Since the announcement last week that journalists working for media organizations in the Kingdom ought to undergo tests to determine their eligibility to work in the profession, questions have arisen on the nature of these examinations and how journalists will be evaluated. Meanwhile, expatriates working in the field are in a quandary. Many of them are unsure whether they can continue working in the field or not. The decision which has restricted journalism jobs to those registered with the Saudi Journalists Association (SJA) aims to ensure professionalism in the media sector. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, has called for beginning implementation of last Monday's Cabinet decision. Khoja said the decision became binding the moment it was approved by the Council of Ministers. He pointed out that “journalism is a serious and sensitive profession and a very big responsibility, but at present there are many unprofessional people who contribute fabricated reports or stories with inaccurate data creating problems for ministries and other institutions, and causing confusion in the minds of people.” About non-Saudis working in the field, Dr. Abdullah Al-Jahlan, Secretary General of the Saudi Journalists Association, said what applies to the Saudi journalists applies to the expatriates as well. The expatriate journalist should have come to the Kingdom on a journalist's contract from a press organization and not from any other field. The examinations the SJA will hold to assess journalists' professional skills will be in three categories. According to Al-Jahlan, there are many veteran journalists who can train aspiring journalists. “The conditions of the profession apply fully to them and we will benefit from their experience,” he said. The second category is those who entered the field through freelancing. They do not have sufficient professional experience or academic qualifications. This category needs to gain experience. The third category is those who have not practiced the profession before, such as fresh graduates. They will be dealt with differently, Al-Jahlan said. Each journalist will be dealt with according to his situation and experience in the field, beginning with veterans, freelancers and finally freshers. He stressed that the restrictions and conditions the SJA applies are not different from those applied globally. Regarding the conditions and ethics of the profession, he said the academic specialization will boost the evaluation process. However, academic achievement alone is insufficient as academic qualifications go hand in hand with practical experience, especially since there are new developments in the field that the journalists must keep pace with. Al-Jahlan said the SJA would form a committee that would be in charge of tasks related to conducting the examination. The organization needs necessary funding to launch the program in an appropriate manner. The officials in charge will be given training if necessary, he added. Al-Jahlan confirmed that the association would work to improve the conditions of journalists in Saudi media organizations. He said the professional tests will give them the opportunity to build a database of people practicing the profession. This will help the SJA to extend to them its services including training programs and participation in its various activities. In return, the SJA can benefit from the experience of veteran journalists to train those who need to upgrade their competence. __
