Two same pictures on same page!

I won't pass a judgement on this one. It doesn't seem fair to. After all, I know it happens all over the world in the field of journalism. Maybe out here in Qatar, it just is so clearly visible that it looks funny more than anything else.

The other day Doha Bank, which has an advertising account worth a little over a million Riyals annually with this publication, had a small ceremony. What ceremony it was is irrelevant.

Obviously it had to be covered. Also because the pages need to be filled. I woulnd't say there is a dearth of hardcore (read news worthy exclusive) stories here. I cannot possibly believe that. In a country where 800,000 people live there have to be stories. Only that no one really cares to uncover them because of the lack of incentives. No annual raises, no response, no reaction etc etc.

The photo op for the Doha bank ceremony story was really narrow. I mean, the only thing the photographer would get is the Doha Bank manager shaking hands with the chief guest while staring into a camera with a fake smile practised the previous night in front of the mirror for hours.

So that's exactly what the photographer got. Lots of pictures of the practically same pose, in different angles though.

The pages were being made, and a phone call came.

I wish I could quote the conversation, but I can't coz I was not the one who recieved the call.

It was the Doha Bank manager on the other end. He was told the story is being used as the lead on the business page with a picture of him.

To that, he said, that's fine, but he wanted "two of his pictures on that page."

Uh... two? I mean, uh two? On the same page? Shaking hands? With the same man in different angles?

Exactly. It's exactly what he wants. Why? Why? Oh Why?

And what if the answer is, No, we won't because it is just utterly stupid. Leave alone carrying an absolutely non-story, non-photograph as lead, you want us to take two pictures of you on the same page?

Uh, he'll pull out the million-riyal advertisment from the paper immediately.

No no no sir. Please sir. Right sir. Two pictures of you sir. On the same page sir. Send us more, we'll even use 22 sir.

So the next day, there were two pictures of the Doha Bank manager on the same page!

This happens all over the world. Maybe not as blatantly for a common man to know of it.

In India, if I had a (negative/damaging) story, with even a mention of the name of a company that advertises with the paper, it would be dropped immediately. Or the fact that's it's pretty official that you pay newspapers to get coverage, be it a rotten party or whatever.

I think Times of India charges about a couple of lakhs for a front page story, while Hindustan Times takes a little less.

I have become too used to all that to let it bother me.

In Qatar, I just find it funny, that's about it, when I see the picture(s), sometimes even three on the same page, of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (the current ruler) every single day on the front page, either shaking hands with someone or the other, or inaugurating something etc etc...

Thankfully, today, is an exception. There is no Emir in the paper.

Instead, there's His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Minister of State for Interior Affairs cutting the ribbon to open the Human Rights Department!

And that's the lead story.

Anyway, there's a very very famous saying here for Indian journalists that land in Qatar. They're always told this, sooner or later: "Get two things absolutely clear. One, you haven't come here for journalistic excellence. Two, you are just an economic refugee in this tiny desert country which faces the Arabian Sea. Just like each and everyone here. Enjoy your money."