Dr Marwan Asmar is a media and PR consultant who has worked in the field of journalism since 1993. He has worked in different media outlets in Amman, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia writing and editing articles that spanned from politics, economics, society, culture and internet technology and telecommunications. Up until Febraury 2023 he was Managing Editor News at Albawaba.com. He is currently living in Jordan.
Higher Education
1985-1990: Phd in Political Science (The State and Politics of Labor Migration in Kuwait, University of Leeds.
1983-1984: Master of Arts in Political Sociology of Development, University of Leeds.
1980-1983: BA in Politics and International Relations, Lanchester University.
Writing experience
2018 till 15 Feb 2023 - Managing Editor News at Albawaba.com – Daily News Editor of local, regional and international news. I also write stories and opinion articles/analysis of news in the regional and internationally. We seek to choose articles that are interesting and thoughtful – articles and features for an international audience. (our website is: (https://www.albawaba.com)
2014 - 2018 – Freelance Writer for Gulf News. Writing political opinion articles/analysis on the Middle East; the writing also extended to feature stories on the different parts of the region that tend to be current and news-based. I’ve written pieces on Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Libyan, Syria, Tunisia, Palestine/Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Libya and Iraq to name but a few from 2013. Written features on Gold in Sudan, Gaza fishermen, Jordan’s scrapping of Article 308, Daesh and the relics of Palmyra, Saudi crackdown on Tafheet and many more.
Also worked freelance as English writer/editor/translator for the Middle East Studies Center in Amman. Among the works edited is a series of articles in English for the MESC website involving their activities, lectures, seminars and workshops. Among the lectures are Growing Violence of Extremist Groups, Impact of Change in Egypt on Gaza, Extremist Islamist Armed Groups’ and their Growing Role in Syria and Iraq, Symposium: Influence of Palestinian-Israeli Talks and on Jordan's National Unity, Conference on Political Islam Movements in Arab World and Experts call for National Accord to Counter Syrian Crisis Repercussions.
ATHENA Project
- Editor of the ATHENA Project of Ancient Theaters Enhancement for New Actualities from January 2012 till March 2013. Responsible for all publications in the ATHENA Project, print and online, including the content for the “ATHENA Project Newsletter”, updating the ATHENA Project website with news and writing feature articles for online magazines and blogs. We also maintained an active social media presence on facebook, twitter and Linkedin. I was also involved in report writings and monitoring the ATHENA Project publications among which is the Aladdin Story on Ancient Theaters published in Arabic December 2012 by Mohammad Al Thaher, a well-known children writer in Jordan who came up with the script and later read by the team to make sure the objectives of the ATHENA Project were met. I was also involved in writing reports on the project status in different stages.
SSPC: Amman-Riyadh
2008-2010 – Managing Editor in the Regional Office (Amman) of the Saudi Specialized Publishing Company and responsible for editing (English in the different publications, including Ahlan Wa Sahlan (Saudi airline in-flight magazine), and The Diplomat—periodical of the Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry and corporate magazines like Mobily, Saudi Post, Al Khorayef, and Tawasol Al Marai. Communications between the Riyadh and Amman offices was made through email where they would send constant editorial material in English to edit.
The English Star Weekly - Amman
1993-2003 – Managing Editor of the Star Weekly, Amman, Jordan. Identifying and assigning top news stories to reporters for publication after regular weekly editorial meetings or whenever the need arises for an interesting story. I was involved in every aspect of it and every page, from current news, features, economic stories to culture and exhibitions.
A major part of my work involved editing and copy-editing stories as well as coordinating between reporters, editors and the chief editor. I frequently wrote in the newspaper. As a weekly we were involved in feature writings rather than news reporting, focusing on the analytical side of news and its implications.
Translator/Editor
Between November 2013 and June 2015 I worked briefly as a translator/editor of a newly established Saudi website, Peninsula Times . We choose articles from Arabic dailies, translated the most important bits, edited them and posted them on our website. The work was on a daily basis. I’d scan newspaper websites, look for the most important stories, translate them, send them back to an editor in the USA who would edit and post with crediting the newspaper and/or website. The stories used to be across-the-board from news that wouldn’t normally be given wide coverage in Saudi newspapers including raids on alcohol factories, Saudization, issues of illiteracy, money laundry, corruption, drug addiction, stalled projects, issue of Saudi prisoners in Iraq, fraud as a social issue treated in comedy, red tape, religious police and so on. Off course the news items would also include business stories, financial news, stock exchange and so. These pieces were treated as news rather than full investigations that could of course develop into investigative reports or features. This was an exciting time for me, giving me a valuable perspective on Saudi society and economy as a vibrant social formation.
April-July 2013: Part-Time translator/Editor Arab News, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Work place Amman, working online. An editor in Riyadh would send me daily a batch of news material which I would translate, edit and put in an Arab News we browser according to the different sections. This was mainstream news and not the items that would make for an interesting read.
Working as researcher, columnist and correspondent
Researcher - Gulf News – Dubai
May 2003 - January 15, 2004 — Senior Researcher at the Gulf News Research Center in Dubai. I would read local newspapers and sometimes one or two from Saudi Arabia as well as English publications like the Financial Times and discuss possible story ideas, features, analysis that could be made and developed into our own with the head of the research center. My role was then to write in depth research articles that are then published in the newspaper. The topics varied. (See below)
Columnist - Al Ghad Newspaper - Amman
2004 – 2005 —Columnist at Al Ghad newspaper in Jordan. I wrote three columns a week on economic issues that tackled many subjects depending on current economic news. I would read different newspapers and see what is the potential most important economic/business story of the day and write a comment, analysis, or an opinion on it.
Correspondent - World Press Review
June 1996 – 1999 —Worked as correspondent for World Press Review, a monthly magazine published in New York. World Press Review published comments and news that came out from different publications from around the world. I would send them news items from the current scene in Jordan and they would publish. Occasionally as well, they would reprint different articles, and if one of these articles needed translations from Arabic they would do it as well.
Research Director
From 2004 – 2006 I worked as Research Director in Writelabs, a new research consultancy, involved in communications research, analysis, campaign formulations, pitched for many RFP's including for telecommunications and media. Worked on two major campaigns: Intellectual Property Rights for the National Library in conjunction with the USAID-Amir Program. My job was to write stories, press releases and carry out interviews to make people aware of IP violations and respect intellectual Property rights in Jordan. These were published in local Arabic and English newspapers. Worked also on media campaign to promote Aqaba for domestic tourists and included feature writing articles. Worked on drawing up media strategies for Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association (JITOA) and Jordan Intellectual Property Rights Association (JIPA) and the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development.
Online media consultant
From 2006 – 2008 Worked as Online Media Consultant—Tourism media consultant with JITOA (Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association) and the Petra Tours Company. Writing and editing content material that included concept papers on different issues affecting the industry, speeches, press releases, memos, and articles, published online to increase exposure and input of local tourism. Events accompanied by press releases/features published online, www.ameinfo.com, a favorite, Lufthansa-based http://mice-contact.com/, www.hackwriters.com, www.blogjordan.com, www.alarabonline.info and so on to increase hits, local, regional and international readerships, whilst providing the marketing angle, as these websites are read by business, directors and corporate executives. The "spin" is very important. One time I wrote a press feature on the China Product Fair held in Jordan headlined "Amman's China Products Fair receives 3000 trade visitors, USD 30 million deals" on www.ameinfo.com. The article was retaken by no less than 67 websites from all over the world.
JITOA Focus
Also created JITOA Focus in early 2007, an online PDF magazine published monthly. I was personally responsible for the first eight issues. I wrote, put together, and edited the material that went into the magazine which was spruced up and in full color. It dealt with covering news of the association, but also had features on different aspects of tourism in Jordan. Every month it was sent to 2000 emails of international tour operators, associations and other interested parties.
WEF 2010 (Innovation Project in Jordan Times)
Contracted by the Ministry of Planning through IRelations in April 2004 to produce what was termed as the 2010 'futuristic' project for the upcoming World Economic Forum Conference held in the Dead Sea between 15th-17 May, 2004. We wrote a full English edition of the Jordan Times describing the Arab world as if it was the year 2010. It was an exclusive edition distributed especially at the conference through 22 stories and 22 news items of the politics, economics, culture, and sports in the Arab world in the era of globalization. Much research was involved about current events in the Arab world, and imagining them how they would be in 2010. Stories were written on integration, cooperation, FDI investments into the region, single currency, Arab common market, and regional electrical infrastructure to name but few.
Languages
Arabic: (Mother tongue, can read, write somewhat)
English (Fluent, written and spoken)
Skills
Computer literate, desktop publishing, online publishing on different global websites
Professional Associations
Member of the Jordan Press Syndicate
Hobbies
- Reading novels.
Books published
- Ambassadors in Jordan Speak Out, Foreign Policy-Making in a Changing World, Jordan, Middle East Studies Center, 2017, pages 102.
- Intifada II: Media and Politics, Ad Dustour Commercial Presses, 2001. A collection of articles on how the media, print and satellite, covered the second Intifada.
Referred Journal
Middle East Studies Journal (In Arabic)
- Press freedom in Jordan in the balance. Paper was originally in English but translated and appeared in Arabic, pages 103-109, June 2004.
Middle East Studies Journal (In English)
- Political Change in Algeria: The 2017 Parliamentary Election (July 2017)
- Review article, A Critique of Western Policy Towards Syria, Volume 21, No 79, Spring 2017, pages 141-152.
- Hamas in Western and Israeli Literature, Volume 20 No 78, Winter 2017, pages 133-148.
- Israel's International Relations in Africa, (English) Volume 20, No. 77, Autumn 2016.
PowerPoint presentations
- Media Sustainability of Ancient Theaters: A Media View of the ATHENA Project, paper presented to the Euromed ATHENA Project Meeting held in Tunis 1-3 July, 2012.
- Human Resources in Tourism: Opportunities and Challenges. Presentation by Awni Kawar and Dr Marwan Asmar to the 2nd Hotel Services and Tourism Conference, 26-28 October, 2008.
- Family Businesses in the Middle East: A Petra Group Case Study, Presentation by Awni Kawar given to the Family Business Conference in Amman, 9-10 June, 2007, organized by Events Unlimited and Institute of Family and Entrepreneurial Business of the American University of Beirut. (Edited by Marwan Asmar).
Amman World Affairs Council
- Historical Research Notes: Leaders and Their Role in the Making of The 20th Century, Al Nadwa bulletin, Vol X, issue no 3, 1999, pp. 27-40
- Politics and Journalism: A Didactic Relationship, Al Nadwa, Vol XI, Issue no1, 2000, pp.14-34
- Technology in International Relations: The Internet and the Globalization of Change, Al Nadwa, Vol XI, Issue no 2, 2000.
Sample of published articles
Albawaba.com
- Netanyahu is failing in his choices, Albawaba, 6 February, 2023
-Is there an Israeli war on In Iran in 2023? Albawaba, 6 February, 2023
-Football unites the Arab street with Morocco's win in Doha, Albawaba, 11 December, 2022
-Is the Palestinian Authority in danger of collapse? Albawaba, 22 November, 2022
-Lebanon: 'These are no ordinary bank heists', Albawaba, 21 September, 2022
Politics and current affairs – Gulf News
- Kurdish ‘Yes’ vote impels souls-searching for Iraq, Gulf News, 3 October, 2017
- In Jordan, a victory for women’s rights, Gulf News, 27 September, 2017
- Qatar cosying up to Iran will compound crisis, Gulf News, 31 August, 2017
- Qatar Crisis, the war on terror and regional turmoil, Gulf News, 2 July, 2017
- Women Carve an identity in Algerian politics, Gulf News, 28 June, 2017
- Crucial lessons from the 1967 War, Gulf News, 6 June, 2017
- Turkey's new Sultan, Gulf News, 25 April, 2017
- Geneva 4 and shuttle diplomacy in Syrian strife, Gulf News, 8 March, 2017
- Moving US Embassy to Occupied Jerusalem is bad politics, Gulf News, 8 February, 2017
- Chains on the gates of Gaza, Gulf News, 5 February, 2016
- Madaya and the politics of starvation, Gulf News, 12 January 2016
- Jordan has a key role in fighting terror, Gulf News, 10 December, 2015
- Hamas and the Daesh twist in Gaza, Gulf News, 5 July, 2015
- Ending the Libyan conundrum, Gulf News, 8 October, 2015
