JEDDAH: Saudi newspapers are presently facing many challenges due to a decline in advertisement revenue, stiff competition from Web-based news and the growing local popularity of “citizen journalism.”
There are over 30 Saudi online newspapers, compared to just 13 print newspapers. This is perhaps because many newspapers find launching online cheaper than launching in print. Many print journalists — both full-time and freelance — are also turning their attention to the new fad by contributing to online newspapers, while the Kingdom’s blog scene has moved a few gears forward.
Jameel Al-Diyabi, managing editor of Al-Hayat newspaper, described the print newspaper industry like a “sick person.” He said the industry is facing numerous challenges from citizen journalism, which is proving to be a useful source of information for newspapers. “This new form of journalism highlights the nose that members of the public have for journalism. It also shows the capabilities people have to instantly comment on whatever affects them and their society,” he said. He added that the mass media need to involve their readers and viewers more. “They need to become more interactive to keep their audience involved,” he said. These new channels of information, said Al-Diaybi, are getting strong. Online media are proving to have a knack in combating corruption, and communicating with government bodies as well as its audience.
“Although some people are still loyal to print newspapers, there is a gap between the new generation and the old generation. The young generation prefers to go online and have a more interactive news experience,” he explained.
What distinguishes one newspaper from another in the Kingdom, said Al-Diyabi, is not the news but the opinion columns. “It is the columnists who are making newspapers compete with one another in employing bold and outspoken writers even if it costs money,” he said.
Mohammad Al-Shihri, editor in chief of the Sabq online newspaper, said Web-based newspapers are giving stiff competition to print newspapers. “They’ve become news agencies by themselves. We’re providing local newspapers with stories and leads that they can develop,” he said, adding that online newspapers are branching out by publishing lengthy features and investigative pieces.
Commenting on the view that online newspapers lack credibility, Al-Shihri said this is inaccurate and that Web-based news is often carried in forums and on blogs, which might mix news with inaccurate information. Despite the efforts of print newspapers to keep up with advancements on the net, Al-Shihri believes print newspapers would fail as online newspapers work in real time and Saudi newspapers only publish one edition a day.
He added that reporters for print newspapers often check online websites such as his and regurgitate the news for print. “Reporters are not going out and getting stories. They mainly rely on press releases being faxed to them…this is totally unprofessional,” he said.
Dr. Saud Katib, a media professor at King Abdulaziz University, agreed with Al-Diaybi that the only difference between Saudi newspapers is in the columnists they employ. “The year 2009 was full of unfortunate events and this helped some of our struggling local newspapers to sell…many people began buying newspapers after major events such as Al-Ais earthquake, the trouble on the Saudi-Yemen border and the Jeddah floods,” he said.
Katib echoed the views of Al-Diyabi that the print industry is facing serious challenges with the rising popularity of Internet-based newspapers. He added that popular social network websites — such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace — are also challenging the status quo. “Internet-based newspapers are sending messages to local print newspapers to move fast and change,” he said, adding that online newspapers are also getting exclusives. “Minister of Information Abdul Aziz Khoja recently wrote an article which was published exclusively on a famous online news website,” he said.
Katib said the recent Jeddah floods demonstrated the strong and important role that online newspapers are playing. “Internet newspapers have made it possible for citizens to become journalists. Some print newspapers are now getting their information from online newspapers,” he said.
“This has forced some newspapers to launch new services such as sending breaking news via SMSs … newspapers were the kings of media but their crowns are about to topple off,” he said.
“The news coverage of 2009 has been markedly different. Members of the public have been communicating the news. They’ve not just been on the receiving end…simply look at the recent Jeddah floods; people were documenting what was happening via their cell phones well before journalists could reach the flood-affected areas,” he added.
“It has been the people who provided the mass media with the raw material on which they base their coverage.”
