Our duty [Archives:2004/708/Viewpoint]

In a chat with a representative of the tourism authority in Sanaa, I came to realize that he was quite angry at Yemen Times. “Why do you always favor negative news in your newspaper? Don't you know that readers all over the world read it? Don't you think you are damaging Yemen's image?” is what he asked me.
I had to explain to him that as a newspaper, we have to report the facts, whether they are good or bad. We cannot afford to have our newspaper continuously cover the good news and filter out everything else. “It is simply not what newspapers are meant to do,” I explained.
I gave him the example of the official press. I told him we cannot turn to an official pro-government paper writing rosy stories about the limited positive happenings and leaving the 70 per cent or more negative events out of the picture.
“If I do so, that would not only mean I would mislead the public, but it also means I would be unfaithful to my duty as a journalist,” I said.
Others criticized me for bringing a bad image for Yemen when covering news items about tribal conflicts, travel warnings, assassination incidents, and other similar stories.

Can't satisfy everyone
I take this opportunity to explain to all readers that it is only normal to receive such criticism because satisfying everyone is virtually impossible. When the paper tries to tackle issues of general interest such as economic reforms, interviews with officials, and other investigative stories, the newspaper is trying to dig deep into reality and find the facts that lie beneath the surface to expose them to readers in Yemen and abroad.
In publishing stories of developments happening in different parts of the country, the paper tries to convey an image that is quite clear and accurate, regardless of whether they were positive or negative developments.
It is important to note that in either case, the press is simply a reflector of reality and not a means of propaganda or a tool used to manipulate or exaggerate the news.
That is why it should not be blamed for bringing bad reputation to Yemen because if things are happening on the ground, then the press MUST, and I repeat, MUST report them. It is a duty and obligation to do so. Furthermore, if journalists continue to worry about whether they would harm Yemen's image or not when they write about an accurate story or do a critical investigative report on negative phenomena in Yemen, they would impose on themselves self-censorship, damaging the freedom of the press in the country.

Image determined by the conditions
In other words, Yemen's image cannot be damaged because of the press.
If for example, conditions in Yemen continue to improve – as they do today – then in the long run, the image of Yemen would be automatically enhanced because it is not only Yemen Times, but most international news wire services that cover negative incidents in Yemen, especially those concerning security.
Finally, I need to stress on the fact that there is no country without trouble. Therefore, there can be no country with a free press that does not report about such trouble.
It is common sense, and if journalists can understand it, then the tourism authority can too.
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