Abu Dhabi's twofour54 and Thomson Foundation part ways

Abu Dhabi's media zone twofour54 has parted ways with the Thomson Foundation, one of its training providers.

The Thomson Foundation worked with the twofour54 'tadreeb' training arm, and was one of the launch partners of the media zone when it opened its doors in 2008.

The Thomson Foundation was founded in 1963. In this region it has helped train journalists from newspapers such as The National and Gulf News, the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA and Bahrain TV.

But the partnership with twofour54 has come to an end, according to a joint statement issued by the two organisations.

"twofour54 tadreeb and The Thomson Foundation, the global media development and training provider, have agreed, after three successful years, to bring their official partnership to an end," they said in a statement sent to The National.

"Both organisations look forward to working together in the future on a different basis as mutually beneficial opportunities arise," it added. "The Thomson Foundation supported the development of twofour54's training pillar, twofour54 tadreeb, by providing a range of dedicated media courses in journalism, television production and new media content and delivery."

Lord Norman Fowler, chairman of the Thomson Foundation, along with Lord Geoffrey Howe, a trustee of the Thomson Foundation, visited Abu Dhabi in January this year. Both men served as cabinet ministers under the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

In an interview with The National, they spoke enthusiastically about demand for media training in the UAE during their visit.

Given the interest in the UAE media business expressed by Lords Fowler and Howe, it is interesting that the relationship with twofour54 has come to an end. The statement issued by the two organisations did not specify a reason.