An initiative that will help women bridge the gap between education and a career in publishing
A new initiative is set to give women in the UAE a clearer route into publishing, with hands-on newsroom experience designed to bridge the gap between education and industry. Called PublisHer Pathways, the four-week programme is a collaboration between Motivate Media Group and PublisHer, offering early- and mid-career women direct access to life inside a working media organisation.
Participants will explore how the industry operates across four departments through weekly rotations, including editorial and content development; marketing alongside PR and audience engagement; advertising and sales with revenue models; and product and digital platforms with business strategy.
Throughout the programme, participants will work directly with dedicated teams on live projects, gaining first-hand insight into the pace and structure of a modern media environment. The experience is designed to offer practical exposure that goes beyond the classroom.
The programme will also include a senior industry masterclass, a guided visit to a printing press, and one-to-one mentorship with a member of the Motivate team.
Two cycles will run each year, with just five women selected per intake to ensure a focused, personalised experience and close mentorship throughout the programme.
The agreement was signed at the House of Wisdom in Sharjah by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, founder of PublisHer, and Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner and Group Editor-in-Chief of Motivate Media Group.
“PublisHer Pathways is a direct response to something we hear consistently from women across the industry – that the transition from education into professional publishing is harder than it should be and that access to real experience, inside real organisations, remains sporadic and uneven. I’m grateful to Ian and the whole Motivate team for having confidence in our mission and becoming the first to say yes,” Al Qasimi said.
Motivate Media Group is the UAE’s leading publisher, operating across print, digital, video, events, cinema and out-of-home media from its Dubai headquarters and offices in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and London – a move that adds weight to its position as the first publisher to back the initiative.
“At Motivate, we believe the best way to understand publishing is to be part of it and to see how editorial, commercial and digital teams work together in real time. PublisHer Pathways gives participants that exposure, and in doing so, helps strengthen the next generation of talent coming into the industry,” Fairservice said.
Here’s how you apply
Applications are open via the PublisHer website until June 30, 2026. Candidates will be assessed by a four-member jury comprising two representatives from PublisHer and two from Motivate Media Group.
Shortlisted applicants will be notified by July 15, with the first batch beginning on August 3, 2026. Participants will also receive a certificate of completion presented at the Sharjah Booksellers Conference on September 18, 2026.
The initiative also aims to expand beyond the UAE, with plans for the programme to be replicated by publishing houses in other regions.
@publisher.events @motivatemedia_group
Images: Motivate Media Group
