Wikipedia

Okaz

Okaz(Arabic:عكاظ) is an ArabicSaudi Arabiandaily newspaper located inJeddah.[1][2]The paper was launched in 1960[3]and its sister publication isSaudi Gazette.The paper is simultaneously printed in bothRiyadhand Jeddah and has offices all over Saudi Arabia.[4]However, the daily mainly serves the provinces of the Hejaz andAsir.[5]As of 2012 Abdullah Saleh Kamel was the chairman of the board of directors of the Okaz Organization for Press and Publication.[6]Lawrence WrightofThe New Yorkerstates thatOkazis "like an Arabic version" of theNew York Post.[7]

Okaz
TypeDaily newspaper
Founder(s)Ahmad Abd al-Ghafur Attar
PublisherOkaz Organization for Press and Publication
Editor-in-chiefJameel Altheyabi
Founded1960;64 years ago(1960)
Political alignmentLiberal
LanguageArabic
HeadquartersJeddah
Circulation250,000 (as of 2010)
Sister newspapersSaudi Gazette
OCLCnumber2265453
WebsiteOkaz

History

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Okazwas established in Jeddah in 1960 by Ahmed Abdul Ghafoor Attar and is one of the oldest newspapers in Saudi Arabia.[8][9]John R. Bradley,in his bookSaudi Arabia Exposed: Inside a Kingdom in Crisis,described it as a "downmarketnewspaper... the closest Saudi Arabia has to ayellow press."[10]

Despite Bradley's description,Okazwas originally a cultural weekly based in theHijaz.[9]In October 1964, it was relaunched as a daily paper.[4]

Front page of Okaz first issue, 28 May 1960.

Its name was used asOkadhin some scientific publications while referring to it.[11]In fact, the paper is named after the popular Okaz market, which was one of the largest open markets during thepre-Islamic erain the Hijaz region.[4][12]The market inspired the founders of the paper wasSuq al Ukazwhere eminent poets of the period came together to congregate poems and hold recitation competitions inTaif.[13][14]

Popularity

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Okazwas most popular newspaper inHijazat the beginning of the 1990s. In the mid-1980s, the paper was often perceived as a newspaper in decline because of failure to invest. However, it invested in printing facilities and its circulation expanded.[15]In 2009,Okazis regarded as the most popular paper in the Hijaz and third most popular in Riyadh. Furthermore,Okazis said to be one of only two major Saudi print media that do not have the member of theAl Saud familyamong its share-holders.[15]Based on the results of a media survey conducted by research companyIpsos Stat,Okazis first in readership ratings, beating many other newspapers published in the country.[16]Dubai Press Clubstates that the paper is mostly preferred by Saudi nationals and younger people.[17]

Circulation

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In 2002,Okazwas the largest newspaper in the country.[2]In 2003, it had an estimated circulation of 147,000 copies.[3][8]Its estimated circulation is reported to be 150,000 in 2009.[15]Dubai Press Club in 2010 reported thatOkazis the most popular Arabic daily paper in the Kingdom with a circulation of 250,000 that was confirmed by the media research.[17]

Global Investment House stated the market share ofOkazas around 6% in 2009.[12]The circulation of the paper was 250,000 copies in 2010.[17]

The online version of the paper was the 23rd most visited website for 2010 in theMENA region.[18]It was reported byForbes Middle Eastin 2011 to be one of top tenonline newspapers(specifically the ninth) inthe MENA region.[19]In 2012,Okaz's online edition was ranked byForbes Middle Eastas the sixth in the MENA region with 42.56 million hits, including 12.60 million unique hits.[20]

Political approach

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Okaz,a paper of Hejaz, is considered to be one of the two leading liberal daily papers in Saudi Arabia. The other one isAl Watan.[21]However, the paper was reported to be close to lateCrown Prince Nayef.[7]

Prominent columnists

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The newspaper has several well-respected columnists such as Juhair bint Abdallah Al Musa'id and Abdallah Al Jufri.[9]The pioneering deputy chair of theNational Society for Human Rights,Al Jawhara bint Mohammed Al Anqari also writes forOkaz.[22]Hussein Shobokshi is among the former columnists of the paper who left it after publishing an article on accountable government.[23]

Content

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It appears thatOkazpublishes articles and news about several distinct topics ranging from lesbians' confessions toZionistthreats. Besides a critical coverage of social issues,Okazreports almost taboo subjects, like the harsh treatment of women by the religious police. On the other hand,Okazwas generally considered as the most aggressive and sensationalist about news againstYemenand then-President Saleh.[citation needed]The paper also contains a section onenvironmental issues.[24]

Hussein Shobokshi, a former columnist forOkaz,wrote about his vision of a country where the government is fully accountable to the public, citizens can freely vote, and women can drive cars in his July 2003 column.[23]His article led to a huge public reaction, including complaints from what he called "tribal and religious groups." Then, he was quickly put in the blacklist for the next year and his new talk show on the Saudi-owned satellite broadcasterAl Arabiyawas cancelled. His editor told Shobokshi that he was banned without explaining why or by whom.[25]

Princess Fahda bint Saud,one ofKing Saud's daughters, published an article onOkazon 15 November 2003. The article was titled "The Bombings: Who is Behind the Scenes? Who is Behind Terrorism?" and concerned withZionistthreats posed to Saudi Arabia.[26]

In an editorial entitled 'The limits of our responsibility' published inOkazon 28 November 2003, it was admitted that Saudi money had gone to finance the terrorist acts of9/11,but added: "It was to be expected that funds have gone out of our pockets and our wealth to those who carried out the act (of 9/11) even though it was done indirectly and without our knowledge."[27]

Two female reporters wrote about a taboo in the context of Saudi Arabia, lesbians, in 2007. They reported the confessions of two women having lesbian relationship.[28]

