I am interested in monitoring studies that seek to evaluate the performance of the Saudi media — especially newspaper editorials and what columnists, essayists and commentators are saying. The desire increases when the country experiences any crisis since the writings represent public opinion, which serves as a kind of informal poll.
A recent book written by a group of writers who sought to evaluate the position of Saudi writers and publications in general toward the war in Iraq has concluded that the Saudi media continues to lack three basic ingredients for journalistic work. The three were identified as the absence of research and study centers, the poor quality of academic education and the lack of self-motivated initiatives to develop from the media establishments themselves. These three may appear far apart but in reality are closely related when considering what constitutes media jobs and responsibilities. They emphasize the need for having not only media research centers but centers which handle other areas as well in order to help researchers by providing required information and data drawn from various sources.
Unfortunately, there have not been any serious attempts in the past to develop media studies in our universities. A leading institution of higher education such as King Saud University in Riyadh has no PhD programs in journalism and media studies. In all our other universities, journalism is one of many subjects offered by faculties of arts; there is no media college in any of our universities. Our universities still lack specialized colleges and research centers for the print media, radio, television and public relations.
The era we live in no longer uses the older traditional methods of journalism. The world has long shifted from a media intended to entertain the people to one serving as a powerful strategic weapon intended to defend national causes and interests. The media has now become a full- fledged industry, like any other national industry producing a strategic commodity such as oil, water and gold. During the wars in the Gulf, the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq, the American media presented itself as a partner in the political decision-making process and a major player. A nation without an effective media becomes hostage to outside influences.
