Tom Spender

I left my full-time job at The National in the UAE in July 2009 and have since worked in Burma (Myanmar), Thailand and now in China. More stories will go up as they are published. I’ve put an [R] for “recommended” in front of the most interesting ones…

For TV packages see the TV page.

No promises, but marriage an option (China Daily)

China’s online characteristics (British Telecom)

China’s Top Industrial Park: Standing Out from a Growing Crowd (commercial writing for Businesswire)

In China, Microfinance Builds Both Wealth and Trust (commercial writing for Businesswire)

Digital Era Enables Chinese Marketers to Leapfrog (commercial writing for Businesswire)

[R] Making a difference (China International Business magazine, reporting from Beijing) [PDF]

[R] Jobless cash in on Jakarta’s mega-jams (The National, reporting from Jakarta)

Self pity among the rich (Chinese, column in CEO & CIO magazine)

Does Europe need another baby boom? (Chinese, column in CEO & CIO magazine). Also at China Value

Faked CVs: the “false door” in the West (Chinese, column in CEO & CIO magazine). Also at China Value

Looking for a few good millionaires (China International Business magazine, reporting from Beijing) [PDF / text]

Keeping the agents honest (China International Business magazine, reporting from Beijing) [PDF / text]

[R] Green card scheme a slam-dunk in China (The National, reporting from Beijing)

Syrian mezze on Chinese tables (Forward Magazine Syria, reporting from Beijing)

Chinese consumer trust powering hidden champions in the B2C sector (commercial writing for Businesswire)

Couchsurfing: new world views from the homes of kind strangers (The National Travel section)

High risk, high impact (Private Equity International Asia magazine, reporting from Beijing)

Selling the dream (China International Business magazine, reporting from Beijing) [PDF]

From the “Goldman Sachs door” to see the prevalence of Elitism (Chinese, column at China Value)

Venture Capital’s Dilemma and Salvation (Chinese, column in CEO & CIO magazine). Also at China Value. [Magazine page here]

Russia: Why such a rough road to the WTO? (Chinese, column in CEO & CIO magazine). Also at China Value

[R] It pays to leave your nest (The National, reporting from Beijing)

[R] Searching for treasure – exiled Libyan princess Alia al Senussi (Brownbook magazine)

Arab cafe culture in London (Brownbook magazine – scroll down through the PDF for the story)

[R] Grassroots Groups Taking Root in China (IPS News, reporting from Beijing)

China’s business icons under 40: Beyond getting rich (commercial writing for Businesswire)

NBAD opens trade route east (The National, reporting from Hong Kong)

[R] 1001 Beijing Nights (Brownbook, reporting from Beijing, China)

[R] Rapping at the Burmese Junta (Asia Sentinel, reporting from Mae Sot, Thailand). Also featured on Asian Correspondent

Qingdao’s Maritime Boom (China International Business, reporting from Qingdao, China) (PDF here)

Terminal stake speaks volumes for DP World (The National, reporting from Qingdao, China)

UAE means business at Hong Kong post (The National, reporting from Hong Kong)

[R]  Thai refuge offers hope for Muslims of Myanmar (The National, reporting from Mae La Camp, Thailand)

[R]  Crossing from Myanmar to Thailand (audio slideshow – The National, reporting from the Thai-Burmese border)

Thailand’s bloom fades for investors from Gulf (The National, reporting from Bangkok, Thailand)

[R] Nats, moustaches and generals in Myanmar (The National Travel section) [PDF]

Travelling through Myanmar (audio slideshow – The National Travel section)

Rising arms budget is a double-edged sword (The National)

[R]  Arab countries oblivious to climate change (The National, reporting from Bangkok, Thailand)

Put women at the core of climate change debate, say activists (IRIN, reporting from Bangkok, Thailand)

[R]  Africa: fighting the “double-whammy” of obesity and hunger (IRIN, reporting from Bangkok, Thailand)

Agriculture “largely ignored” in climate talks (IRIN, reporting from Bangkok, Thailand)

[R]  Island nations frustrated at climate talks (IRIN, reporting from Bangkok, Thailand)

Developing countries “left to fend for themselves” on climate change (IRIN, reporting from Bangkok, Thailand)

[R]  Frustrated citizens count on election (The National, reporting from Burma)

An extra affair in Bollywood (The National Travel section)

[R]  Here, they make gold out of rubbish (The National Travel section)

I worked at The National in Abu Dhabi from November 2008 to July 2009, writing news articles and leader comments. Below is a small selection – for an exhaustive list visit The National and type Tom Spender in the search box.

