Khaled Al Maeena: How rumours turn to news
Saudi Arabia |  | 25-05-2003
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It is unfortunate, but rumour and innuendo form much of the content of many so called "news" reports being filed by foreign correspondents currently based in Saudi Arabia.

For example, a few days back, Prince Naif, the Saudi Minister of Interior, described as "baseless" foreign agency reports that security forces had arrested three Moroccans in Jeddah,who were planning to hijack a civilian plane and carry out a suicide operation. Ever since the Riyadh bombings two weeks ago, there have been wild reports about the security situation in Saudi Arabia.

In one truly shocking case, The Washington Post carried a news item about arms confiscated from the Saudi National Guard. Other newspapers and satellite networks have been eager to promote stories full of inaccuracies. Then of course there was the infamous "Al-Hamra scare."

The U.S. authorities never did specify any credible source for their reports of an attack in the Al-Hamra district of Jeddah. I got a call from a radio station in New York asking me whether the people in Jeddah were nervous and were indoors. I told him, "It's Thursday night and families are sitting on the Corniche and children are playing by the seaside." "What about Riyadh?" he asked excitedly.

I told him I had spent the whole of last week in Riyadh and assured him that Riyadh was not undersiege. Life was normal there. Yes, extra security precautions are being taken but there is no cause for alarm. The reporter persisted. "What about the "high-level chatter" that the U.S. authorities have come across?" he inquired, desperate for any sensational angle.

"My friend that is for them to decipher," I told him. "Maybe they overheard people excitedly discussing soccer! For goodness sake, please don't let your imagination run wild."  With that, I concluded the conversation, telling him that I was going to take a long walk in Al-Hamra!

In addition to all the questions I receive about bizarre reports carried internationally,  I also have cope with queries from many locals. The Saudis want to know who might be the "unnamed Saudi officials and diplomatic sources" mentioned in the reports published by foreign news agencies.

I have no answer for such questions. I often find it deeply suspicious that many of these reports don't even  attribute the "sources" to specific ministries or governments. It is well known that some foreign media actively abuse their positions and with their own agenda in mind, promote their negative viewpoint of this nation around the globe through any means at their disposal.

I am a realist though, and I cannot hold the foreign media to blame for all the deficiencies  I see in news coverage of the Kingdom. In the Arab World there are many officials who are more comfortable talking to Western journalists rather than local media.

Perhaps they feel that their message will spread further or maybe they believe that western journalists are easier to manage than Arab reporters. The unfamiliarity of many of the western media with the history of the region keeps ugly questions at bay.

The truth is that in the Arab World in general and Saudi Arabia specifically, there are quite a few local journalists who are qualified, competent and can analyse any situation.

It troubles me when I see western foreign correspondents given opportunities denied to their local counterparts. I have also heard of many instances where government officials and diplomats held dinners and receptions and the only media invited to attend were foreign journalists.

I am certain our own local media would have been pleased to come to these social functions and been privy  to the inside scoop on the latest events.

The bottom line is that we need to strengthen the local media. It was disgusting that the night of the Riyadh bombings, both Saudis and expatriates in the Kingdom were forced to turn to foreign satellite channels for news.

Arab News journalists were getting out reports of the terrorist attacks through western media outlets. Where were the Saudi television transmissions of the  tragedy? Where was the unfettered Saudi perspective at such a critical moment for our nation?

It is no wonder that Saudis and  Saudi Arabia are often misunderstood. In light of these deficiencies, the press conferences of Interior Minister Prince Naif assume great importance.

When he steps up to the microphone, we hear from a responsible official of the Saudi government. In front of the cameras he answers questions that are on the minds of all. At his press conferences, Prince Naif does not hesitate to select Saudi journalists from the assembled media. This helps build confidence in local reporters, especially the young  Saudi journalists. We have many dedicated journalists in the Kingdom.

Some of our veteran reporters are no less talented than their American counterparts. They may need polishing and of course their lack of English language is a great obstacle.

But with a little training and some investment by their editors-in-chief, they would represent us well both at home and abroad. Above all, they have the interest of our country at heart.

The writer is the editor of the Arab News, a daily published in Saudi Arabia.