QATAR ranks second in the Middle East and North Africa in the first ever nation branding index launched by East West Communications, Washington DC.
The index is produced by analysing mentions of countries in leading media around the world using algorithms developed by text analysis leader Perception Metrics, of Ohio.
It uses a lexicon of some 16,000 words and phrases in context to determine positive and negative tone in text, based on grammatical connections, not just word proximity.
Singapore ranked number one in the global index, and the UAE in the regional index.
Thomas Cromwell, president, East West Communications, said this first index will be followed by quarterly and annual updates.
Quarterly indexes reflect major developments in countries, good and bad. “The index and the technology that produced it represent a powerful tool that for the first time enables countries to analyse scientifically how they are viewed in world media, including the competitiveness of specific sectors such as tourism and investment,” he added.