Lasting memories: Duraid Al Baik

Some long-term staff mambers share their thoughts...

Duraid Al Baik has been reporting for Gulf News since September 7, 1985. He started at the newspaper as a reporter, later took on responsibility for special reports, then moved up the ranks to senior reporter, chief reporter, UAE editor, foreign editor for the UAE and region pages and his current position as associate editor for UAE pages.

"Gulf News introduced three major changes in the UAE print industry. It was the first paper to be distributed to subscribers and also introduced the classifieds section. This was the first time this section had been introduced in the region and at first it was free of charge to those placing an advertisement. Gulf News was also the first to reward subscribers with promotions; so the marketing of the paper was something different to what was in the market at the time," he says.

As a junior reporter, Al Baik was in charge of police and court reporting, and remembers when colour was first introduced in the printing process. "The production was based on a classical method, and the press process started many new things, including colour on the cover of the tabloid section. This was something unknown for papers at the time and was unique to Gulf News.

"We reported on the stories that interested people and told people about new regulations coming into place from the police and the courts. I remember my first story in tabloid about a hologram art exhibition in Sharjah," he says.

He enjoyed police and court reporting. "Meeting officials and officers was quite easy and I made good friendships and relationships when I was doing daily coverage of the newspaper. Sitting in court and listening to debates was something that exposed me to a lot and was good for my personality - it changed my psyche a lot because I became a person who watched things carefully." He adds that support for other journalists is an important aspect of reporting.

Al Baik also took on responsibility for establishing Gulf News Northern Emirates bureau in 1994, based in Sharjah. Starting with five reporters, the number of staff gradually grew, including business reporters.

The bureau covered five of the seven emirates - Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. His official title was Northern Emirates Bureau Chief, which later was allocated a Sharjah office, displaying the Gulf News brand. "This was the time people in the Northern Emirates had established direct contact with the newspaper. People used to come into my office, including many officials and heads of departments, to discuss the stories we published. So the office became very active, with the physical presence of Gulf News in the Northern Emirates for the first time," he says.

One of the highlights of Al Baik's career was meeting with the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. "I was face-to-face with the President twice and asked him some questions. It was very rare for journalists in the country to speak with the President, although he was willing to speak to anyone; he was very humble and the protocol was very different.

"When I asked him a question and he answered me, I felt I was very much related to this place, because I felt very welcome as a journalist to write and express the activities in the UAE."