Advisory Council calls for new press law
Qatar Advisory Council calls for new press law
The Advisory Council has called for issuing a new press law that can keep pace with the current and future developments in Qatar.
The Council, which was debating a petition made by a 24-member of the body about the “Responsible media freedom” has also sought the questioning of journalists trying to distort the image of Qatar and taking legal measures against them.
The session, which was held on Monday and chaired by the Advisory Council Speaker HE Mohamed bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, has endorsed the recommendations submitted by the Cultural and Media Committee at the Council on the topic of discussion and referred them to the Cabinet.
The recommendations stressed that media freedom should have legal and ethical limits and that the state’s interests should be considered.
“After the elapse of 30 years since the press law was issued in 1979 and in the wake of the developments the country witnessed, the committee recommends that a new law that keeps pace with the current and future changes should be issued,” the report by the Cultural and Media Affairs Committee said.
The report also called for questioning what it called “journalists distorting Qatar’s stances”.
“Journalists should stick to the objectivity and stay away from what instigates feelings,” it added.
The report also said the current concerned monitoring authorities should follow any offensive articles (writings) and take the required legal measures against the writer.
“Media freedom should be governed by rules and limits that cannot be exceeded,” the report added.
The committee also called for taking the steps that can ensure the Qatarisation of the local press and grooming national cadres at the media institutions.
HE Dr Hamad bin Abdul Aziz al-Kuwari, the Minister of Culture, Arts, and Heritage, who attended the session, said that the current press law has become outdated and does not meet the new developments.
“The issuing of a new press law is a must now. We are facing a shortage of legislations that can address the excesses in media,” Dr al-Kuwari said.
“To lift press censorship, issue a constitution that guarantees freedom, and have a country with such openness, but still rely on a press law that was issued in 1979. This is an impossible mission,” the minister added.
The Advisory Council is a consultative body that has not legislative powers.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=300420...
They are only making the 'problem' worse when they do this.
Currently we don't read the newspapers when seeking information, we rely on rumor and gossip. By tightening controls of the mainstream media, it will just drive more people into unregulated information sources like QL, blogs and so on.
There is nothing to be gained from this.
In this Age of information, how can you stop the press. Let alone, the people from knowing the truth. This will lead to even more rumors within the country. What happened to Qatar vision 2030? It clearly stated that Qatar is building a modern world class educational system , to encourage Critical Thinking, as well as creativity & innovation. How's this in-line with the advisory council call & the ministry council blessings ?
That’s why i refrained from Posting this here, it’s meant for the Arabic local press. What really bothered me the most while reading the article yesterday was the minister statement that they have re-established a publication Censorship department. Are we back to the 80s again where only Islamic/education-related books were Permitted on bookshops. There are already no decent bookshops in Qatar? Where are we going exactly
:(
what they are referring to as "excesses".
This must be happening in the arabic press, because I have never seen anything in "excess" in the english press here.
In fact, if there ever was "under-reporting" the english press in this country would win the prize.
...Lol;) ummjake -...journalists should write anything that "instigates feelings"?
Hihihi, its like a mute talking to a deaf.... again, LOL!
Gud Morning Doha:)
"...Remember, the shadows are just as important as the light..."
“Journalists should stick to the objectivity and stay away from what instigates feelings,” it added.
God forbid if journalists should write anything that "instigates feelings"...LOL!
"Most plain girls are virtuous because of the scarcity of opportunity to be otherwise."
-- Maya Angelou
" journalists trying to distort the image of Qatar and taking legal measures against them..."
Why not just build a giant bubble around Qatar and lock us all in -- nothing in; nothing out -- and we can pretend we are living at Neverland Ranch. :-(
I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM