Translation: Abir Kopty – Freie Universität Berlin
Subtitles: Jeida Elkersh – Freie Universität Berlin
Introduction
Dr. Mahmoud Galander, Associated Professor, Qatar University
I talk about Qatar as a model for the Gulf states’ media systems. Qatar is a Gulf state. The political system is a monarchy. The ruling family is Al-Thani. And it has a constitution since 2004. The regime has 4 pillars: the emir, the government, the judiciary, the council, which is elected by the citizens.
In the 2004 Qatari Constitution there are few articles related to the media system. Article 46 states the right of every citizen to address, directly or indirectly, the public authorities. Article 47 states that the freedom of expression and science research should be respected, according to the law. Article 48 guarantees the freedom of press, print and publishing, according to the law. These articles form the basis for the media practice in Qatar.
In the 2004 Qatari Constitution there are few articles related to the media system. Article 46 states the right of every citizen to address, directly or indirectly, the public authorities. Article 47 states that the freedom of expression and science research should be respected, according to the law. Article 48 guarantees the freedom of press, print and publishing, according to the law. These articles form the basis for the media practice in Qatar.
Now, we move to talk about important aspects to address when we discuss the Qatari media system.
Characteristics of the Qatari Media System
Dr. Mahmoud Galander, Associated Professor, Qatar University
In 1996, Qatar decided to abolish the Information Ministry, and this is something that did not happen in any other Arab country. The abolition of the Information Ministry means mainly that the media institutions (press and electronic) have more freedom and ability to fulfill their mission without a direct censorship.
The other important factor about Qatar is the suspension of the official financial support. Previously, there was an official support given to the press. Today, newspapers in Qatar are published by private companies and therefore they are responsible for the funding.
As an alternative, the state has established the Qatar Media Corporation. Its main role is the coordination between the different media institutions.
Another important aspect is related to the Press Law in Qatar. The press law was issued in 1979 and therefore is very old. Thus, a new law for the Qatari media is being discussed currently, to then be submitted for final approval.
But it would be useful to present briefly the main characters of the Qatari Law of Publication and Print (1979)
The Qatari Law of Publication and Print (1979)
Dr. Mahmoud Galander, Associated Professor, Qatar University
The law requires a written declaration from the Minister of Information to issuing a publication in Qatar. This law existed before the abolition of the Information Ministry, hence, it still has this requirement.
The second point, the law required that the ownership of the publication is Qatari national. However, the law allows the Editor-in-Chief to be from any other Arab state, he should have ten years of experience as well as membership in the Journalists’ syndicate. Also, the journalists should have three years’ work experience from their countries or otherwise studied journalism.
We can look now at the chart of the Qatari newspapers. There are four papers published in Arabic, these are Al-Arab, Al-Raya, Al-Sharq and Al-Watan. The oldest is Al-Arab which was issued in 1972, then Al-Raya in 1979, then Al-Sharq in 1987 and Al-Watan in 1995. Al-Arab was stopped for a while and then republished.
There are three English papers: The Gulf Times, The Peninsula and Qatar Tribune. They are all published by the same publishers of the aforementioned Arab papers.
Regarding the other media institutions, we should remember that Qatar Media Corporation is running these governmental media channels, which are:
- Qatar Radio
- Qatar TV
- Gulf Voice Radio
- Qatar News Agency QNA
Above all, there is the Al-Jazeera Network of course, which is the most prominent TV network in the Arab region
On journalism and media in Qatar
Mr. Jaber Alharmi, Chief editor of Al-Sharq newspaper in Qatar
The history of the press in Qatar dates back to the 1960s with the publication of few weekly magazines. However, journalism in its larger concept started in 1972 with the publication of a daily newspaper in Qatar called “Al-Arab” which was published and managed by the late Abdallah Hussain Ne’mah. At the time, it published 6 pages. This has developed into the publication of more papers, at the end of 1979, a new daily newspaper was published “Al-Raya”, then in 1986 “Al-Khaleej Al-Youm” newspaper, which unfortunately was stopped and in 1987 another paper replaced it, which was “Al-Sharq”, and it is still published until today. In 1995, a fourth newspaper was published called “Al-Watan”. As of today, there are four daily Arabic newspapers published in Qatar, and another three newspapers published in English, in addition to other publications like periodicals and magazines in different Asian languages including Nepali, Hindi, Pakistani, Filipino and others, corresponding with the different communities who live in Qatar.
Regarding the Qatari Press and Publication Law – Between the 1979 Law and the new law.
Mr. Jaber Alharmi, Chief editor of Al-Sharq newspaper in Qatar
With regards to legislation, there is the Press and Publication Law from 1979, it is an old law, and currently there is a new law in the making aiming to organize the media affairs, and it is a very developed law that corresponds with the media landscape on the local and international level. It widens the opportunities for the development of the media especially with regards to freedoms and spaces for activity, it is expected to pass in the near future. The most distinct feature of this law is the freedoms it grants and the forbidding of journalists’ imprisonment or summoning by the security apparatus.
The law sets a mechanism for the relationship with the media and will become a point of reference for media in Qatar. The law is expected to encourage more active involvement and a responsible freedom for the media to cover issues important to the society.
The law does not only regulate the media and journalism, but also the social media and other forms that have entered the media landscape in the last few years. There is a need for regulations that correspond with the recent developments and guarantee a space for freedoms.
The abolishment of the Ministry of Information
Mr. Jaber Alharmi, Chief editor of Al-Sharq newspaper in Qatar
Qatar was the first Arab State to abolish the Ministry of Information in 1996. By this step, I think Qatar affirmed the importance of media and the freedom of speech. In the Arab world, the Ministry of Information is considered a sovereign institution. This attitude indicates that Qatar respects the journalists and those working in the media and aims to widen the space for freedom of speech and to encourage a responsible discourse on issues important to the society. This is why it wanted to get rid of any official censorship on the media outlet. The content of the publications is now the sole responsibility of the chief editors who can allow or stop media content, depending on the outlet policies. The journalists and writers compete among each other to give publicity to society issues with full transparency and accountability. There is no topic in Qatar today that is forbidden from public debate. We have good spaces for freedom and wide margins to discuss societal issues without censorship.
Qatar’s move to abolish the Information Ministry was something not familiar in the Arab World and considered a pioneering step to allow freedoms to media actors and journalists away from any official censorship body, which is common in the Arab World.
About “Al-Sharq” newspaper
Mr. Jaber Alharmi, Chief editor of Al-Sharq newspaper in Qatar
Al-Sharq started to publish in 1987 as a normal newspaper. After few years it has become a big media institution. Al-Sharq publishing house publishes an English newspaper and other specialized publications including a daily sports supplement in 16-24 pages and an economic supplement that stands as an independent economic newspaper in a similar volume to the main section of the newspaper and it is widely read both locally and internationally. It has also a news website that is considered the most popular in Qatar. It has also different departments that is responsible for supporting the media work including the technical support and the distribution department that distributes about 450 daily, weekly and monthly publications and the print house that prints 13 publications including daily newspapers in different languages. We have a department that organizes fairs and conferences in Qatar and we have a network of institutions that serves the media work in Qatar.