A colorful cross-section of opinions came from five Arab News readers who have resided in Saudi Arabia for a collective 89 years.

In addition to playing dynamic roles in the business community, they also have been active players in a broad spectrum of expatriate social activities:

• Russ Law is the British director of the Continental School and an enthusiastic cricketer. He originally came to Jeddah in 1979 as a teacher with the intention of staying for a year.

• Edward Ogilvie, a British national and talented actor who came to Jeddah in 1993 and is currently the general manager of IMC, a renowned Marketing Services company in Jeddah.

• Peter Linton who came to Jeddah “a long time ago, but if my memory serves me correctly, at my age, it was 1983!” Linton is a regular runner with the Hash House Harriers and is currently the marine development manager for Saudi Arabia for AXA Cooperative Insurance Company (previously Norwich Union).

• Damian James, a rugby player and active supporter of the Jeddah Rugby Union Football Club, is a public relations consultant who came to Jeddah in 1997 as the country manager for the high-profile Hill & Knowlton group.

• John White, a gregarious and generous supporter of the Jeddah expatriate community who is the marketing manager for Tihama Media International.

Ogilvie’s inherent affinity for all things theatrical and entertaining has led him to build up a collection of clippings from Arab News.

“I cut out articles and adverts, which have caught my eye and raised a wry smile either because of their quirky content or incorrect use of language,” Ogilvie said. “There are lots of favorites — the arrest of car mechanics posing as dentists, a live chicken shop housing a telephone call cabin where you can ‘Slaughter a Chicken and Phone Home at the Same Time,’ the local ‘beauty pageants’ for camels and rare goats, and a supermarket offering plastic inflatable seats advertised as ‘inflammable chairs’. Maybe I’ll publish them one day and rekindle fond memories of living and working in Saudi Arabia.”

He finds the paper a good source of local and regional news and comments that reporting style and detail have improved noticeably over the years. However, he said there is room for improvement in the Review and Newsmakers section, which focus mainly on Hollywood and Bollywood features.

“The Back Page — prime position — can surely be used to better effect,” said Ogilvie. “Perhaps a separate entertainment section could be incorporated with a wider focus, including world theater and the performing arts, in addition to cinema.” Damian James, who as a PR consultant reads daily newspapers thoroughly with the well-honed eyes of a professional, also has some lighthearted memories of a story in Arab News on traffic congestion.

“The article focused on traffic congestion during Haj. Some misguided journalist felt he should reinforce his point by cutting out and sticking more cars on the accompanying photograph,” James said. “Cars of all shapes and sizes were used without any understanding of scale or perspective. The end result was very embarrassing for the paper, but, happily, something like this would never appear today.”

In its role as the leading English-language newspaper in Saudi Arabia, James says it is in danger of attracting too much advertising as a result.

“But it is important to note that no one buys a newspaper for the advertising,” James said. “A review of a recent issue indicated that nearly 10 pages out of 24 pages were devoted to advertising. This can have a negative impact, and I would like to see more news and less advertising. Nonetheless, the media here is developing fast. We are seeing stories today that would not have appeared just a couple of years back,” James said. “Highly placed ministers, ministries and leaders of major local and international companies are beginning to understand that they are not beyond question and need to treat the media with the respect they deserve.”

From a sports perspective, Russ Law enjoys the rare juxtaposition of seeing his name as a local cricketer alongside the big names in international sport.

“We found the local English-language papers good and quite quirky in their approach, compared with what we had been used to,” said Law. “We liked the way they included very local items alongside international news — and still do, so you can read about yourself playing cricket or road-running on the same page as Roger Federer and other megastars. I always look for the news on security matters, the international sport and any local items that might involve or affect the school.”

Speaking as a designer, John White says that he would like to see an improved layout as he finds the current look “old-fashioned.” He also would like to see it in the tabloid form that has now been adopted by leading dailies in the UK. Having been a daily reader, he has become an irregular reader, enjoying the Front Page, business and sport.

“I would like to see more international coverage and more balanced reporting,” said White. Peter Linton, a Yorkshire man from the same area as the late British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, lived in Kenya for 10 years and had the unusual accolade of being the only white player in the National Super League at football.

“I felt very honored for the privilege, but at times it seemed like apartheid in reverse,” said Linton. With such a background in high-level sports, he particularly enjoys the sports pages and praises Arab News for always being up-to-date on all event results. He compares the reporting on the latest Charity Half Marathon run in Jeddah with that of the rival Saudi Gazette.

“It’s a bit like comparing the Mirror with the Independent. The Gazette, in true “Coronation Street” fashion, said it was a complete shambles while Arab News gave what I imagine was a more balanced opinion, explaining the reasons for the difficulties (as this new annual event is in its infancy) but also stated the successes that far outweighed the negative aspects.”

In a world so full of bloodshed and violence, he starts his daily reading with the topics that cheer him up, including the Letters to the Editor page, where he finds the regular contributions from Francis Andrew — an unbalanced introverted laugh a minute. Like Ogilvie, he would like to see more color photographs in the paper. A general comment from Ogilvie is one of congratulations. “Congratulations to the Arab News on the occasion of your 30th Anniversary. Keep up the good work. Your loyal expatriate readers look forward to many more years of great coverage and no doubt continuing improvements and innovations in the years to come.”