Members of the media community in the Kingdom have spoken about the challenges facing the newly-appointed Minister of Information and Culture, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Khoja, and have cited the areas in which they are most keen to see change. The quality of professionalism in Saudi media and the system for employing journalists, the state of theater in the Kingdom, and the work of literary clubs are, according to those who work in the field, of primary concern. Ibrahim Muftah, who writes weekly for Okaz newspaper, asks for a review of the state of theater. “We are asking for an official theater in the Kingdom, where it can exist without impinging on Shariah restrictions.” According to Muftah, there could be separate theaters for males and females without it affecting the quality of theater, adding society requires such a move. “We should have special areas for theater, where playwrights and performers can work and address topics of interest that deal with the problems of society, but they need the freedom as well as the official locations, and that is the key point.” Some go even further, calling for theaters without any form of segregation. “We want to see a mixed theater where we can put on productions suitable for both the Saudi family and society at large,” says Sana' Mo'menah, Manager of Family and Children's Programs at Saudi Television's Channel Two. “That means an official location that allows audiences of both sexes to attend.” Saudi female actors should also be encouraged in the theater, says Ahmad Al-Muhandes author and Editor-in-Chief of Al-Aqriyah newspaper. “An official plan,” he says, “as well as location would be the first motivating factor.” Mo'menah has also urged the Ministry of Information to remove restrictions and put in place a system that permits women to attend media academies and institutions without limits. “We receive a large number of Saudi girls who want to work as reporters at Channel Two, but because they have no experience in the field we have to spend a great deal of time giving them training,” Mo'menah says. “Most of them find it difficult to succeed in this field of work since it requires the skills, as well as the study.” Another hot topic on the minds of media workers is the lack of a Journalists' Association in the Kingdom. “We need associations like these where journalists can meet and discuss,” says Muftah. “We need an association that can help bring up the next generation of journalists through training courses in journalism and the workings of the media.” Al-Muhandes concurs and has appealed to the new minister, Al-Khoja, to open the way for young Saudi reporters with fresh minds and new talents. “In this age we are seeing rapid developments on several levels, and we need to replace the old staff that has been working in journalism for some 25 years with new minds that have different views,” he says. “Saudi journalism needs a big shake-up through the elimination of the part-time system and the replacement of it with full-time work in order to support the Saudization plan as well as protect journalist rights.” Muftah would also like to see greater encouragement for the Saudi public to support and increase the attendance of literary clubs. “Saudi society prefers literary clubs that deal mostly with poetry in Arabic dialect, ignoring the clubs that present poetry in standard Arabic. We need the Ministry of Information to promote interest in standard Arabic poetry,” he concludes.
