Qatar Journalism: A Giant LEAAP!

I don't know how to say this... I mean, say it exactly like the way I'm thinking it, I'm seeing it. I wish I could give you my mind for a couple of minutes.

I'm giving it. Try fitting it into your head.

- Ever been in a country, which is changing? Changing every minute? Growing, rather.

Sure, every country is changing, growing. After all, the world's changing, the world's growing... all the time, But the world we see around us, isn't like Qatar.

The world we live in doesn't talk or think about a man marrying four times, whether or not he is Muslim. In the world we live in, the woman would bring hell down to earth if she'd even get a hint that her man might be screwing around, leave alone helping the second wife to get dressed for the marriage.

The world we live in doesn't have women, who look like medusas in reverse, walking out of their homes covered in black from head to toe, only so that no other man, except their husbands, could see them and 'want' them.

The world we live in didn't just recently allow women to drive cars.

The world we live in didn't just in 1992 open the first ever alcohol-serving bar in a five- star hotel.

Do you see it like I do?

Qatar is a new country. A young country, which is dreaming for the sky. I woulnd't even say it's dreaming for the sky. I would say, they've already shot for the sky. The bullet's on the way. No dream, no hopes. Straight result. It has to happen. It will happen.

See it?

India's changing too. But it's hard to see the change, because probably the change in happening, but very slowly... and it's diverse. Some parts might be changing, some parts might still be stuck in the 40s.

India isn't a new country. I don't know. America - it's changing sure, but it's improving, maybe. But Qatar is a kid, growing up... and growing up at the speed of light, trying to break all barriers, kicking off all obstacles, to get with it. To stand shoulder to shoulder with every country in the world - To show... the middle finger to Dubai.

Ever been in a country which is changing... every moment?

I am in a country like that. I am living, witnessing, breathing, seeing a huge change.

Why I'm saying this? One, because it's true. Two, because I can. And three, I found out that in the next two weeks, Gulf Times, Qatar's leading (circulation wise) English newspaper, will finally become a DAILY!

You see it like I do?

If you can, you'll know... that's a huge step for a country, where everyone would miss one day's news (Friday) - when no newspaper would come out. There are two English papers in Qatar. Gulf Times and Peninsula - both of which are not published on Fridays - an off day in the Islamic country - hence a "slow day".

From mid-Feb, Gulf Times, launched in 1978, has decided to turn itself into a daily paper, published all 7 days a week.

Do you see it like I do?

Now, Peninsula, will have no option but to turn into a 7-day a weeek Daily paper. Who's benefitting? The public. Why? Competition.

See the change?

Till a few years ago - say about two or maybe three - there used to be a censor board in each paper, which would scan every article published, and scratch out all that they thought shoulnd't be published. Today, there is no censor board.

Earlier, they thought negative stories CANNOT be written here. Untrue. Gulf Times has done huge stories about construction workers dying due to the carelessness of building owners, it's done stories about Qataris beating up their maid servants black and blue... it's done stories about alcoholics in an Islamic country...

And in fact, these stories are appreciated.

See the change?

Now, journalists are not deported for writing one 'offending' word.

Write your heart out, they say. Just be fair. Fair.

You know what 7-days a week means?

If you see it like I do, you'll know, it means Qatar's changing... Qatar's growing. And in no time at all, it'll be with the world.

Ma-asalaama.

6.06pm

But there's a small little problem, or so it seems.

Most of Gulf Times sales take place on traffic signals and in offices. Only a small percentage is really subscription based, with the paper being delivered at your doorstep.

The point is... on Fridays, when the streets are as dead as can be, no one's gonna come out of their homes to buy the paper.

It's a fact in the newspaper industry, that it's never the circulation that makes you money. It's the ads in the paper that determin a paper's loss or profit.

When companies that give out ads know that circulation will be less than half of what it is on usual weekdays, the ads maybe negligible.

My take: The paper should still be 7-days a week. And even though initially it will not do as much business, with time, things will change.

Changes don't take place overnight.

They just gotta be patient.

To make some, you gotta lose some.

Chill out and take on the challenge. Don't let people change you.

Instead, change the people.