are we just a newspaper? Are we here just to tell the news? Can we do more?” Mr Al Otaiba said. “I think these initiatives tells that story. There’s a bit of responsibility – what we as media can do – and make a difference here.”
As The National continues to enjoy growth in readership online and through social media – more than 600,000 people follow @thenationaluae on Twitter and the newspaper's Facebook following has almost reached 300,000 likes – Mr Al Otaiba was asked to give his assessment of the print edition and what role it may play in the future.
“That is an ongoing debate, ‘How long will print last?’” Mr Al Otaiba said. “I don’t see it disappearing anytime soon. Digital, online, will keep growing and, as long as there are innovative ways – new tools, new technologies to keep developing our digital platform - the growth will keep happening. But print, for now, the market loves it. Most advertising goes on paper, on print, so I think that’s guaranteed to remain for the next few years. But you never know, we might wake up one day and decide, ‘you know what? Let’s just kill the print, no more paper, let’s just focus on digital’.”
But The National’s eighth anniversary celebration wasn’t all shop talk. Hundreds of families, friends and subscribers lounged in bean bag chairs or practised yoga courtesy of Bodytree Studio and Let’s Go Yoga.
Children danced to the upbeat rhythms of Showtime African Drummers, had their faces painted, tossed beanbags and sat in the storytelling corner listening as popular children’s books were read by volunteers.
The chauffeur taxi company Careem offered a 15 per cent discount on travel to and from the park. The event was supported by Agthia, the food and beverage company, which provided guests with Al Ain bottled water, Capri Sun fruit juices and their newly-launched Grand Baker croissants.
Manish Qhatri, who attended the celebration with his wife and two children, wished there were more such events in Abu Dhabi.
"We're really enjoying, it's great," said Mr Qhatri, who enjoys The National for its business coverage.
“I want to really find out who’s who, what’s happening in the markets.”
Bonnie Lind, a British mother who came with her husband and children, reads The National online for information about the public holiday announcements and local news.
"If I want to know about something local, I would look at The National, if I needed to know something like public holiday dates, then I would look at The National," she said.
Erica Bilder, a Dutch private school drama teacher, enjoys reading the paper at the weekend with a cup of coffee.
“I like to read about what’s happening with cultural events and then what’s happening around the world and what the UAE’s take is on the world,” she said.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
