Qatar Tribune and journos
Watcha everyone,
been away from the site for a while, but very interesting to see what people are saying about the press/paper etc. It does me a favour for people to keep saying what they think because we can demonstrate it as people's reaction to what were doing. So keep it coming good and bad! Unless you didn't like one of my articles of course. That would be unacceptable and ungrounded.... ;)
In relation to the News Agency question: yeah, totally understand what people are saying. It really comes down to the fact we haven't got enough people here at the moment to have our own report on every subject. In order to get people to read the paper, we have to focus a great deal on international news, meaning that the main section, sport and business especially are very reliant on agencies, apart from the editorials etc.
Although this is my first journalism job I can tell things are very different from back in Blighty. Back home, news is a massive industry; every organisation has a pr department, and the whole culture around the press is very different, particularly from a governmental perspective. I think as time goes on our paper (and the others I'm sure) will be able to write more and more of its own material.
Also - please keep getting in touch with anything that you think we might want to cover. The editor's clearly very keen to forge links with the ex-pat communities so it doesn't have to be massive news to get printed. Even if it's something you've written yourself, I reckon there's a good chance of it getting printed; I know not everyone wants some young hack on their doorstep hassling you for quotes and a glass of milk.
Blimey that went on. Sorry about that.
Anyway, email's below. Hope everyone's enjoying The Blessed Month as much as me.
Cheers,
Joe.
Without this coming across as western Expat directed, all 3 English language papers seem to have a Asian/Indian/etc focus. I would like to see some difference between them, maybe one more pitched to the Western Expat, one to the Eastern Expat, etc. When you try to be all things to all people you are so diluted, there is nothing left. Get a niche and work that group, I don't need all three papers telling me the same thing, if the Tribune is looking for readers by stealing from the other two, we will only have 3 weak papers.
Be different.
I think you have a good point but at the same time I dont want it to be too or only expat oriented. Would be nice if they printed stuff about us locals thats genuine.
Honestly, I cannot tell much of a difference. All three seemed to publish stories from other papers/sources. I can get very direct news from home just by using the internet... As an expat, I'd like to see stories about expats in Doha... Pictures and stories about local things to do and see.
Features I'd like to see:
1. Qatar laws that affect expats.
2. Advertising for things I'd like to buy--- what everyone here keeps asking questions about.
3. Stories about expats... trends in the community
4. Local cultural happenings... Souks, festivals etc.
Mainly a small-town paper feel focused on the Doha community.