Al-Watan
The first newspaper in Oman was the privately owned Al-Watan, which was established in 1971 by Al-Taei’s family. Upon its first establishment, Al-Watan newspaper faced many challenges, for example, the level of literacy in the country, which limited Al-Watan’s capacity to find Omanis willing to read domestic news, and poor communication infrastructures (e.g., cars, roads, telecommunication services) restricted the journalists in writing and obtaining news from around the country until 1974. For these reasons, Al-Watan was very limited in content and distribution (Abdulmohsen 2003). Due to printing problems, it was published on a weekly basis in Beirut, Egypt, and Kuwait. From 1977 to 1984, the country entered a new phase by building a new communication infrastructure, establishing civil laws, and improving the country’s income and economy. Thus, Al-Watan tended to be in line with these improvements by developing new technology and departments. Al-Watan become a daily newspaper in 1984, but it was still printed outside Oman. In 1988, Al-Watan founded its own publishing establishment in Oman, and it published its first issue from Oman.(Al-Kindi & Al-Syabi, 2016) More technical facilities were developed, and more staff were employed. From 1989 to 1996, the newspaper was distributed to all states in the Sultanate, and the circulation figure increased to 37,010 copies per day. However, due to the rise of printing costs and raw materials in the global market, the newspaper increased its cover price from 100 biza (almost £0.25) to 200 biza (£0.50). Thus, circulation decreased to 20,000 copies, but the circulation began to increase again in 1996. In 1997, Al-Watan took an important step and started its internet version.(Al-Kindi, 2020) Today, the newspaper is published in 60 pages, which are divided into six main sections of local news, politics, economy, sport, arts, and opinions. Currently, Al-Watan has around 290 employees, 47% of whom are Omanis. In 2011, AlWatan became the most popular and famous newspaper in the Sultanate of Oman in terms of readership among all ages, and its circulation reached 47,000 copies a day. (Foori & Mohamed, 2016) Both Al-Watan and the Oman Tribune are published by the same publishing house, Oman Establishment for Press, Printing, Publishing and Distribution LLC. The Oman Tribune was launched in 2004. It is well known for its editorial and op-ed pages; thus, it is considered to be the only newspaper in the country offering an opinion to its readers on international and local issues.
Oman daily
In 1972, the government founded its own Arabic newspaper, Oman Daily. It was first published on the occasion of the National Omani Day. Initially, the newspaper was published once a week, and then in 1975, it was published twice a week on Saturdays and Tuesdays. It started to appear on a daily basis only in 1982. Oman Daily publishes a number of supplements, which focus on the economy, culture, health, sport, art, and family. In 2009, Oman Daily was considered the first newspaper to launch its interactive newspaper website in Oman. Omanis constitute about 95% of its employees.(Almuqeemi, 2024) By 2011, Oman Daily had become the second highest-circulation newspaper in Oman, which sold around 41,721,000 copies per day (ibid.). Both Oman Daily and the Oman Observer are considered government owned newspapers and they follow the same editorial policy. The Oman Observer is an English newspaper, which was first published by Muscat Press and Publishing House in 1981. By 1997, both Oman Daily and the Oman Observer became part of a large organization, namely, Oman Establishment for Press, News, Publication and Advertising (OEPNPA). The Oman Observer focuses on covering business, sports, and current affairs news from 77 around the world, and meanwhile, highlights the country’s economic development, and its natural and cultural wealth.(Al-Hasani, 2003) A poll conducted by the National Center for Statistics and Information of Oman revealed that Oman newspaper holds the top position in terms of readers’ preferences in the country, with 43% of the readership, based on the latest statistics from 2022.
Media-politics parallelism:
In Oman, all media publications are subject to strict state control, with both government-owned and privately owned Platforms operating under significant government influence.(Richter & Kozman, 2021) The coverage of domestic events often focuses on themes such as national loyalty, industrial developments, and government achievements, reflecting the priorities of the Sultanate’s leadership. Reports on ministerial meetings and government activities are also prevalent, emphasizing the official narrative.(Al-Hasani, 2003) International events are generally covered in a less censored manner, with fewer restrictions compared to domestic issues. However, the content still aligns with the broader goals of the government’s foreign policy. Government officials and ministry sources dominate media coverage, ensuring that the media remains in line with official government messaging.(Al-Rawahi, 2019) Additionally, all newspapers in Oman, regardless of ownership, rely on government subsidies. While private media platforms have increasingly depended on advertising, subscriptions, and circulation for financial support, they continue to receive government assistance through loans, particularly on favorable terms. This financial dependency underscores the ongoing influence of the government in shaping media content and operations in the country. (Al-Kindi & Al-Syabi, 2016; Richter et al., 2021)
References
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