NationStates Jolt Archive


Article on freedom of the press in Saudi Arabia

Ariddia
01-05-2007, 18:38
It’s not easy editing a newspaper in Saudi Arabia. You have to watch out for pressure from above - sheikhs and politicians. And you have to watch out for pressure from outside - a public who may not appreciate what you write, and are eager to let you know.

“Pressures come from extremists and people who are against all progress. We receive reactions by fax, by phone, by SMS, by e-mail,” says Othman al-Sinni, an editor at Al Watan, a regional Saudi paper whose bold reporting has helped pave the way for a blossoming of press freedom. “Everything we publish, we think that people will react.”

In the past, stories about the possibility of women driving cars (still taboo in Saudi Arabia), about religious police who blocked the exit during a school fire (in 2002), and Saudi Shiites’ rights in the kingdom elicited a storm of protest from Saudi citizens and conservative imams.

Al-Sinni, who became the paper’s acting editor in chief in 2004, has found that the paper gets fewer angry reactions these days. “I am optimistic because there is gradual progress. This year is better than last year, last year is better than the year before,” he told FRANCE 24 in February.

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Quite an interesting article on the situation of the media in Saudi Arabia, on the progress that's been made and the restrictions that still exist; you can find the full text here (http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/archives/news/middle-east/20070501-Saudi-Arabia-Press-Freedom).
The South Islands
01-05-2007, 18:41
Freedom? Pfft, Freedom is soooooo 18th century.
SaintB
01-05-2007, 19:00
The Saudis still beleive that it is the Midieval Ages and that Byzantium will rise from the rubble to smash them into oblivion. Things like 'freedom' and 'progress' are taboo and can get you killed.
Kryozerkia
01-05-2007, 19:10
The Saudis still beleive that it is the Midieval Ages and that Byzantium will rise from the rubble to smash them into oblivion. Things like 'freedom' and 'progress' are taboo and can get you killed.

'I before E except after C, or as in neighbour and weigh.'

And it's proper usage to say "Medieval" or Middle Ages.

Further, it's not totally taboo to talk of "freedom" and "progress". They exist in Saudi society but not in the same context as in the western/developed world.

Besides, they were more enlightened in the Medieval Ages than they are now. Woman had more freedom, could own property and their rights far outshone those of European women who were more oppressed than their Islamic sisters. I think it would be more far to say that the Saudis still think it's stylish to embrace the ideals of the Victorian era in which everything was more prudent and conservative.
Siempreciego
01-05-2007, 20:32
The editors say they and their colleagues were surprised to see Saudi Arabia ranked below countries like Libya, Syria and Iraq in a 2005 press freedom ranking by Reporters Without Borders.

That must of stung.

The unfortunate truth though, is freedom of the press is only going to improve so far in this country before having to start from scratch again. Either a new king will take power of the Clergy will start causing problems.