More than 400 full-time male and female Saudi journalists have applied for membership in the Saudi Journalists Association (SJA) which will hold its general assembly in Riyadh on Thursday to elect a new board of directors, Dr. Abdullah Al-Jahlan, secretary of the board, announced Saturday. He told Saudi Gazette that journalists from the newly established Dammam-based Al-Sharq newspaper had topped the number of applicants followed by the Abha-based Al-Watan. “The two newspapers presented a large number of applicants who wanted to join the association,” he said. The general assembly meeting will discuss voting rights for all members who registered in the SJA before Jan. 31. According to a statement issued by the SJA, any member who registered before Jan. 31 and paid the subscription fees has the right to attend the general assembly meeting and cast his/her vote in the elections of the board of directors. The statement made it clear that only those whose membership lasted for three months before the date of the general assembly have the right to run for the elections. The committee to supervise and monitor the elections held a meeting at the headquarters of the SJA in Riyadh. Dr. Moflih Al-Qahtani, who chaired the meeting, said the committee reviewed the list of voters and made sure that there were no violations or mistakes committed in the registration of the full-time journalists who have the right to vote and run for the elections. He said the committee agreed on the method of registration of the attendants and was determined to allow only the members to attend the general assembly. “We hail such experiences in holding elections and allowing neutral bodies to monitor the elections,” he said hoping that the SJA would realize all the hopes and aspirations of the Saudi journalists. The supervising and monitoring committee comprises representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Information, Human Rights Commission, the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Social Affairs. Al-Jahlan noted that the third session of the board of directors has attracted a large number of full-time journalists including about 440 male and female pressmen who joined SJA this year. He stated that today (Sunday) is the last date to receive nominations for election to the board of directors. Members who could not attend in person can elect through proxy. “No one is allowed to represent more than one member,” he added. Al-Jahlan said journalists from many newspapers have joined the organizing committee. He described the general assembly as an annual event during which journalists get together to discuss their common concerns. __
