Bahrain's print media scene is hotting up

Three Bahraini newspapers in Arabic are scheduled to hit the newsstands within four months.

Al Ayam, the publication with the highest circulation figures, geared up for the competition by adopting a new format and design.

Media sources said that Al Watan and Al Waqt would start publishing in November, shortly after the end of Ramadan. The third newspaper, yet to be officially named, is planned for early next year.

"Al Watan and Al Waqt are currently fine-tuning their options to ensure a successful launch and avoid mistakes by other publications," the sources told Gulf News.

Both newspapers are owned by businessmen, with Shura Council member Ebrahim Bashmi in charge of Al Waqt.

"Recruitment is proving highly challenging for both newspapers as Bahrain lacks a sufficient number of professional journalists. The tendency is to lure reporters from existing newspapers by offering them higher salaries and better positions," sources said.

A study by the Bahrain Journalists Association to be published next week found that most journalists were unhappy with their earnings and wanted their salaries to be more compatible with social needs.

Bahrain has four Arabic dailies and two English. Akhbar Al Khaleej was the only daily newspaper until Al Ayam was published in 1989.

Al Wasat was launched in 2002 and Al Mithaq in 2004. All four newspapers were published in the broadsheet format until Al Ayam made the switch to the smart-size edition.

Gulf Daily News, a tabloid published by Dar Akhbar Al Khaleej House, and Bahrain Tribune, a broadsheet owned by Al Ayam Publishing, are the English newspapers.

Al Ayam editor-in-chief Isa Al Shaiji attributed the new format and the redesign of the newspaper to the desire to adapt to new trends in the media and to reflect modern standards.

"As the pioneer of innovations and changes, Al Ayam had to take the lead and make the switch-over which is more in line with modern requirements," he told Gulf News.