Rising media industry star Ameenah Taher has started a new position as development executive at UK newspaper The Times. The former YouTube exec will lead the “development and production of documentaries and formats across a wide range of topics, from crime, business and current affairs to lifestyle and travel.”
Her appointment underlines the increasing hybrid nature of the content landscape with publishers, broadcasters and production companies increasingly open to creating content for both traditional media platforms and digital-first video. Earlier this week, for example, The Times’ owner News UK was named as a commercial partner on Piers Morgan’s fast-growing YouTube channel Uncensored.
Taher’s LinkedIn profile describes her as “an award-winning and Emmy nominated development executive who has experience in television, digital and branded content – from global companies YouTube Originals, The Times and Red Bull Media House, to UK production companies including BBC Studios and Label1.”
During her two-year stint at YouTube, she commissioned and led full cycle creative processes in the UK – from the seed of an idea, through development and production till launch. Her credits span the spectrum of unscripted, from factual entertainment formats to purpose-driven documentaries and live specials including Emmy nominated series The Mandela Project and music special, Road to Afro Nation: Davido.
The Times produces digital content for its website, app and social channels. This includes news, features, lifestyle videos, podcasts, and radio. At the end of 2023, Times Media reported that it had 575,000 digital subscribers. In the same year, Journalism.co.uk reported that the brand had shifted towards a digital culture, with three daily meetings all centred around digital. The focus during the day is planning and commissioning digital stories, with 5pm the first time the print edition is discussed.
