Journalism in Qatar

Journalism here is a pretty tough job. Sure, thre is alleged freedom of the press but not so.

We have had reporters threatened with deportation for reporting on the sorry state of labor `camps', of course we are not allowed to mention the names of the big shots involved in the companies who have hired the workers living in the camps.

Our hotogs have had their cameras confiscated, film rolls taken out for taking a picture of a car accident, and no, no gruesome footage involved.

Ask a Ministry for any kind of information, you hit a brick wall. Sur they'll answer, but fax the questions to the ubiquitous PR departments of the said ministry, then find out they have lost the fax and then plase send it in Arabic. PR Depts at ministries here are meant to keep the press away and not help them.

Ask any expat oil exec about what's happening in the oil and gas sector, they'll keep mum and of course, have to get clearnace from houston or wherever first.

Ask a banker about the interest on a syndicated loan and hit a brick wall again. In fact, somone told me "If i tell, they'll kill me", whoever they are.

Now that would be a 200 point front-page headline in The Sun!

True, true...but nuts non the less!

That's a good point QC we did not! I started with a nice conversation about gravy!

I don't need a weekend to me nuts. I'm nuts all the time.

Sorry!!!! :)

We havent used any bad words, Qatari!!

/me remembers to active filtering software *g*

Eggs, DG :P :P

What? My breasts or the beers? :D

Have to be pints of course!!! :)

Or I will have everything they're looking for once I put two beer in my hands. :P

Of course they're going to love me! They are all Men, I have a pair of breasts, which means I have everything they are looking for!

Of course they will love you just the way you are DG! Will see you there! :P

I'm sure they will be too drunk to even know I'm there. :D

I am sure Rugby club goers will love you just as you are, DG.

Oh yes you are! How else am I going to get all prettied up for Rugby Club!!

Haha DG how quickly you jumped ship! Yeah right I have a sick hubby who I have to attend to which basically means that I am NOT going to come pick you up and take you shopping anymore either.

I prefer a good kelbasa myself.

an aubergine with a dusting of pepper is as good as any spicy sausage :P

My friends want to go and Cat has a sick hubby to attend too.

LOL @ GIASI

Aubergines, eh? I didn't know Buttfly will be joining you. Now her desperate pleas for chorizo make sense!

Thought you said you were not going DG?

Very nice AKS, perhaps I will see you at the Rugby Club than.

Well all it's been a pleasure debating the merits of the newspapers in Qatar today. I think we can all agree that they're crap for whatever reasons. I'm out to make the most of my newly imposed 1 day weekend. Shall be out tonight at the Rugby Club and possibly at a work party for a bit. I shall be getting drunk at the Rugby Club. As for the sex part, I'm not expecting much! Enjoy your (2 day) weekends people

You guys are a barrel of fun and laughter. :D

Oh No... Fish? i think QC has rumbled us... honest QC... me and fish havent planned a night of torrid seks... honest... and i never bought any whipped cream, strawberries and aubergines.

I'm not sure what I'm doing tonight Cat, so I'm impressed you know. :P

Dinner, wine (maybe a little dancing but i hate that slow stuff when its just guys). Then home for DVD and maybe a few voddies before i collapse in a heap.

I also know what Alexia will be doing tonight. I wonder about Giasi and Fish though.

I don't know about anyone else, but I can tell everyone what you'll be doing, DG.

Who's doing what tonight???? Who's getting drunk and where? Who's having sex and with whom? Come on people.

Quick someone come up with a topic before I am forced to do work. :D

There you go. :P My memory isn't as good as I thought it was. :D

well, i know that 1/4 page (bottom right front page) for gulf news in colour is about 15000 (usually reserved by rolex). I thought that alot of the income is distribution sales. Especially here where very few high profile companies with hefty marketing budgets exist.

Well I'm pulling that out of my memory cause I'm too lazy to look for my media buying stuff. But it goes up based on colour and size and detail, words, pictures etc. 3000QR would be a basic black and white with no pictures. So, when you mulitply that my say 50 ad spaces a paper...It can get pretty good.

thats not much.... considering how much investment must have gone into it

I was commenting on the media in Qatar TG. Not the rest of the Gulf.

Then start doing for a change DG...Click Khaleej times and go to Columns on the top..and click anyone of the columns..and your generalized contempt will vanish quick..