Storm over Harvey Nichols T-shirts

US seeks Gulf missile defence

Emiratisation process hampered by a “lack of reliable data”

Burger with fries, hold the adverts

[R]  Innocents abandoned to their fate

[R]  Are local job-seekers too tense?

From March – August 2008 I was in China and covered the Olympics in Beijing for The National. A selection of those and other stories is below.

[R]  “Easy-living culture” hobbles UAE sport

Palestinian runs towards Olympic dream

Happy Sheikha looks to improve

UAE urged to raise Olympic target

All quiet at official protest parks

“Cow people” go to great lengths to leave mark

Hottest – literally – tickets in town

Pins are as good as gold for collectors

UAE’s “greatest sportsman”

Focused Qubaisi can spring surprise

Gold in mind for Khaled

Maitha to make history for Gulf women at ceremony

UAE builds Olympic ties with China

[R]  Beijing readies for Olympic Games (audio slideshow)

Immigration rules restrict business opportunities

[R]  Life still grim for quake survivors (reporting from Sichuan Province)

Citizen journalists challenge Beijing

Israel holds key to child’s fate

[R]  Some Arab traders call Yiwu home (reporting from Yiwu in Zhejiang Province)

[R]  Culture and art, Beijing style (Emirates Business 24/7)

Shanghai in 24 hours (Emirates Business 24/7)

[R]  Far from the madding crowd (Emirates Business 24/7)

From June 2006 – June 2007 I worked as a freelancer in Israel/Palestine, filing features for Emirates Today in Dubai (which did not have a normal website). While I was there I launched coverage of Israel/OPT for IRIN and managed a team of stringers. A small selection of stories is below.

[R]  “Peace House” harms Palestinians (Al Jazeera)

Israel “planning Gaza invasion” (Al Jazeera)

[R]  A month in bomb shelters takes its toll (IRIN)

Gaza power supply under pressure (IRIN)

[R]  For farmers, much of their land remains out of reach (IRIN)

[R]  Trapped between the lines (IRIN)

[R]  Wall creates Palestinian cultural divide (IRIN)

[R]  Ghettos form in shadow of wall (IRIN)

[R]  Palestinian homes abandoned in flight across Israel’s wall (IRIN)

Negev Bedouin fight to stay on land (IRIN)

[R]  “Femicide” on the rise in the conflict zone (IRIN)

Sderot still under fire (IRIN)

In March 2005, I went to Damascus in Syria to study Arabic and try my hand at freelancing (after six months, I moved to Barcelona, Spain).

[R]  A new “Mecca of Arabic studies” (Christian Science Monitor)

[R]  Desert monastery bridges religious divide (Catholic Herald)

Focus on freedom of speech through the internet (IRIN)

Palestinian refugees [in Iraq] complain of persecution and seek to leave (IRIN)

Photos give freedom of expression to marginalised women (IRIN)

Training refugees to gain useful skills (IRIN)

Bridging the gap between Muslims and Christians (IRIN)

Raval shaken by quake’s aftershocks (Catalonia Today)

I worked in Dubai for Emirates Today from February – June 2006 but none of those stories are online because the newspaper has since been relaunched.

The Hendon & Finchley Times have also revamped their website since I left after two years in 2004. However, I have been able to dig out a few stories.

Muggers target people gathering in car park at night

Sex and danger

Residents clash over size of regeneration

NODIE and Big Ears square up over estate

Taking the rush hour challenge

A superbug’s life

Iran must let pair go free

My first job in journalism was at a trade magazine run by Euromoney called eVantage, which is no longer published and I followed that with a stint at Privateequityonline.com, which has also relaunched its website since I left.