In today’s digital age, mass media has emerged as a dangerous weapon. Governments, non-government organizations and individuals use (or should I say manipulate) mass media to further their agendas and protect their interests. Truth be told, it has become difficult to differentiate between real news and propaganda piece published in the newspapers or aired on television channels.
Propaganda campaigns are always intentional. These campaigns are designed to influence human minds. Most people particularly politicians love to stay in the limelight and to remain in headlines. However, there are many others who are camera shy and like to work unnoticed. These unsung heroes are those who work discretely and are mostly interested in disseminating their ideas to serve their nation. They are not keen on promoting themselves and are focused on their missions.
Western countries have a long tradition in building well-established press organizations that are strong enough to lock horns with heads of state presidents — US President Nixon and the Watergate scandal is an example. However, this doesn't mean that these organizations don't serve special agendas or other business interests.
In the Arab and the Muslim world, relations between the press and governments were, and are still, like walking on a tightrope. We cannot deny the fact that there is no dearth of honest and committed journalists in our part of the world. On the other hand, there are hypocrites and “intellectual mercenaries” as well in this noble profession who are always readily available to sell their pens.
The media has the power to boost a country’s development process. Saudi Arabia is going through an importance phase of development. Amid all the regional chaos, Saudi Arabia is moving steadily on the path to progress. In such a scenario, it is necessary for the Saudi media outlets to adopt a pragmatic approach and play their due roles to achieve the goals set by the country’s leadership. It is something that is above circulation figures and TRP.
Through news reports and analyses, media outlets not only disseminate information but they also help shape public opinion. It is the duty of analysts and opinion writers to present unbiased views about a particular issue and leave it for the readers or viewers to take sides on their own. We all know that our government always responds to reports highlighting issues related to the masses. Unlike many countries, our leaders promptly respond to the concerns of the citizens. Therefore, it is very important for news organizations and newsmen to carry out their responsibilities with utmost honesty without compromising on transparency.
Opinion writers and political analysts should help the leadership by presenting ground realities that could help our leaders and policymakers devise comprehensive and realistic strategies to confront different challenges. Fortunately, our leaders are open to new ideas and the recently announced Saudi Vision 2030 indicates our will to change for the better.
The main role of an analyst is to analyze a policy or proposal thoroughly and suggest measures to improve it if necessary. Sadly, there are some writers who offer nothing to their readers. This is not what journalism is all about. Saudi Arabia is in a transitional mode. Our leadership is working relentlessly to diversify the country’s economy, which is heavily dependent on oil. These genuine efforts should be supported by sincere advices to help expedite the process. It is not enough to praise policies. It is the duty of a writer to point out the possible obstacles that the authorities might encounter. That is the best way to serve the nation.
Propaganda campaigns are always intentional. These campaigns are designed to influence human minds. Most people particularly politicians love to stay in the limelight and to remain in headlines. However, there are many others who are camera shy and like to work unnoticed. These unsung heroes are those who work discretely and are mostly interested in disseminating their ideas to serve their nation. They are not keen on promoting themselves and are focused on their missions.
Western countries have a long tradition in building well-established press organizations that are strong enough to lock horns with heads of state presidents — US President Nixon and the Watergate scandal is an example. However, this doesn't mean that these organizations don't serve special agendas or other business interests.
In the Arab and the Muslim world, relations between the press and governments were, and are still, like walking on a tightrope. We cannot deny the fact that there is no dearth of honest and committed journalists in our part of the world. On the other hand, there are hypocrites and “intellectual mercenaries” as well in this noble profession who are always readily available to sell their pens.
The media has the power to boost a country’s development process. Saudi Arabia is going through an importance phase of development. Amid all the regional chaos, Saudi Arabia is moving steadily on the path to progress. In such a scenario, it is necessary for the Saudi media outlets to adopt a pragmatic approach and play their due roles to achieve the goals set by the country’s leadership. It is something that is above circulation figures and TRP.
Through news reports and analyses, media outlets not only disseminate information but they also help shape public opinion. It is the duty of analysts and opinion writers to present unbiased views about a particular issue and leave it for the readers or viewers to take sides on their own. We all know that our government always responds to reports highlighting issues related to the masses. Unlike many countries, our leaders promptly respond to the concerns of the citizens. Therefore, it is very important for news organizations and newsmen to carry out their responsibilities with utmost honesty without compromising on transparency.
Opinion writers and political analysts should help the leadership by presenting ground realities that could help our leaders and policymakers devise comprehensive and realistic strategies to confront different challenges. Fortunately, our leaders are open to new ideas and the recently announced Saudi Vision 2030 indicates our will to change for the better.
The main role of an analyst is to analyze a policy or proposal thoroughly and suggest measures to improve it if necessary. Sadly, there are some writers who offer nothing to their readers. This is not what journalism is all about. Saudi Arabia is in a transitional mode. Our leadership is working relentlessly to diversify the country’s economy, which is heavily dependent on oil. These genuine efforts should be supported by sincere advices to help expedite the process. It is not enough to praise policies. It is the duty of a writer to point out the possible obstacles that the authorities might encounter. That is the best way to serve the nation.
