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The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ has announced today changes at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arabic designed to further reinforce the network's position in the evolving media market.

Given the growing importance of future media for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service – of which ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arabic is part – Head of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arabic, Hosam El Sokkari, is to spearhead work for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arabic on the editorial development of user-generated content and social media initiatives.

This will be a full-time project and means his current managerial and editorial responsibilities will be managed by the newly appointed Head of Middle East Region, Liliane Landor.

In his role as Head of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arabic, Hosam will continue to represent and support ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arabic international relations activities.

As Head of Middle East Region, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service, Liliane Landor is now editorially and managerially responsible for broadcasts and future media in Arabic.

As part of his new remit, Hosam El Sokkari will develop and present a new TV programme incorporating social media techniques. He will be working on the creative direction of the project to ensure best practice with social media tools is developed and shared across ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service.

Director of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service, Peter Horrocks, says: "User-generated content and social media present a rapidly evolving area. Hosam, who has been at the forefront of the development of multimedia content for international audiences in the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, is ideally suited to this important aspect of our future.

"Liliane will be responsible for ensuring ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arabic continues to be a multimedia leader in one of the most geopolitically important parts of the world. Working closely with ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service English, she will ensure that the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's news and programmes in English meet regional needs."

Notes to Editors

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service is an international multimedia broadcaster delivering 32 language and regional services. It uses multiple platforms to reach its weekly audience of 188 million globally, including shortwave, AM, FM, digital satellite and cable channels. It has around 2,000 partner radio stations which take ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ content, and numerous partnerships supplying content to mobile phones and other wireless handheld devices. Its news sites include audio and video content and offer opportunities to join the global debate. For more information, visit bbcworldservice.com. For a weekly alert about ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service programmes, sign up for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Agenda e-guide at bbcworldservice.com/eguide.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arabic is the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's integrated news and information service for the Arab world. It is available on air and on demand 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is designed to reach audiences on radio, television, the internet – on bbcarabic.com – mobile phones, PDAs and other wireless handheld devices; in whatever way best suits the audience. ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arabic is both the largest and the oldest of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's non-English language services. Launched in 1938, it has evolved into the Arab world's leading international broadcaster, covering the political, social and cultural issues that matter to its diverse audiences in the Arab world and across the world. With its 24/7 TV presence, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arabic is bringing the world to Arab audiences – reporting the news wherever it leads. ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arabic breaking news alerts are offered via mobile operators as a subscription service in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Yemen and the Palestinian Territories.

World Service Publicity