An institution that stands for responsible free thought

Local Saudi news and commentaries were usually of special interest to me. It reported nuggets of news items that you did not find in all of the Arabic local papers.
This aspect was even more relevant to me during the 10 years sojourn I enjoyed in the UK as a managing director and shareholder of the Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC).
The paper has consistently adopted a reader-friendly approach and given ample space to human interest and lifestyle contents, both the hallmarks of successful journalism in contemporary times.
I am one who believes in the ultimate survival and continued prosperity of print media, in spite of the overwhelming saturation of electronic media!
There is a reasonable rationale behind this optimism. It has to do with lifestyle modes and disposition of the ordinary readers during normal, routine day-cycles of life. People will continue to reach for and demand printed media, including books and magazines, to fill those gaps in their night and day cycles, for which electronic media is not particularly suited.
I, therefore, would anticipate a long and prosperous future for Arab News as a leader of niche journalism in KSA, and, in particular, its pioneering online service.
I particularly wish to salute the editorial and management leadership of the paper for their good and consistent policy of promoting local youth and especially women journalists. This, without doubt, is one of the most enduring legacies of Arab News since its early beginnings. I think many young, now successful talents in many fields have drawn courage and support from their experience at Arab News. It is like an institution that stood for progress, responsible free thought with a good measure of national pride. It should be strengthened for the sake of progress and positive change in society that we all support.
Finally, I wish the parent company of Arab News, Saudi Research and Publishing Co., continued success in promoting and creating products of similar standing that fulfill both its commercial mission and the wider national goals in the global struggle for media recognition. The online reach and interactive service of Arab News has become a point of reference for readers of KSA news from around the world. And the daily interactive record is a good testimony to the paper’s outreach. I do urge the editors of the paper to continue their even-handed and transparent policies toward accepting and printing all the views and comments that readers from around the world express on KSA, country, peoples and politics.
After all, this is how mature and successful journalism can be sustained. Happy anniversary to Arab News, its editors, managers, staff and above all, to the tireless foot soldiers.
— Abdullah H. Masry is the former director of MBC.