Two versions of news in UAE

The opening of a new Dubai Metro station received starkly different coverage in two local news outlets. The Khaleej Times opened with a positive angle:

Dozens of enthusiastic workers from Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) thronged the local metro station as it opened for commuters for the first time at 1pm sharp on Friday.

However, readers of Abu Dhabi’s The National newspaper got a different message from the lede:

The good news is that Jebel Ali Metro station opens today. The bad news for anyone on the south side of Sheikh Zayed Road is that there’s no way in or out.

Changes to a construction project nearby made it impossible to build the planned south-side entrance, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said yesterday.

Good journalism tries to paint a picture of “actual reality.” It’s pretty clear which one of these articles succeeds on that mark. Yes, the new station is open, but it features a huge flaw since commuters from south of the city can’t actually reach it. (Dubai’s Gulf News similarly downplays the problem with new station.)

The Khaleej Times article does address this inequity — indeed three-quarters of the story deals with it. However, the headline and the lede only amplify the positives. Why? Because journalism in the UAE has traditionally focused on accomplishments rather than any problems. Good journalism provides a healthy balance between the two. Good to see The National filling that important role for the UAE.

Hattip: Gregor Hunter

Photo bans could harm tourism, experts say

Good coverage of this issue from The National:

Tourism experts say that a recent spate of court cases concerning the photography of tourist attractions could be detrimental to the capital’s tourism industry in the long run. “Repeated exposure of such incidents in international media may lead to a negative image,” said Ines Zahouani, a marketing manager for Big Bus Tours. “You don’t want to scare people and give them the feeling that they constantly have to worry about what they do or say. It’s not something tourists want to be worried about when they’re on vacation.”

Recent court cases – such as the two Bangledishi men who were taken to court and fined for taking pictures of the Yas Marina Circuit and the Iranian tourist who was sentenced to a month in prison for taking photos of the Presidential Palace – have highlighted the need for clearer policies on taking photographs in the capital. A Lebanese man was also arrested, and later acquitted, because his photo of the Capital Gate included part of a nearby embassy.

The reporter goes on to interview tourism experts who point out the obvious — arresting tourists for taking photos is bad for tourism.

Hopefully this coverage will help the government take this issue seriously and result in some clear guidelines and signage so that more tourists aren’t snared in this trap.

The National (which is ultimately owned by the government) should be lauded for doing some good journalism here. They often tackle issues that some would think are “too sensitive” to be discussed. The UAE doesn’t have complete press freedom — not by a longshot — but I’m often impressed by how far the reporters at The National can stretch the boundaries.