You have hardly spent a year in the Gulf..and its too early to get into opinionated responses about the middle east...

Haven't read those papers TG.

GIASI, any idea how much that ad space costs??? Your looking at 3000QR per half page ad. THat's a lot of dough. :P

Do you really think they are making money? I mean they only have a very limited readership and few advertisements... arent the real motives prestige and/or platforms for propoganda?

DG,

"I dunno. Either they don't have the money to buy the editorials, or there are no good English editorials in those countries."

Disagree..the following papers are buying editorials and are comparable to what is dished out of the Western press..

www.gulfnews.com

www.khaleejtimes.com

www.arabnews.com

Local English press here is boring..and routine...

No the crux of the issue is selling papers. THis is a small market, if they offend people with their editorials and the people stop buying them, then they will go broke. Also these guys can't afford the minds too look critically at the news, they can hardly find journalists who can write properly in English. All of their stuff comes off the wire.

Perhaps someone from these countries could enlighten us? I would find it hard to believe that neither of these countries would have decent English editorials

I don't think anyone's (well me) suggesting that they need polemics, just a decent level of editorial. That said A lot of what I read in the Daily Heil (sorry Mail), for instance, I find offensive but I don't dispute their right to print it. When it comes down to it I guess that really is the crux of the issue.

I dunno. Either they don't have the money to buy the editorials, or there are no good English editorials in those countries.

Why not Filipino, Indian and Pakistani if they have sufficient levels of readership?

Seriously AKS, as much as I would love to open the paper and read the latest Robert Fisk editorial, I'm guessing that a lot of people in Qatar would find it offensive.

And a free lance journalist. Yup the pays better and I actually get the stories I want into the papers now. I choose who I work for and whether or not I agree with their principals. IF I don't, I don't work for them.

Hence why you're now a PR lacky?! Better paid? More interesting?

What international commentary would you have them do? Phillipino, Indian, Pakistani? Surely they shouldn't bother with Western because there aren't enough of us.

I think the mulitculturalism here is a good reason to stay out of international commentary. For instance, what would you have them say about the Israel/Lebanon conflict, what you say could lose you the few readers you have. These papers can't afford to piss anyone off.

It is impossible to find true journalism. THat's why I quit being a journalist. I realized that all journalists are essentially fooling themselve into believing that they are telling the story unbiased and doing some kind of greater good, when they are as much tools of the government and corporations as any PR flack.

But surely when the majority of the population and the market is from overseas then they could and should be commenting on international issues?

Well I think it's almost impossible to find true unbiased journalism. As previously mentioned almost anything written of a political nature will in some way be biased by an individual's (or the organisation they work for) viewpoint and political beliefs.

I don't think the lack of good news is the fault of the local papers. They are there market. I think the lack of good news is the result no decent international papers. As Westerners we come from countries that have high enough populations to not only support local papers but international ones as well. If you look at papers similar in scope and market in England they are no different than the Gulf Times or the Peninsula. There purpose is to report and comment on local news. The problem is the TImes, the Peninsula and the Tribune are also expected to report critically on International news, which they are not capable of doing properly, do to money and staffing restrictions.

Newspaper journalists aren't supposed to be anymore opiniated than any other journalist. True journalism is unbiased. Editorials are the only place for bias because they represent themselves as opinions about the news, not the news itself. Yes, the editorials here are no good, but it's still a new market and a not very savvy one at that. Also there are editorials about local and regional things, just not international, which is to be expected because these aren't international papers.

"editorials aren't news anyway, they are opinions, and heavily biased ones at that". However, Super's op lamented the fact that there were no opinions stated ("Newspaper journalists can be a little more agressive and opinionated"). While editorials might not be 'news' or the 'truth' they are still part of a quality newspaper, which I believe was one of the laments of the op

And I think that most newspapers and news stations are hypocritical, not just Al Jazeera. At least Al Jazeera makes it clear that it cannot report negatively on Qatar (which is a small not very interesting, newswise, country anyway) rather than not report on anything owned by Time-Warner or Turner.

Sorry, went for lunch. Of course there is no criticism about the war in Iraq, there is a large American base here and Qatar has a lot invested in companies such as Exxon Mobil and Shell which are American. The press here gives the Americans a break, the Americans overlook such things as large sums of money going to the Hamas and the Hezbollah. There is enough anti-Americanism here without fueling the fire.

