SHARJAH: ‘Hello, this is Nouf Al Hosani from ‘Sharjah Voice,’ the podcast channel of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau. Today our guest is a well-known Emirati photographer from Abu Dhabi Fatma AlMosa,’ the chirpy-sweet voice of the Emirati podcast host fills the air in the podcast studio at Xposure International Photography Festival (Xposure 2024), the world’s largest celebration of photography, film and other mediums of visual arts in Sharjah. Among the new and ambitious endeavours of the 8th and biggest edition of the festival organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) are a podcast studio, cinema hall and film workshop chambers.
In keeping with the times and trends, SGMB launched its podcast channel at Xposure 2024 to chronicle the professional journey of photographers and film directors gracing the event. A day’s log at ‘Sharjah Voice’ includes 4-6 interviews of 15-20 minutes duration. While Nouf is the host for the Arabic sessions, her colleague and photographer Neale Bayly conducts the
English shows.
A visionary project of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of Sharjah Media Council (SMC), ‘Sharjah Voice’ will soon cover other events of SGMB such as the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF). The target audience of the podcasts are government entities and students, and the talks will be streamed on YouTube, Spotify as well as the SGMB’s podcast channel.
The debut edition of Sharjah Voice will introduce 23 guests at Xposure – nine in Arabic and 14 in English; Nouf’s guest list includes Mohammad Al Kaabi, Ahlam al Bannai and Nayla al Khaja while Bayly will host Dan Winters, Britta Jaschinski and the like, whose works are being exhibited at Xposure 2024.
On the third day of Xposure, the guests of the hour-long podcasts in English and Arabic are Charlie Hamilton James and Fatma AlMosa respectively. ‘The guests will speak about themselves, their journey into photography, their experience at Xposure and Sharjah. We have covered p
hotographers whose portfolios are sports and current affairs, and we will also introduce lensmen who focus on portraits and black and white photography. I want to focus on Emirati photographers who have not been in the limelight and whose works need more attention,’ said Nouf, who is taking baby steps into podcasting along with SGMB.
‘I love meeting people and hearing their success stories,’ added Nouf, a graduate in video and communication and a long-term employee and MC at SGMB events.
Xposure 2024 is taking place at Expo Centre Sharjah from February 28 to March 5, 2024.
Source: Emirates News Agency
