Jaber Al Harami, Al Sharq Editor-in-Chief, The Peninsula Editor-in-Chief Khalid Al Sayed and other senior journalists at the Al Sharq Ramadan tent.
Doha: Senior Qatari journalists have called for restructuring of state-run Qatar News Agency (QNA), saying it needs more freedom as an important source of news in the country.
Speaking during a discussion at the Ramadan tent of Al Sharq newspaper, Khalid Al Ziyara, a senior Qatari journalist, said there was a need to promote Qatari talent in media organisations while also appreciating the role played by journalists from other countries.
“QNA needs restructuring and it needs more freedom to operate. We need to realise that QNA is an important source of news,” Al Ziyara said.
The discussion was attended by several senior officials of local media bodies who raised important issues related to media freedom and access to information here, Al Sharq reported yesterday.
Some also said that writing about business and economic issues was very difficult as it was considered a sensitive matter.
Khalid Al Sayed, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula, said media freedom was not practised here because there was no media law or press association. He pointed out that looking at the performance of QNA in recent years it appeared to be doing a better job compared to 20 years ago.
“QNA is a weak agency, only 20 to 30 percent of their news articles cover local issues while a majority of news is international,” Al Sayed said.
He said one of the challenges faced by journalists was getting information and public relations officers were, in fact, creating obstacles in obtaining information at times.
In the case of Taliban office, the local media were waiting for news or some sort of information to come from Kabul. Similarly, newspapers have been silent on the ongoing rumours about Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi.
“There are many rumours about Dr Qaradawi but the issue has been completely ignored by local media.”
He said that he hoped the new government will consider the challenges faced by journalists in the days to come.
“We have been raising the issue of promoting Qatari journalists for many years. But we have to also appreciate the contributions of other journalists in the development of media in Qatar,” Al Ziyara said. Raising a question about access to information, Mohammed Al Makki from the London-based Al Hayat newspaper said officials here preferred to provide information to international journalists instead of the local press.
“Local authorities and organisations provide information and important news to international journalists but local journalists are kept in the dark,” Al Makki said.
He also said that there was a need to bridge the gap between several ministries and public organisations that deal with the media.
Abdul Aziz Mohammad, meanwhile, said that it was the responsibility of foreign journalists to dispel rumours about Qatar.
Abdullah Rubhi from Associated Press, who has also worked with many foreign agencies and newspapers, claimed that he has raised several sensitive issues over the years without anyone stopping him from doing so.
“We have never been told to review our stories. Our standard has always been professionalism and no one can take action against us if we follow that rule,” Rubahi said.
“Business organisations are very sensitive here. Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas and other such organisations together contribute to more than half the GDP of the country. Their public relation officers must be trained on how to deal with the media,” said another participant.
