Call for creation of journalists' association in Qatar

Doha: Media experts have called for the creation of a journalists' association in Qatar to discuss and protect journalists' rights and denounce abuses.

Representatives of media freedom watchdogs holding a number of workshops during the past two weeks have urged local journalists to establish an organisation to defend their rights.

But journalists said the country's legislation hinders the creation of professional associations for non-Qataris, who represent the majority of the professionals working in the field.

"Although media freedom in Qatar has improved as of late, I urge journalists here to create an association where they can meet and discuss the problems they face in exercising their profession," Yahia Shukkeir, an expert with the Jordan-based Amman Centre for Human Rights Studies, told Gulf News.

Shukkeir is in Qatar to deliver a training course on 'Fair Coverage of Election' sponsored by the National Human Rights Committee.

Several organisations are delivering courses to prepare journalists for a fair, transparent and unbiased coverage of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

"Without a free media there cannot be free elections," said Ali Al Merri, secretary general of the National Human Rights Committee.

Shukkeir observed that 26 articles in the Qatari Press Law envisage fines, detentions and punishing measures against journalists that hinder media freedom and contribute to the practice of self censorship.

"A free media needs professional journalists, codes of ethics and an appropriate legislation. Any violation of these three conditions is a violation of the right of the public to know," he said.

Journalists attending the course argued they find it difficult to work in an environment where many officials and public servants ignore the right of the public to seek, receive and impart information, as per the international covenants on human rights.

"Journalists try to do their best to avoid direct and indirect pressures from officials.

"But even the fact that foreign journalists, who are the majority, cannot create a professional organisation of their own, is an issue hindering freedom of debate," said a reporter who asked not to be named.

Martha Steffens, a professor at Missouri School of Journalism, who delivered another course here on media practices, has so far supported the establishment of journalists association in Bahrain and Kuwait.

"The creation of journalists associations is an important step in establishing media freedom. Journalists must have the opportunity to gather and openly discuss and share their concerns."

The Arab Science Journalists Association (ASJA) has announced it has plans to launch a regional television science programme for the Arab audience and an Arab Science News Agency to distribute syndicated news on science and technology and related development in the region.

Preparatory courses

Nadia Al Away, president of ASJA, said during a conference in Doha last week that the World Federation of Science Journalists has launched a programme to mentor science journalists in Africa and Middle East.

ASJA is also planning to hold annual conferences for journalists covering science and technology to fill the vacuum of preparatory courses across the Arab world.