Recent government efforts to provide more effective channels of communication between authorities and the public and media led Al-Watan reporter Adhwan Al-Ahmari into a surprising chance encounter with Minister of Information and Culture Abdul Aziz Khoja on Facebook earlier this week. After having doubts allayed over the veracity of his fellow networking site chatter's identity, Al-Ahmari proceeded to question the minister on the purpose of his presence on Facebook. “Being in touch with persons working in the media enables me to get their observations on the work of the ministry,” Khoja replied, “and benefit from any idea that might contribute to the improvement of the media and culture sector in the country.” “Is it not a duty for members of the same family to communicate with each other?” the minister added. Al-Watan reporter Al-Ahmari, who later had the identity of the minister confirmed from official sources, was given permission for Al-Watan to publish his Facebook conversation, which extended to discussions on the nature of press freedom, the responsibilities of the media and the role of the ministry.
