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Join Date: 05 Mar 2015
Location:  Saudi ArabiaPosts: 85 |
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Migrant rights: Expats impressed with pioneering role of Arab News |
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Migrant rights: Expats impressed with pioneering role of Arab News
RIYADH: “Comment is free, but facts are sacred,†said C. P. Scott, editor of the ‘Manchester Guardian’ (now The Guardian). Over the years, Arab News has followed this principle in treating facts as sacred and reporting them objectively. It makes every effort to keep its readers informed on events that touch their lives either directly or indirectly. The fact that its journalists take their duty seriously was described in short by Amir Qayyum, an Indian business development director in Riyadh, when he said: “Above and beyond the call of duty.†In other words, they work beyond the call of duty for the sake of the readers’ interest. Qayyum, who has been in the country for the last 38 years, said that his whole family knows about this part of the world through Arab News reportage. “We never miss even a single issue when we are in the Kingdom. It opens the Arab World, especially Saudi Arabia, like a book full of facts without sensationalism. It is a good example of sincere journalism,†he said. “This anniversary is not just a celebration of progress and accomplishments of a newspaper but the Coming of Age of a Companion — our comrade Arab News,†Qayyum added. “As a non-Arabic speaking expat in Saudi Arabia, Arab News is an essential part of my daily routine. I receive it every morning in my office to keep myself updated regarding the latest developments in the Kingdom and abroad,†said BR Safiye Kücükkaraca, acting head of trade department at Denmark Embassy. Being an embassy employee, it helps keep her abreast of issues relevant to her job, from trade, economics, politics and culture to education with quality journalism. “I started reading Arab News during the 1980s. It is a very interesting newspaper, not because it is a Saudi newspaper or because I am a Saudi. No. I must not be biased. But it is a fact that Arab News is one of the leading newspapers in the Arab world,†said Muneer Almehanna, a retired rear admiral lower half, Royal Saudi Naval Force. Almehanna, a product of a US Portland State University, said AN has connected many Arab and other countries through expats working in Saudi Arabia. “I enjoy reading articles of Abdulateef Al-Mulhim, who is a retired officer of the armed forces. His articles are attractive and very interesting. On many occasions, I noticed that major news comes out in Arab News that hasn’t been published in Arabic newspapers,†Almehanna said, adding: “Although the Saudi Press Agency is a common source for many Saudi newspapers, AN in some ways carries news ahead of the other newspapers.†John Leonard Monterona, coordinator of Migrante-Middle East (Filipino workers’ rights group), said: “AN has no doubt directly and indirectly influenced millions of expat readership not only in the Kingdom but also within the GCC.†He said the newspaper’s balanced coverage and uncompromising views are liked by the Filipino expat community and others in the Kingdom. “Certainly, AN helps crystallize issues concerning expats’ rights and welfare as they are instrumental in creating a public opinion favorable to nation building and, at the same time, advancing the rights and welfare of the migrant workers in the Kingdom,†he said. Monterona said: “As an organization, we were able to reach out to a wide numbers of Filipino expatriates. In fact, through the various campaigns of Migrante that were published in Arab News, we have been getting numerous queries and requests for assistance from distressed and stranded Filipinos and even migrants of other nationalities.†Citing an example, he said, the write-ups by AN on the case of erstwhile Filipino expat on death row Rogelio ‘Dondon’ Lanuza played a great role in helping his cause. “The late King Abdullah later shouldered the remaining amount of Lanuza’s blood money and ordered his release and eventual repatriation,†he added. “I am proud to say that the first printed English daily I have ever read during my first days in the Kingdom was AN. It has since then become my favorite newspaper,†said Saleh Bucay, a community leader who has been in the country for more than 24 years. According to him, Arab News is generally viewed as having editorial independence, quality journalism and with a large circulation through print and digital media. “At the heart of any news media, print or electronic, stands the human desire to be informed, and be informed truthfully. Distributing news information serves this specific human right of affordable access to knowledge, like water, food and shelter,†he added. Source:arabnews http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/748371 |
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