Reading Thursday’s papers, I noted that none of them contained any statement from senior government officials — from department heads and deputy ministers right up to the ministers themselves.
On Wednesday, the day preceding the two-day official weekly holiday, no high-ranking government official wants to talk to the press.
The reason is a simple one: Their excellencies have enough journalistic sense to know that Thursday is a day when people have other things to do besides read newspapers. It is also the day when newspaper circulation figures fall.
I wonder whether government officials talk to the press only as a propaganda exercise. I wonder if they “sell” their words to the reader, choosing the right time to do so. It seems their excellencies are very skilled at reading media trends, knowing when to make certain moves, when to give a statement and when to keep a low profile.
This is why they are only active at peak times beginning on Saturday. Saturday is of course a day of high newspaper circulation figures.
As for TV, the officials are keen to appear only during prime time from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. They seldom bother with morning talk shows. The reason, according to a cynical friend, is that the morning programs are only watched by maids doing housework. Since most maids speak languages other than that of the officials, the maids are not an audience the officials must consider.
Official statements are given to newspapers based on how the papers are rated, their circulation figures and the type of readers they address — whether educated or not. If you pick up your paper and do not find the statements you are looking for, there are three possibilities.
One, this is Ramadan when there is no room for empty talk and when most people prefer to keep silent.
Two, an important ministerial announcement may be on the way.
And three, well, I can’t reveal this one.
Arab News From the Local Press 3 November 2003
