Liberal policy helps Kuwaiti media return to forefront

Kuwait's media industry has grown considerably during the past decade, setting an example of a socially responsible media environment.

While the state holds the right to intervene in order to maintain security, the government has demonstrated its backing for a culture of liberal thinking by making everyone eligible to hold a media licence, according to Anas Al Rasheed, Kuwait's former minister of information.

Al Rasheed's comments came during a workshop on 'Kuwaiti Media: Progress and Expansion: Reminiscent of the Pioneering Days' held as part of Arab Media Forum 2010. The workshop highlighted the Kuwaiti media scene, which appears to be establishing a new phase in the GCC media arena.

Dr Al Rasheed commended the role of Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah in supporting the media. Themed 'Shifting Mediascape: Inspiring Content…Expanding Reach', the 9th edition of the event has brought together more than 2,000 media personalities and experts from Arab countries and across the world.

Moderated by Youssef Abd Al Hameed Al Jassim, CEO of Six by Six Multimedia company in Kuwait, speakers at the workshop included Dr Abdullah Al Shayji, Head of the American Studies Unit, Assistant Professor at Political Science Department, Kuwait University; Dr Sulaiman Al Askari, Editor-in-Chief, Al Arabi magazine; Adnan Al Rashed, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Al Anbaa newspaper; Ali Al Rayes, General Manager, Kuwait Channel One; Yousef Al Jalahma, General Manager, Al Rai TV, and Fajr Al Saeed, General Manager, Scope TV.

Al Rasheed added: "New Kuwaiti laws regulating the press have paved the path for a plethora of media channels, especially since the law facilitates working within a larger space of freedom. The advertising income of Kuwaiti print publications reached $280m (Dh1 billion) last year, but this huge number of publications is not sustainable in the long term."

Kuwait was characterised as a pioneer in media and the arts in the GCC and the wider Arab region. It was a cultural and intellectual storehouse through specialised publications and books in Arabic that are regarded as important international works in science, arts and literature.

Kuwait's pioneering position in media and culture became the victim of Saddam Hussein's aggression in 1990. Following the liberation, Kuwait implemented key changes at the state and community levels, which occurred around the same time when major developments happened in the international and Arab satellite media, and powerful media companies came into existence in the GCC and Arab World. However, Kuwait was not part of this development, despite the availability of abundant expertise of over 2,134 registered journalists.

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