GROWING PAINS: IMPROVEMENTS IN SAUDI MEDIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 001412

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP (WALKER, JACHIM, SRAMESH),INL, DRL, PRM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM ECPS SOCI SCUL SA
SUBJECT: GROWING PAINS: IMPROVEMENTS IN SAUDI MEDIA
LIBERALIZATION

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) In the past five years, there have been significant
and positive changes in the Saudi media thanks to King
Abudullah, gains by moderates in the SAG, and subsequent
ministry restructuring. There are more moderate commentary
in the press, more reporting done on previously taboo
subjects, more inroads for women, and modifications to the
previuosly ultra-conservative media. The SAG has also used
the press as a marketing tool for its reform initiatives and
has improved its communication with the Saudi press. The
SAG, however, still retains direct and indirect controls over
the media. The trend for liberalization will likely continue
as new technology and regional media will further limit the
SAG,s control of news and information. END SUMMARY.

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A NEW SEASON PREMIERES IN SAUDI ARABIA
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2. (C) In the past few years, there have been significant
and positive changes in the Saudi media, which were partly a
result of two tragedies: the 9/11 attacks, which riveted
international attention on Saudi Arabia, the home of Osama
bin Laden and a breeding ground for terrorism; and the Mecca
fire in 2002 when 15 school girls died after members of the
Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice
(CPVPV) known as mutawa,een (religious police) prevented the
unveiled girls from escaping their burning school. The
subsequent harsh criticism of this needless tragedy both
weakened the institution of and public support for the CPVPV,
a source of power and influence for Saudi religious
conservatives, and gave moderates an opportunity to make
major structural changes in the government.


3. (C) Realizing it had to counter domestic extremism and
improve its global image, accordingly, the SAG made changes,
starting in 2003, by turning the Ministry of Information into
the Ministry of Culture and Information (MOCI),placing all
cultural programs previously scattered throughout the
government, often in the vice-like grip of religious
conservatives, under one umbrella. The groundwork was laid
for Dr. Iyad bin Amen Madani, who was named MOCI Minister in
February 2005, to make dramatic changes in Saudi cultural
policy, which in turn impacted positively the Saudi media.
For example, moderate voices are now heard in Saudi literary
clubs (one of the few government-sanctioned outlets to
promote intellectual debate); book fairs are open to mixed
gender audiences and display previously-banned books;
cultural activities are co-sponsored with foreign embassies;
and Saudi culture has been promoted abroad with cultural
tours in Russia, China and the EU.

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HOME IMPROVEMENT: SAUDI MEDIA EXPANDS ITS REPORTING
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4. (C) Saudi media have quickly followed suit, routinely
publishing articles on previously unreported topics and
commentaries critical of certain government entities, notably
the once untouchable CPVPV. Journalist can do more
investigative journalism on issues that were once banned from
open public discussion, such as domestic abuse, women,s
rights, prostitution, homosexuality, drug and alcohol abuse,
poverty, and crime. A recent example is the reporting on the
deaths of three Saudi citizens, allegedly at the hands of the
mutaw,een, that has resulted in substantial and harsh
criticism of the CPVPV.


5. (C) SAG-controlled media have also become more moderate.
In 2004, the 24-hour, SAG-controlled news channel
Al-Ikhbariyya was launched to improve the image of Saudi
Arabia, complete with women broadcasters (in hijab but
wearing makeup). The SAG-controlled Holy Qu,ran radio,
broadcast throughout the region and Africa, changed its
format from continuous, ultra-conservative sermons to more
moderate sermons, news bulletins, and informative and
educational programming. "Oprah-style" call-in shows are
proliferating on TV and radio throughout the region featuring
religious sheikhs who cite the Holy Qu'ran in order to
provide family counseling on once-taboo topics. For example,

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they have reprimanded a husband for taking a second wife and
ignoring his first wife while she was in the hospital for a
kidney transplant, chastised men for practicing the
"pre-Islamic tradition" of not eating with their family, and
asserted that women can sit in the front seat of a car with
their husbands.


6. (C) However, not all media have embraced change. Saudi
Channel I remains ultra-conservative, made up of primarily
religious programming. Also, MOCI Minister Madani has not
had much luck with the Saudi Press Agency (SPA),which simply
continues to parrot government statements, much to his
chagrin.

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LAW AND ORDER IN THE SAUDI MEDIA
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7. (C) Nonetheless, the SAG frequently uses the Saudi media
as a tool to promote its reform programs, influence
discussion, and test the waters among its very conservative
population. For example, the Shura Council will debate a new
proposal that is reported in the press, generating commentary
and debate. Should the debate become confrontational or
ignite severe pushback from religious conservatives, the
Minister of Interior will make a negative public comment,
which is dutifully widely reported in the press, thus
effectively shelving the proposal. Consequently, press
coverage and discussion on the issue disappears. This
pattern has been frequently repeated, such as with a proposal
for Saudi women to drive, changing the Saudi weekend to
Friday/Saturday, or allowing classes to be taught in English.


8. (C) However, Saudi journalists stress that they no
longer must wait for the MOCI to "bless" a story before
running it. They also frequently emphasize that the SAG has
taken proactive measures to improve cooperation with the
media. For example, Saudi government officials are
conducting more press conferences and interacting with the
media. Many of the ministries, such as the Ministry of
Health and the CPVPV, now have media spokesmen. Coverage of
debate within the SAG has also increased. The once-closed
debate in the Shura Council was first opened to print media,
then a weekly TV summary. The MOCI has announced that a
C-SPAN-type channel will soon be devoted to the Council,
providing Saudis full access to these discussions.


