Journalism: a stagnant progress lacking funding [Archives:2004/730/Reportage]

Yasser Mohammed Al-Mayyasi
With the unification of Yemen in 1990 we took the first steps on the path of democratic behavior, permitting freedom of expression. Articles 6, 27 and 47 of the constitution confirm the right of expression for all citizens. The foundation of the Republic of Yemen created an encouraging atmosphere for democracy and the strengthening civil liberties in general. This is patently clear in the huge number of newspapers, non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations that have appeared in the Yemeni arena since 1990.
Subsequently, the formation of the Yemeni Journalist Syndicate was a natural result, to embrace the large emerging group of journalists. This journalism entity was enhanced by the issuance of Press Law No. 25, in 1990. Then the journalism conference of June 1990 came to unify the work of journalists under the umbrella of Yemeni Journalist Syndicate. Mr. Abdulbarry Mohamed Taher became the first President of Yemeni Journalist Syndicate.
The second conference of the Syndicate was supposed to take place three years later, but due to many differences of opinions and problems resulting from various political circumstances, including the civil war of 1994, the syndicate's work was flat and ineffective during nearly nine years from time of holding the first conference.
The second conference took place in March 1999 amid disputes and differences. It was expected that the conference would come up with decisive solutions to all disputes. However, this objective was not totally achieved. Disputes surfaced starting at the hall of the conference in different forms and shapes. Most of the disputes and differences focused on the legitimacy and outcome of the conference. Many opposition journalists boycotted the conference and declared instead the formation of what they called, the “Yemeni Association for Defending Journalists”. The efforts of several mediators and their suggestions paid off in the settlement of the disputes between the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate and the boycotting opposition, which contributed to the relative stability of the Syndicate's work. Yemeni Journalists Syndicate was able to achieve progress and relatively distinguished accomplishments during the period following the second conference till the end of 2001, for the first time since the unification of the country.
In the scope of the Syndicate's work, Yemeni Journalists Syndicate worked in three directions:
1- Rooting the definition and mission of the Syndicate's work and strengthening the bases of Yemeni Journalists Syndicate on the principle of asserting the YJS as one of the most prominent civil society organizations.
2- Developing an unprecedented professional rules agenda, which was not politically motivated, as previously was the case.
3- Concentrating progressively and seriously on the selective membership of journalists affiliated with it in the frame of its internal rules and resolutions of the general conferences, preventing partisan work as much as possible, organizing meetings and committees and implementing activities, cases and developments through spontaneous mechanisms.

Regarding work at the level of the profession and foreign relations
During the following ten years, permits were issued for many newspapers and magazines. The Ministry of Information was the authority concerned with the issuance of these permits. Before issuance, certain conditions were to be met and pieces of information supplied, such as full name, type of requested permit, name of printing office, name to be of the newspaper or magazine and a bank financial statement stating the capital allocated for investment in the newspaper or magazine. However, many journalists still could not continue to proceed towards the achievement of their journalistic ambitions because of the financial hurdle.
Yemeni Newspapers can be divided into commercial advertisement newspapers, news reporting newspapers and economic newspapers. Financial funding represents a stumbling block facing newspapers and determines either continuation or termination. The strong and supported newspapers are few and mostly consist of the official newspapers, including Al-Thowra daily newspaper, 26 September (mouthpiece of Armed Forces), the daily 14 October issued in Aden, and the daily 'Al-Jumhoreyah” issued in Taiz. Only a few independent, private and political party-affiliated newspapers actually own printing capabilities. The majority of newspapers face a lot of difficulties in printing. They are usually referred to the state's Al-Thowra Printing Corporation or the Armed Forces Printing Offices to print their newspapers.
It is of no surprise to see many newspapers go out of business because of the minimal revenues generated from commercial advertisements for various commercial companies due to the lack of effective marketing mechanisms at most Yemeni newspapers. The modest level of staff training at most newspapers also detracts from the performance and possibility of success of many newspapers.

What about funding by donor organizations?
Due to different circumstances, newspapers could not establish solid supportive relations with donor organizations and authorities. The big Syndicate's work failed to sustain relations with donor organizations. Most of the donor organizations could not present support to journalists except through their entity, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, and many of these organizations would not present support directly to newspapers even though they have presented support to other non-journalism and information organizations.
Negligence here was not only on the part of the newspapers but also on the part of the donor organizations as well. The organizations failed to support the progress of information dissemination in Yemen since they failed to sense the concerns and deteriorating situations of journalists.
With the sluggish economic situation, the ability of most newspapers to meet the various technological challenges and accelerating events has become unpredictable, mainly dependent on financing, with the exception of a few local organizations that were able to snatch unpretentious funding towards the training of journalists of various newspapers.
Last but not least, the need for donor support and funding remains a vital and an important matter to allow newspapers to continue, which is indeed vital to the promotion of democracy in the Republic of Yemen.
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