'Khaleej Times brings a smile to my face'

Dubai - KT does a great job of putting a spin on news that goes to all media houses, according to Jake.

Dubai has been very kind to me, says Jake Ofrasio, 33, a video editor in Studio City, and an avid reader of Khaleej Times. Jake's been in Dubai for eight years. When he first landed, he used to scan the classifieds section for a job. He eventually found one, an accomplishment he attributes, in part, to the newspaper. But why exactly has Dubai been good to him - or rather, how?
"Well, I'm not that young, and I'm not that old", he says. "I still find an appeal in the smell of the newspaper in the morning when it's just opened. And I don't like reading it on the laptop or on the mobile." Okay, but how has Dubai been good to him? Right. He's coming to it. "I feel like I'm growing with the city. And Khaleej Times is a part of my growth here." The city has given him several opportunities - like modelling - that he probably wouldn't have gotten if he had stayed back in Manila.
There's this other thing he's grateful to KT for, a memory that makes him smile. Once, one of the brands that Jake modelled for had advertised in the Khaleej Times. His face appeared in the advertisement in print, in the newspaper. His mother was so excited, she kept the paper and has it framed prominently in her house in the Philippines.
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After he arrived in the UAE in 2009, Jake believes his luck changed. His star has been on the ascendant. He's happy, he's doing well, he gets a kick out of reading the paper. Which sections? Does he like Sport? Not really. He's more a City Times kind of guy.
What does he like about KT? The format, the size, it's easy to read, and he loves the pinoy section in City Times and reads it regularly at work, borrowing it from the office reception. On weekends, at home, and even though it's not his preferred medium, he reads the paper online. Jake believes that in the last seven years, he has grown and the city has grown with him. There used to be a vacant lot next to his house. Now there is a building there..."
Does he have any feedback for us at the paper? I ask him what we can do to improve the product. Jake feels there isn't much to criticise. KT does a great job of putting a spin on news that goes to all media houses, according to him. "KT doesn't just carry the press release. I like how a different angle is given to news that in many cases, is sent to a lot of media houses. He says, "Especially now that it's so easy to give and get news, the way the information is presented becomes that much more crucial. KT knows what's appropriate for the market and how best to make it presentable to the readers". The paper helps him stay connected with local news.
"I like that."
nivriti@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE