More freedom for scribes urged
DOHA: Senior Qatari media professionals have urged more freedom for journalists and higher salaries to attract locals into the profession.
They have also suggested that the absence of a new media law and journalists are a barrier to Qatarisation in the sector.
They were speaking at a seminar on Qatarisation in the media sector, at the Qatar University yesterday.
The Editor-in-Chief of Al Sharq Jabir Al Harami, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Al Sharq, Dr Khalid Al Jaber, Dr Ilham Bader, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula, Khalid Al Sayed, and Professor of Mass Communications at the Qatar University, Dr Mohammed Qirat, discussed problems facing Qatarisation in the sector.
The media experts shared their experiences and opinions and gave suggestions to boost Qatarisation in the field.
Al Harami spoke about his experiences and problems he faced since he joined the profession. He said that he worked without a salary for some time at the beginning and started off with QR800 a month.
He said that the sector needed more investigative Qatari journalists.
According to him, Qatar has no barrier for female journalists and there are many in the profession.
Dr Al Jaber stressed that it was important to have more Qatari journalists as they know the country’s culture, traditions and, more precisely, would help enhance the media sector.
The need for a sustainable career guarantee for Qatari journalists and to reduce risks they face was also stressed.
Al Sayed explained that all issues were discussed five years ago and that the only solution will be to raise the quality of media studies at Qatar University and reduce risks faced by journalists.
He said that the number of Qataris working in the media is very less compared with foreigners. This could be overcome by raising salaries of journalists and the expected media law could eliminate the risk factor, he said.
Dr Bader said that there are enough Qatari journalists in media institutions as in any place, while Dr Qirat said that challenges faced in the Qatarisation process in the media sector could be solved if more citizens took up the profession.
The Peninsula