As for editorials, there are very few, at least in the English papers, and they aren't very good. But editorials aren't news anyway, they are opinions, and heavily biased ones at that.

I must say I must have missed the newspapers analysing anything critically. While I appreciate the press here isn't free I am still surprised at the lack of editorial. Your point about the market being 40% Arab must surely mean there are news stories that could be covered from an Arab 'angle'? As an example I have been very surprised to see a general lack of criticism of the war on terror, Iraq etc. I will freely admit that I could well have missed all of these as I despair of the newspapers here and rarely read them

I agree to a certain point but the two are not mutually exclusive

Not speaking Arabic and therefore never having watched Al Jazeera I'm not on firm ground here but it's my understanding that Al Jazeera can be as free as it like when it comes to reporting international events (admitedly it's main raison d'etre) but would not be free to be critical of Qatar, the Emir etc which is clearly hypocritical

At the same resepct, Al Jazeera is an excellent news broadcaster and I can't wait for it's English version.

By Qatari market I meant the Market in Qatar. Which is Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14% (thank you CIA factbook) The largest percentage, and most certainly the paying percentage are Arab, and most of them do not come from free press, at least not free press in the Western sense. Westerners make up only 5%, therefore there are three English papers, and given the general media saviness of Asia, they are pretty much standard fare, and they do look at some things (like the labourers) critically.

When you say Qatari market do you mean Qatari's? It's my understanding that the majority of Qatar is populated by expats (Western and otherwise) who come from societies with a free media who are used to and interested in those types of things. I'm not sure of my figures here but I thought the population of Qatar was about 800,000 with only about 200,000 Qatari's.

Really? My experience with the Qatari market is that they aren't interested in those kinds of things, they are more interested in business, fashion and human interest stories. THe people who are interested are Western expats, which make up a small percentage of the market.

How do you know the market doesn't care about government exposes? It's not a free market so they don't get to choose. I would have thought many people in the Qatari market would be interested in such a newspaper

It's all about selling papers and making money. Nobody writes a story because they want to tell the truth anymore, the write stories so they can make money. No money, no story.

Exactly my point, no paper is free from bias. So getting at the little locals here is a bit ridiculous. They are what they are, given the market that they work in. This market doesn't care about government exposes, so there is no reason to write them. The UK market (the ones that aren't checking out the page 3 centerfold) do care about government scandal so the papers go out of their way to find it and report it.

True but the 'truth' is pretty much a matter of perspective and bias. Any kind of political report you read (be it a newspaper article, history book, government PR) will always be informed by the bias and agenda of whoever wrote it

But just because they are anti-government, anti-establishment doesn't mean they are news. Sometimes you do need to go to the government to get the truth in the story. Anti-government, anti-establishment papers are as guilty of warping the truth as any pro-government, pro-establishment paper. It's simply a matter of who's story you want to believe.

But it does mean there are newspapers out there who are not just government tools. There will always be newspapers across the political spectrum but in most countries these will have a right of centre agenda as newspapers are owned by capitalists. Of course, there's always the argument that a society (well one with a free media) gets the media it deserves as consumers will vote with their wallets. If more people were interested in anti-government, anti-establishment papers then they would exist because someone would want to make a profit out of them

Well the local papers are local papers for a small market in a controlled media state. They are as good as they can be in my opinion.

shallow in content.

Pages of advertisements, wedding announcements & funeral condolences.

Some weekly columns by local writers are interesting, specially by the feminist dr. Hisa alawady.Unfortunately, she stepped down in the aftermath of a controversial column she wrote two years ago questioning the face veil in workplace.A Qatari cartoonist ‘Mohammad’ is popular those days between Qataris, for his daily cartoon mocking local issues such as power blackouts, road work,traffic, debts & office beaurocracy.

None. All newspapers and news stations have agendas. That's why you have to take everything they say with a grain of salt. I prefer the Independent because it has a liberal agenda, but sometimes I have to remind myself of that in order to try and stay neutral.

What newspaper doesn't have an agenda?

hello guys

I agree, the Independent is a decent paper. I like it and read it almost every day online. But it also has a very liberal agenda.