9. (C) Lastly, foreign journalists are now more accepted in
the Kingdom, obtaining visas and credentials more rapidly.
Reuters and Agence France Press now have offices in the
Kingdom, as do Russian and Chinese media outlets. There are
also plans for a BBC Arabic Channel in the Kingdom.

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BIG BROTHER: SAG STILL HAS THE UPPER HAND
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10. (C) For worse or better, the SAG still oversees the
Saudi media, directly controlling TV and radio channels and
the SPA. The government indirectly controls the
"independent" print media through its press law, which
mandates that a newspaper,s Board of Directors must submit
nominations for editor-in-chief to the MOCI for final
approval. Also, each newspaper in the Kingdom is backed, if
not owned, by a member of the Royal Family.


11. (C) Saudi Radio also recently introduced a weekly
program called "open majlis" in which Saudi citizens can
freely air their grievances and complaints without
censorship. Reportedly, the program irritated several
cabinet ministers who complained to MOCI Minister Madani
about the frankness of the commentary and the sheer number of
grievances. However, these ministers stopped complaining
once they were told that King Abdullah sponsored this
program. In a May 19, 2007, interview with Al-Hayat
newspaper, the host of "open majlis" pointed out the
usefulness of his program by contrasting its openness with
the Saudi media which had failed to report on 20 percent of
these complaints and grievances because they cross the SAG's
red line.


12. (C) Government control aside, newspaper editors also
practice self-censorship based on what they assume the MOCI
will allow. Editors-in-chief often attend briefings at the
MOCI to hear the SAG's view on current events and issues, and
take their cues. Interior Minister Prince Naif has also made

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a public point of meeting with editors. Journalists know
there are red lines that they dare not cross. The Grand
Mufti is beyond reproach. The King and Royal Family are
beyond criticism, as most recently and currently evidenced by
reports in the international press on Prince Bandar,s
questionable financial dealings. Once Bandar issued a
statement to the SPA, all reporting and commentary in the
Kingdom stopped, even positive commentary defending the
Prince. Journalists who fail to heed unwritten rules are
still routinely called in for questioning, according to Okaz
Deputy Editor-in-Chief Khaled al-Firm, or simply fired.


13. (C) Perhaps the most famous incident of the firing of a
prominent editor for going over the red line, was the
dismissal of Jamal Khashoggi, then editor-in-chief of
Al-Watan, on May 27, 2003. Allegedly, the SAG had Khashoggi
fired because Khashoggi had criticized thirteenth and
fourteenth century Hanbali jurist and favorite of Wahhabis,
Ibn Tamiyya. Khashoggi had blamed Ibn Tamiyya's fatwa, that
said it was permissible to kill Muslims if they stood in the
way of killing infidels, for encouraging extremism and
terrorism. At that time, Khashoggi was reacting to the 2003
bombings of three Western compounds in Riyadh. By the time
of his firing Khashoggi had made many powerful enemies
through his comments, notably the CPVPV, religious leaders,
and conservatives. However, in April 2007, Al-Watan, owned
by then Asir Provinicial Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and
operated by Prince Bandar bin Khaled Al-Faisal, re-hired
Khashoggi. Upon his return, Khashoggi said that he felt
encouraged by the changes in Saudi media, but that he knows
his limits. Khashoggi said that Saudi media is more open
compared to 2003, that the environment is healthy now, and
that most things that were once controversial are now being
debated by every Saudi paper. (NOTE: No sooner had one
branch of the Al-Faisal family fired Khashoggi than another
branch, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, then Saudi Ambassador to the
UK and later Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., hired Khashoggi as
an advisor. END NOTE).

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WOMEN JOURNALISTS: THEY MIGHT JUST MAKE IT AFTER ALL
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14. (C) Women are making gradual gains in the media and
increasingly allowed to work at newspaper bureaus
(specifically in Riyadh),though in separate, secluded
offices. Aforementioned Al-Ikhbariyya was the first Saudi TV
network to feature women anchors, and Saudi Channel II
Director Mohammed Barayan insisted that the women,s advisor
be moved to an office on the same floor as the male
executives.


15. (C) Training for women (and men) in journalism remains
limited. There is only one journalism school in the Kingdom
offering undergraduate courses to men only; women can,
however, earn a master,s degree in journalism. Several
Saudi female journalists, highly educated and fluent in
English, complain they are forced to report only on cultural,
family, and religious issues. Many of these women seek
opportunities abroad in London or Dubai.

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COMMENT
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16. (C) When compared to independent press in the West,
Saudi Arabia still has a long way to go. However,
organizational changes in the ministries and opening up to
more moderate views in the media indicate that liberalization
is happening and likely to continue. Cable TV packages
offering pan-Arab news channels, such as Al-Jazira and
Al-Arabiya, are already available to anyone who can afford a
satellite dish, and the internet and inevitable new
technologies will only increase access and speed to news and
discussion. Saudi bloggers, such as those on the site Sahat,
are a popular means around the red-line restricted media.
They are already adding a new element to political
discussion, with outspoken voices boldly attacking the Royal
Family, the religious establishment, and liberal voices.
Saudi Arabia, like the rest of the world, is discovering the
joys and sorrows of the Information Age. END COMMENT.
FRAKER