Access to information is key to media freedom: DCMF official

Media executives and editors lead the discussion during the  World Press Freedom Day.

By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter

Doha Centre for Media Freedom (DCMF) director general Jan Keulen has expressed confidence that there will be enormous development in the media landscape in Qatar in the next five to 10 years.

Speaking on the sidelines of the World Press Freedom Day yesterday, Keulen said sooner or later, journalists will have access to information.

“I think eventually it will happen,” he said when asked if news sources like government officials will be easily accessible to the media and speak on various issues.

He believes that Qatar needs a vibrant, free and independent media. “I do think that this is also the vision of the leadership of Qatar and its people,” the director added.

Keulen noted that most countries in the world have access to information, which is a legal right of every citizen to know what the government is doing and to ask them about certain issues.

However, he stressed that “the Arab world is staying behind” and it is only now that some of the countries in the region are discussing access and freedom of information laws.

“Will there be access to information? I do think yes, but it is a political decision obviously. It needs legislation, a law, a change of mentality, and a change of culture,” he said.

Citing examples, Keulen mentioned the cases of some countries in the Middle East like Morocco, Jordan and Lebanon where there is an intense move to include access to information in the law and for the government to reach out to the media.

However, he also noted that Qatari media is relatively young since the first radio station was only established in 1968.

Asked to comment on the newspapers in the country, he said “I think there is room for improvement.

“I don’t want to teach lessons but I don’t see a lot of investigative reporting, I don’t see a lot of good interviews.

“I don’t see a lot of feature stories where you can feel that this journalist has been there. But I do see a lot of press releases.”

Meanwhile, a roundtable discussion focusing on the landscape of Qatari media dubbed as “Past… Present… Future” was held during the World Press Freedom Day events, attended by ranking officials of media organisations in Qatar and some ambassadors posted to Doha. These included Mubarak Jaham al-Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Media Corporation; Jaber al-Harammi, editor-in-chief of Al Sharq; Dr. Elham Badr al-Sada, media and PR manager of Qatar Foundation for the Child and Women protection and Nasser Salmeen, presenter-Al Rayyan TV.

Each of the officials shared their experiences and challenges as young media practitioners before, and now as managers and executives.

The celebration also featured a photo exhibit on the crimes against journalists during the war in Gaza and a caricature competition participated by 47 countries.

BELOW: One of the highlights of the celebration was the caricature competition. PICTURES: Joey Aguilar and Jayaram