Gulf | Bahrain

Change of guard at Bahrain's state-owned media

Shaikh Rashid's nomination heralds a new era for radio and television corporation after 3-month standoff between outgoing chief and staff

  • By Habib Toumi, Bahrain bureau chief
  • Published: 00:04 November 24, 2008
  • Gulf News

Manama: Bahrain has named a new head for its Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC), four days after Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al Khalifa was appointed minister of culture and information.

The nomination of Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdul Rahman Al Khalifa, the former assistant undersecretary for culture and national heritage, heralds a new era for the radio and television corporation following a bitter three-month standoff between Ahmad Najm, the outgoing BRTC head, and some of the senior employees.

Najm who took over the BRTC in June had waded into controversy after he made several decisions, including an unpopular rotation of staff, that triggered a protest movement amid claims that he was adopting a tough policy.

But Najm, who was supported by former information minister Jehad Bu Kamal, defended his action as "necessary and long-due reforms to help improve the productivity of a corporation that had suffered from numerous problems and needed tangible solutions".

The removal of Bu Kamal following the appointment of Shaikha Mai as the new minister on November 18 has precipitated the departure of Najm who handed his resignation.

Now, Shaikh Rashid, 29, faces the formidable tasks of mending relations between the senior staff at the BRTC and the management and of embarking on a performance-boosting campaign to enhance the reputation of the state-owned television and radio.

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