JEDDAH — A Saudi columnist said the climate in Kingdom is conducive for specialized journalism as it offers an “awesome” opportunity to freely express views, but it currently needs more specialized opinion writers, columnists and reporters Well-known Saudi columnist Yasir Salama, while making this statement during a training session for media, said that specialized media could help unveil issues that could ultimately help government bodies in the development process. Eighteen reporters from various Saudi newspapers attended the training course. The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) organized the event in cooperation with Al-Madina newspaper. The training was held at Abdullah Dahlan Media Center at Jeddah Center for Forums and Events. Salama believes that specialized media in Saudi Arabia should collaborate with the government on various projects. He said by uncovering issues that are currently “unseen,” it could help enhance the work of the government. He added, “If we look at the archives of media in the Kingdom we'll realize the absence of specialized reporting. We want the new generation entering media to be specialists in various fields.” By providing specialized content, Salama believes that media can provide a “fruitful archive.” He added, it can also generate more profit for organizations because “a company with architecture activities will prefer it's ad to appear in a specialized magazine, and here comes the strength of specialization.” Salama, a physician who began writing 16 years ago to increase public awareness of issues, believes that an academic background in media is not essential, and what writers or reporters have to do in order to strengthen their skills are “read and practice.” He also believes that creating a new association for opinion writers — if approved in Saudi Arabia — will not limit their freedom. “The problem we face here is in the system. We have regulations but implementation is lacking. What we also need is observation to ensure implementation of rules.” Egypt's Dr. Yasir Abdul Aziz, who also left the field of medicine to specialize in media, urged opinion writers and columnist to base their writings on facts and not to present personal views. Through this approach he believes columns and opinions will become more “honest.” Since joining the media, Aziz has served as a leading trainer and media consultant for a number of media organizations operating in the Middle East and North Africa, including BBC. The social responsibility council at the JCCI has organized eight training courses for more than 150 reporters in Saudi Arabia since 2010. The objective of these courses is to enhance the skills of Saudi reporters.
