Middle East bloggers on air!

Tomorrow’s DubaiToday radio show should be quite special – we’re bringing no less than seven respected bloggers onto the show to talk about how, why and what they blog. Blogging is beginning to wield more influence the Middle East and, as social networks now help drive demand for relevant local and regional content, we’re seeing an increase in the quality and variety of blogs across the region (also see Spot On’s Ten Middle East Digital predictions for 2011).

My co-host Suzanne Radford and I will be joined in the studio by SeaBee of Life in Dubai, Who-Sane, Bebhinn Kelly of Hellawafashion and Sarah Walton of Sandpit Diaries. SeaBee should need little introduction – he’s one of the longer-serving bloggers in the region, having founded the blog back in 2006, arguably the hey-day of UAE blogging (The UAE Community Blog was founded back in 2005). A voice of reason occasionally heard crying in the wilderness, his commentary on Life in Dubai is a must-read. Who-Sane’s original blog was deleted, which is a shame as it contains the full story of how a Jordanian blogger’s cry against injustice ended up in bringing His Majesty King Abdulla of Jordan into the frame. Sarah Walton is one of the newer bloggers on the block, her Sandpit Diaries mixing social commentary with a passion (and flair) for photography. Last, but by no means least, fashion blogger Bebhinn Kelly is a professional blogger whose Hellwafashio blog is the first, of what we think will be a growing number, professional blog in the region.

During the show we’ll be joined on the lines by Sara Refai, whose Ussa Nabulsiyeh blog documents her life as a volunteer teacher in Nablus. The blog also resulted in a spontaneous social media campaign last year that saved the life of a small Palestinian girl and showed the team behind charity the PCRF the way forwards in terms of online social activism. We’re also being joined by Micheline Hazou, whose MichCafe blog is a delightful personal account of everyday life, reminiscence and discovery. And then there’s Roba. Roba Al Assi is not only the person behind popular Jordanian blog And Far Away, she’s also the guiding intelligence behind Bayt.com’s new website and community for marketing professionals in the Middle East.

Altogether, I think you’ll agree, a stellar cast of Middle Eastern bloggers whose experience and wisdom on all things online should make a compelling two hours of radio!

Tune in Tuesday 10am UAE time

Tune in to Dubai Eye 103.8FM on Tuesday January 25th from 10am to 12 noon UAE time to listen to the show (11am to 1pm KSA). You can also listen to Dubai Today via Dubai Eye 103.8FM’s live audio streaming.

Follow Dubai Today show updates via Twitter by following hashtag #DubaiToday.

You can keep up to-date on topics for Dubai Today’s weekly ‘TechnoTuesday’ show by following the Spot On PR Facebook page.

Listen to the podcast

Dubai Today Blogger Special – Part I

Why do you blog?

Dubai Today Blogger Special – Part II

Blogging, social change & the media

Dubai Today Blogger Special – Part III

Blogging from Nablus (Blogger call-in live from Palestine)

Dubai Today Blogger Special – Part IV

Blogging, PR and objectivity

Dubai Today Blogger Special – Part V

The Jordanian blogosphere (blogger call-in live from Amman)

Dubai Today Blogger Special – Part VI

Censorship, the media and the future of blogging