CBD - you have some strong points about the Western media. The blind group-think of the leading US Press over Iraq was a disgrace, the complete lack of regard for the available evidence was unbelievable, the media seemed to be in the grip of mass hysteria. There were some voices of reason on both sides of the Atlantic - Robert Fisk and some other commentators - but they were drowned out.
However there WERE some respected journalists talking sense which you do not get without a free press. The people just weren't listening to them.
One point nobody has mentioned - probably few people know about it - is that nobody can publish a newspaper or magazine in Qatar without a license from the government. Any paper offending the government can have publication stopped instantly by suspension of the licence.
If any Qataris (or media freedom centres/experts here) want a free press the thing to do is to campaign for the abolition of publishing licenses so that anybody can print what they like without breaking the law.
CBD - you have some strong points about the Western media. The blind group-think of the leading US Press over Iraq was a disgrace, the complete lack of regard for the available evidence was unbelievable, the media seemed to be in the grip of mass hysteria. There were some voices of reason on both sides of the Atlantic - Robert Fisk and some other commentators - but they were drowned out.
However there WERE some respected journalists talking sense which you do not get without a free press. The people just weren't listening to them.
One point nobody has mentioned - probably few people know about it - is that nobody can publish a newspaper or magazine in Qatar without a license from the government. Any paper offending the government can have publication stopped instantly by suspension of the licence.
If any Qataris (or media freedom centres/experts here) want a free press the thing to do is to campaign for the abolition of publishing licenses so that anybody can print what they like without breaking the law.