- Saudi-Russian ties enter new era, Gulf News, 13 August, 2015
- Israel's force-feeding bill a shameful affair, Gulf News, 5 July, 2015
- Saudi action in Yemen a strong statement, Gulf News, 12 April, 2015
- Saudi women gear up to fight driving ban, Gulf News, 17 December, 2014
- A new era of politics dawns in Tunisia, Gulf News, 30 October, 2014
- The democratic sultan of Turkey, Gulf News, 15 August, 2014
- A Lebanese president-in-waiting, Gulf News, 03 June, 2014
- Battling it out in Yemen, Gulf News, 13 May, 2014
- Al Sissi and the hard road of Egyptian rule, Gulf News, 24 April, 2014
- Syrian refugees: Altering demographics, Gulf News, 18 November, 2013
- Kalashnikov democracy in Jordan, Gulf News, 13 September, 2013
Sample of Arab Spring articles
- Get on the revolutionary train
- Middle East dominoes
- Tunisia's starting revolution
- Tunisia's old guard sing to a different tune
- A Libyan tragic-comedy
- Egypt's fratricidal revolution
- A shaking Arab Spring
- The war dynamic on Syria
- Towards a shared purpose
Tourism-related
- Algeria: A Trip of Real Culture, Ahlan Wa Sahlan, In-flight magazine, December 2012 issue
-Istanbul, A Tantalizing Sojourn, Ahlan Wa Sahlan, In-flight magazine, May and June 2010 issues in English and Arabic
- Meeting the Tourism Target, interview with the Commissioner for Investment Affairs and Economic Development in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority Mr Saleh Kilani, Venture Magazine, May 2006
- Of Mice and Men, Jordan Business Monthly, November, 2005 (article on new MICE—Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events—website introduced by the Jordan Inbound Tourism Association to encourage business tourists to hold their activities in Jordan)
Life Underwater, (on Aqaba diving and its rich marine life), I Celebrating Jordan Magazine, August 2006
- Petra, Marvel in the Sand, I Celebrating Jordan Magazine, June 2006
- Taybet Zaman, A Place to Relive History, The Star, 29 May, 1997
- Thrashing the Olive Tree in Madaba, The Star, 19 November, 2000
…In The Star (Economics)
- Unique Seminar Looks at Investment areas in Jordan and Palestine, The Star, 20 October, 1994
- Banking Supplement: A Better Tomorrow for Jordanian Banks, The Star, 13 April, 1995
- Regional Bank Established After Stormy Ride The Star, 2 Nov, 1995
- The Palestinian Products Exhibition, Overcoming Borders but with Difficulty, The Star, 3 August, 1995
- Talal Abu Ghazaleh: We Are Victims of Piracy Rather Than Culprits, The Star, 21 September, 1995
- Fat Cats and Market Sharks, The Star, 19 October, 1995
- Uprooting Corruption, The Star, 14 December, 1995
- Traders Hope to Make A Kill from Sudden Rise of Iraqi Dinar The Star, 5 December, 1996
- Messe Frankfurt's Halls of Fame, Providing Companies Necessary Venue to Meet, The Star, 27 February, 1997
- Polish Supplement—A series of articles including Poland is Open for Business, Poland an Economy with a Human Face, Cars are Symbol of the Feel Good Factor, Brief Glimpse of Chopin's Home, The Star, 13 November, 1997
- Jordan's Duty Free Shops, a Novel Idea Designed to Keep Customers Rolling, The Star, 22 January, 1998
- 'Virtual Water, The Solution to Water Shortage, The Star, 23 April, 1998
- Polish Supplement—A series of articles including Foreign Investment Forever Increasing, Prudent Policies Chart Steady Course for Poland, The Feel Good Factor, A Country for Tourists, Thumbs Up for World Forecasters, The Star, November, 1998
…In The Star (Politics, Others)
- The Intifada and the Israeli Army (Arabic), Jordan, Al Rai newspaper, 16 January, 1991
- Iraq, Israel and the New Strategic Reality, Jordan Times, 6 February, 1991
- The War: Prospects and Hopes, Jordan Times, March, 1991
- Non-violence: A Historical Perspective, The Star, May 1991
- The Conference and the Palestinians: Dealing with a Historic Chance, The Star, 17 September, 1991
- Burhan Ghalyoon: Our Society Must Be Based on Political Pluralism, The Star, 21 April, 1994
- Yemen: The Next Conflagration, The Star, 7 July, 1994
- Interfaith Symposium Paves Way for More Dialogue, The Star, 22 September, 1994
Dome of Rock and Haram Al Sharif, A Glowing Photographic Perspective, The Star, 16 April 1997
- The Millennium: Cybernetic Robots, The Star, 4 March, 1999
- English Has a Story To Tell, The Star, 25 March, 1999
- Women Ruling the World!, The Star, 15 April, 1999
- A Dent in History: Rise and Fall of Redism, The Star, 29 April, 1999
- Israeli Elections: Significance of Labor Win, The Star, 20 May, 1999
- The Jordanian Elections: Political Idioms, The Star, 4 November, 1999
- Intifada, Politics of the People, The Star, 19 October, 2000
- War of the 21st Century, The Star, 22 October, 2001
- Salma Khadra Jayyousi, A woman of substance brings Arab world to the West, The Star, 2 February, 2002
Interviews
I conducted numerous interviews with leading personalities in Jordan. These included Former Prime Minister Senator Taher Al Masri of the Upper House, former Lower House Deputy Tojan Faisal, Islamists like Dr Ishaq Al Farhan of the Islamic Action Front, Dr Marwan Muasher of the World Bank and Carnegie Fellow but then just finished a stint as Jordan’s Ambassador to Israel. I also interviewed Dr Abdel Salam Al Majali after serving as Prime Minister, and Dr Taleb Al Rifai when he was Minister of Tourism and Dr Bernard Lewis, a leading academic Orientalist in the world; also interviewed many ambassadors to Jordan including French, Pakistani, Belgium, Iran, Indian and German.
…In Gulf News (Economics)
- Euro Will Continue Climb Against Dollar, Gulf News, 7 January, 2004
- Stop the Brain Drain From the Arab World, Gulf News, 29 December, 2003
- Weathering Vagaries of Nature: Palm Tree Farming is one of the Most Important Growth
- Industries in UAE, Gulf News, 25 December, 2003
- Dubai Duty Free Looks to Brighter Future, Gulf News, 19 December, 2003.
- Investment Must be made Across-the-Board in Arab Countries, Gulf News, 25 November,
- Child Labor is an Increasing Phenomenon in Arab World, Gulf News, 13 November 2003
- Arab World Faces Spiraling Rate of Joblessness, Gulf News, 2 October, 2003
- On Road to the Arab Free Trade Zone, Gulf News, 5 July 2003
- Euro’s Rise Maybe Just be a Flutter, Gulf News, 6 June 2003
Online magazines
ATHENA Project related articles
- An ‘edutainment taste in Jarash
- Digital Imagery Provides a Living Past
Carthage: Standing Structurally Proud
- Jarash Welcomes 1500 Pupils Under Slogan of “Theaters for All”
- ATHENA Project Website gains place in cyber world
- ATHENA Project Raises Flag of Ancient Theaters in Euromed Region
NEWCIMED Project related articles
- Off the beaten track in Jordan’s Tafila
Online magazines (First three articles published also in Jordan Business Monthly)
- Wolfowitz at the Top, 26 October, 2005
- Is the Era of Oil Spill Over, 24 October, 2005
- Shoman, a Traditional Banker Moving with the Times, 30 March, 2006
- A Selfish View of Europe, 8 March, 2005
- Tourism tell-tales in Jordan's Job Market, 19 September, 2007
- Jordan’s Azraq Wetlands, a Heaven for Eco-tourists, May 2007
- As Business Association JITOA Juggles more than One Ball, June 2007
- Meet Mr Mice, June 2007
- Dead Sea Journey, August 2008
- Planning an Incentive Trip, Jordan if You Please
- SOFEX 2008 Brings World to Amman, 14 April 2008
