For quite some time the news has been circulating. We are told that Saudis were paying foreign journalists from Arab and non-Arab countries in order to win them to their side. The money, we understand, amounts to millions of dollars. I have never put much stock in the talk since I considered it was not only unacceptable but runs contrary to our traditions, ethics, dignity, self-respect and above all, our love for our country. Also, I saw nothing that has been published about the Kingdom that deserves to be rewarded by these large payments.
It is true that some Arab regimes resort to paying foreign journalists. As for us, we saw no need to follow in their footsteps since in most cases when our country was subjected to media attacks and needed support, no one came forward to speak up for us. That gave the impression we didn’t pay anyone — or so I thought. That was the reason I never viewed with any seriousness the tales that the Kingdom was paying foreign journalists.
The rumors remained in circulation, however, and a few days ago, I came across an article by a very trustworthy Saudi journalist — Turki Al-Sudairi, the editor of Al-Riyadh Arabic daily. His article made me change my mind and convinced me to take seriously what had been said. Al-Sudairi underlined our need for a strong and dedicated Saudi media free of all social shackles and capable of standing up to provocative media campaigns instead of begging help from a crippled foreign media that lives on dispensing rumors and half-truths.
The writer went on to say, “We used to have the most bizarre relationship with some Arab writers who received annual payments from us although all of them are of no significance and wield no influence whatsoever in their own countries, let alone in the Arab world.”
It is evident from this that some Arab journalists continue to receive annual payments while providing nothing in return. I am totally against dispensing such payments under any justification. But if it did happen, there should have been something tangible in return such as taking a strong stand, defending our cause against mendacious smear campaigns. None of this has happened and in some cases our efforts backfired, producing negative results. According to Al-Sudairi the persons who receive our money write nothing in our defense nor do they seek to counter the campaigns directed at us. It is as if they were being paid to remain silent. What is even worse than paying people for their silence is seeing the same people writing articles under false names which attack you.
