Arab News reports on a variety of issues concerning Saudi media, apparently the result of a briefing from the Ministry of Culture & Information. Among the highlights are the report that the Ministry has yet to receive a number of complaints previously reported in the media, that the cameraman jailed for his role in the ‘sex braggart’ case had been released from jail (and perhaps might not have had anything to do with the program!?), and that a Saudi journalist had been banned for life for faking an interview published in Al-Riyadh, while the editor of the paper was fined SR 50,000.

I’m not at all keen on government action taken against journalists. I’d rather see the journalists themselves decide to ban errant reporters. If a paper runs false stories, that too should be sorted out through the market, with a damaged reputation leading to lower sales. As the Saudi print media are heavily subsidized by the government, though, the market is already distorted. Perhaps a government-levied fine is the correct response here.

No case of blasphemy against Al Arabiya yet
Muhammad Humaidan | Arab News

JEDDAH: There has been no official complaint of blasphemy against Al Arabiya news channel yet, a senior official has confirmed.

“We have so far not received any information about a case filed by a number of citizens against the channel,” Assistant Undersecretary for Local Media Abdul Rahman Al-Hazza said.

Al-Hazza is heading the Ministry of Culture and Information’s three committees that deal with print, broadcast and publishing violations, as well as the rights of authors.

Last Thursday Arab News reported that the case had been filed at the Jeddah Summary Court, which in turn submitted it to the justice minister to refer to the ministry.
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