Yemen Today – New Magazine For New Yemen –Interview With Managing Editor Mohammed Al-Asaadi

Yemen Today is newest publication by the Yemen Observer Publishing House in Sana`a, Yemen. Launched in September 2007, this monthly magazine aims to provide the readers with in- depth news and current affairs, a new voice for new Yemen.

Managing editor Mr. Mohammed Al-Asaadi, welcome to the interview.

Why "Yemen Today"?
Mohammed: Print media in Yemen is increasing in quantity with limitation in quality and professionalism. In brief it is quantitatively repetitive. Most newspapers in town use traditional, outdated journalism styles. They all cover mostly politics and to lesser extend other issues.

Yemen Today, our new magazine published by the Yemen Observer Publishing House, is here to fill the gap and introduce quality journalism offering a different perspective. On the other hand, Yemen Today aims to be a comprehensive publication giving space to business, society, culture and heritage in addition to politics.

I do believe that Yemen Today is needed more than anytime in order to address current affairs in Yemen in a professional manner. We are branding the magazine as "A New Voice For A New Yemen".

First five issues were published and a sixth just hit the newsstands. What were responses so far?
Mohammed: It was quiete challenging to produce something completely new and different to the customary local media. Our publishing house, the Yemen Observer, also publishes the bi-weekly newspaper Yemen Observer and the Pan-Arab culture magazine Arabia Felix and other publications.

When Yemen Today’s first issue was distributed, we received many calls and emails from new and old readers expressing their appreciation for the new magazine. They love the variety and quality of its content, state-of-the-art design and art work in general and finally the printing quality. It seemed as they never expected such a magazine to be produced by a Yemeni team.

Responses to all issues published so far are very encouraging and we feel committed to keep up the quality and always surprise our readers by covering issues they could never get elsewhere. We started with 6,000 copies and four issues – the later are at well over 12,000 copies. This shows a rapid expansion.

For whom is "Yemen Today" magazine?
Mohammed: A good question indeed which am being asked repeatedly. "Yemen Today" is meant to introduce Yemen to the world. It is "our voice" to the international community and particularly to those willing to know the latest development in social, economic, political and cultural field in Yemen. Our feature stories are carefully selected and written, which makes it the only publication of this kind.

From the issue # 1, Yemen Today magazine was able to occupy an influential position, a must-read publication, by all expats including diplomatic missions, foreign companies and donor organizations and foreigners working or living in Yemen. Among our local readers are government officials, political groups, schools and students.

How do you select features and which features are new or are of importance?
Mohammed: We try to be creative as much as possible in selecting our feature stories. The selection is based on how important story is for our readers, how educational it is. Any story that will influence the decision-makers to change views or stand or as result action will be selected.

We give human and business stories priority. We focus on role model stories and bad attitudes that should be changed. For instance women and children issues are under-represented in the local media.

From our fifth issue onwards we are starting a new feature series under title "Best of Yemen" and from the sixth issue we are creating a new interview section called "Hard Talk". The Hard Talk section will include interviews with officials and political and society leaders. Five tough questions will be fired at them to shed light over issues affecting people.

What does a day in the office involve for the managing editor of Yemen Today magazine?
Mohammed: It is not easy to answer. Every day is a different with new tasks and pending issues. However, we tend to make the maximum of our working hours with getting new story ideas, new design and or art work ideas. We usually do a quick brainstorming and editorial meetings, review tasks and check deliverables… too many things to list them here!

You bring wealth of experience to Yemen Today. What is your aim, what are you hoping for?
Mohammed: I used to be editor in chief of the bi-weekly Yemen Observer for a while and I resigned from that post in January 2007 to join a course and internship in the USA. I learnt a lot during my internship. In addition here are my eight years experience with the Yemen Observer.

When I returned from US, I wanted to do something different. We actually had the idea of Yemen Today magazine in 2005, but were unable to do it then. Faris Sanabani, the publisher and editor in chief of the Yemen Today, revived the idea and proposed me to do it. Jointly we drafted our mission and vision and categorized the magazine. Faris and I share the same objective for the magazine namely: Let’s be the best always by presenting the best.

Let’s cover all we can with the best available choice.

Recently, ww have hired some international consultants to assist us to upgrade and develop the outlook and content of the magazine further.

Who or what is your inspiration?
Mohammed: I am always impressed by the beautiful work of the Newsweek and Time magazines. I just love these two magazines. We feel inspired by these well known magazines.

At the personal level, I am inspired by many writers and reporters among which Robert Fisk, Fred Halliday, Peter Bergen and many others.

Any particular saying?
Mohammed: If there’s a will there’s a way!

Any last comments and wishes - for 2008?
Mohammed: Thank you for this opportunity. I wish for a peaceful, healthy and prosperous world with co-existence, understanding and appreciation of each other without any prejudices.

I wish for Yemen to develop further and become a role model in democracy and public freedoms for the Arab world.

As professional level, I wish I can practice my profession without any sort of censorship and I wish to see the Yemen Today magazine a weekly magazine.

Managing editor of "Yemen Today" magazine Mohammed Al-Asaadi, it has been pleasure talking to you.

Mohammed Al-Asaadi can be reached at alasaadi@yobserver.com