Muhammad Al Tunisi, who had been serving aseditor-in-chiefof the paper since October 2008,[29]allowed the publication of a report by Sami Al Harbi about high consumption of the Khat drug plant inJazanin late November 2011. The report based on a field study claimed that 70% of residents used the Khat plant, affecting the cells of the human body and leading to sexual deviation. This report led to Jazan's residents', particularly young men's, boycott against the newspaper and call for the paper to be banned. Then, Al Tunisi was dismissed by the paper administration, although he apologized and the paper declared that the report had been a scientific study.[30]Then, Al Tunisi was replaced by Hashim Abdo Hashim as editor-in-chief in December 2011.[31]

According to theOkaz,the murdered Saudi journalistJamal Khashoggiwas a terrorist sympathizer whose sectarian goals were designed to destabilize the Saudi kingdom.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^The Middle East and North Africa.Europa Publications Limited. 1978.ISBN9780905118239.
  2. ^abThomas L. Friedman (2003).Longitudes and attitudes:The world in the age of terrorism.Random House.ISBN9781400031252.
  3. ^abAnthony Shoult (2006).Doing business with Saudi Arabia.GMB Publishing Ltd.ISBN9781905050673.
  4. ^abc"The press in Saudi Arabia".BBC.13 December 2006.Retrieved17 May2012.
  5. ^Tom Pierre Najem; Martin Hetherington, eds. (2003).Good Governance in the Middle East Oil Monarchies.New York: Routledge Courzon. p. 114.[ISBN missing]
  6. ^"Okaz Organization to set up new company for electronic publications".Saudi Gazette.11 August 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 16 January 2014.Retrieved11 August2012.
  7. ^abLawrence Wright (5 January 2004)."The Kingdom of Silence".The New Yorker.Retrieved19 May2012.
  8. ^abWilliam A. Rugh (2004).Arab Mass Media: Newspapers, Radio, and Television in Arab Politics.Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 61.ISBN978-0-275-98212-6.Retrieved27 September2013.
  9. ^abc"Saudi Arabia".Arab Press.Archived fromthe originalon 28 May 2012.Retrieved1 May2012.
  10. ^John R. Bradley (2006).Saudi Arabia Exposed: Inside a Kingdom in Crisis.Macmillan. p.207.ISBN9781403964335.Okaz newspaper.
  11. ^Abdulrahman S. Shobaili (1971)."An historical and analytical study of broadcasting and press in Saudi Arabia"(PDF).Ohio State University.Retrieved5 May2012.
  12. ^ab"Saudi Research and Marketing Group"(PDF).Global Investment House. November 2009.Retrieved28 May2012.
  13. ^David E. Long (2005).Cultures and customs of Saudi Arabia.Westport: Greenwood Publishers.ISBN0-313-32021-7.
  14. ^Christina Bratt Paulston (1988).International Handbook of Bilingualism and Bilingual Education.New York: Greenwood Press. p. 49.[ISBN missing]
  15. ^abc"Ideological and Ownership Trends in the Saudi Media".Cablegate.11 May 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 16 January 2013.Retrieved1 May2012.
  16. ^"Saudi Arabia"(PDF).Publicitas.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2 December 2012.Retrieved8 June2012.
  17. ^abc"Arab Media Outlook. 2009–2010"(PDF).Dubai Press Club.2010.Retrieved19 May2010.
  18. ^"Forbes Releases Top 50 MENA Online Newspapers; Lebanon Fails to Make Top 10".Jad Aoun.28 October 2010.Retrieved11 September2014.
  19. ^"Forbes Middle East unveils ranking of Top 63 online newspapers of the Arab world".Forbes Middle East.29 November 2011.Retrieved2 June2012.
  20. ^"Okaz jumps to sixth spot in Forbes ME rankings".Saudi Gazette.Dubai. 28 December 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 3 January 2013.Retrieved31 December2012.
  21. ^"Censorship in Saudi Arabia".English Essays.Archived fromthe originalon 22 July 2012.Retrieved16 May2012.
  22. ^"Saudi princess speaks out on domestic violence"(PDF).GSN (Gulf States Newsletter).16 January 2009.Retrieved13 April2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  23. ^abLawrence Pintak; Jeremy Ginges (July 2008)."The Mission of Arab Journalism: Creating Change in a Time of Turmoil".The International Journal of Press/Politics.13(3).
  24. ^Najib Saab."The Environment in Arab Media"(PDF).Arab Forum for Environment and Development.Archived fromthe original(Report)on 10 October 2014.Retrieved7 October2014.
  25. ^Joe Campagnal (2006)."Saudi Arabia report: Princes, Clerics, and Censors".Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).Retrieved10 May2012.
  26. ^"Saudi Princess Fahda bint Saudi:Conspiracy theories and other writings".MEMRI.2 February 2004.Retrieved16 May2012.
  27. ^Nimrod Raphaeli (2003)."Financing of terrorism: Sources, methods, and channels".Terrorism and Political Violence.15(4): 59–82.doi:10.1080/09546550390449881.S2CID144519175.
  28. ^Rada Soubra Barrage (2007)."The domestic challenges facing Saudi Arabia"(PDF).Ecommons.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 5 October 2013.Retrieved8 May2012.
  29. ^"New Editor for Saudi daily Okaz".AME Info.5 October 2008.Retrieved31 December2012.
  30. ^"Editor-in-chief of" Okaz "newspaper dismissed".IFEX.7 December 2011.Retrieved5 June2012.
  31. ^"'Qat' report topples editor of major Saudi daily ".Emirates 7/24.7 December 2011.Retrieved31 December2012.
  32. ^"صحيفة عكاظ".Okaz.5 October 2018.Retrieved27 October2018.
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