Hi guys,

Just got back to the office so hence the late post but I can't believe the Sun is being held up as an example of British journalism. It's an incredibly popular paper and does it's job very well but to look at examples of newspapers not just following a government/establishment then the Guardian & Independent do a pretty good job

GIASI and I have already established this routine Sammie, I bite ankles and he runs for help. YOu can't mess with a plan. :(

No lets use him as a shield!!:P

Sammie you know we'll all stand by you. And watch.

We can get GIASI to run for help. :D

HOW journalism is used by govt authorities today is very interesting.

Now when they have to make decisions regarding a typical sensative or any important issue which the Govt feels should be dealt with in a specific way , they will enforce media to highlight the issue ,say by way of special articles or dialogues on different forums.

These articles ,dialogues at the end urge GOVT to do soemthing about it and criticise the GOVT for neglecting the isssue.

Now this way they creat a favourable situation for themselves to make the changes more acceptable to the genearal public and try to reduce the resistance against the change.

I have noted this several times and now I believe that this is the way journalism is controlled beside giving it an independent look

DG now my tactics are out of the window! Ok you hold i hit!!! lol :P

I don't know Sammie, she sounds like a pretty hefty girl and you know you bruise like a peach. I'll have to go amd get your back on this one.

Well considering i am a very well built girl who loves a good fight i am up for it!!!

Koby i invite you outside!!! Bring it on! (the arm extends and the hand gestures) lol :P

Chick Fight! Chick Fight! I'm going to sell tickets. :D

Haha Sammie I think she is, too. I wish I could come watch you guys. What are you going to do anyways if she shows up? Battle rap??

Nice one QC lol :P Koby the invite is still there for tonight, lets see what you are really like i bet your shy in person!

Me? Read? No, Koby, I am blind and armless but psychic and my nose is long enough to type.

You can read QC? Shocking. I thought you were another Sammie.

I read a newspaper from Cyprus everyday. That gives me enough information about my country and a pretty accurate picture of what's going on elsewhere. You can't beat that.

Really GIASI, I think that Fox News is the worst. There are almost no independent papers or news agnencie left in the world, everyone is owned by someone who has a private agenda that they push through.

You was the collective you Super, not you personally. Im not suggesting you are brain washed but i find your denial that the british press is going the same way the US press went curious. i thought it was quite apparent

Yeah sprout we should be proud of The Sun! :P

bollox

You are absolutely right QC. The Qatar press is absolute gobshite. Kitty litter. Thats what it is. What i was saying was that the press in the UK is a craftily veiled goverment tool which looks objective and independent. It sgoing the same way as the US media (sky being the worst)

I wasn't Cat. I was referring to the friendly green giant.

Now that is rude giasi. I know it is fun being an anti establishment figure and all and I respect your right to do it but don't suggest that I am some brain washed sucker just because I disagree with you.

I hope you aren't talking about me DG :P

Sounds like Koby's not the only one who's PMSing today.

What are you people on about? Qatar has no journalism. They copy everything from Indian newspapers which go to print an hour and a half earlier than here. Therefore you get hearsay from Qatar, world news in brief, and Indian news in depth.

thank you. My thesis was on the geology of an area in the southern alps and I'm not interested in that either

You know its true super.... Rupert Murdoch, britains most influential neo-con. He feeds you everything you know

Excellent reply, well thought through. My honor's thesis was on the decline of Western Journalism since the end of the Veitnam War, so I'm inclined to believe that there is not such thing as true jorunalism anymore. Hence why I sold out and went into PR.

Haha GIASI I like that. It's true.

bollox.

The real skill is in having a controlled media that looks totally free and independent.... still a long way before that happens here.

I'm saying that the popular British newspapers don't even get close to the punch, unless the punch is a popstar.

Journalism as a whole as gone downhill in every country. The day of the journalistic gunslinger is dead, now all you have are media hacks who think they are revealing great world secrets but are really at the beck and call of every corporation or government that deems them worthy enough to report the news that they create.

Sorry are you suggesting that the british newspapers pull their punches?

Surely you must be kidding

Well the simple answer would be that it is a controlled press. Also they still very much of a small town don't offend mentality. Considering the most hard hitting British news I read is the pin-up girl on page 3 of the Sun, I don't think you should really compare.