Even the FT fell for the old propaganda, with that line about Qatar indicating it would allow journalists to form a union. That means a union exclusively for journalists with Qatari nationality ... i.e. a very small percentage. The "Union" would inevitably be state controlled (since it needs government approval to exist) and would probably be used both to pamper and to control Qatari journalists.

The reality is that foreign journalists are controlled by the fear of losing their jobs while Qatari journalists risk losing their passports and finding that none of the editors want to publish their work again.