UAE media and the environment

Khaleej Times (KT), the English language daily with a large readership, has been a member of the WWF UAE Corporate Club for the last three years. Rashmi De Roy of WWF-UAE meets up with Prem Chandran, editor, to talk about how KT views the environment.

Rashi De Roy: Give us a background on Khaleej Times in the UAE

Prem Chandran, editor, KT: Khaleej Times was the first English language daily to start in the UAE, way back in April 16, 1978. Over the years, it has grown in size, both in terms of pages and sections, as also in respect of news and views. KT today boasts of exhaustive coverage of local, regional and international events. The daily also has a business section, the Business Times; a sports section, the Sports Times, and an entertainment section, the Citytimes. Added to these are: Weekend that appears with the daily on Fridays and Young Times, a separate entity that is published every Tuesday. There are also hundreds of supplements, under the Supplements section, that come out on occasions like the national days of AGCC states, Pakistan, India, and several other countries with which the UAE has relations.

Does Khaleej Times have an environmental policy?

Khaleej Times has always been supportive of environment-related activities. It has been backing all activities in the UAE, particularly in this respect, by both governmental and voluntary agencies. Also, the fact that KT is the one member of the print media to lend its support to WWF UAE is indicative of our commitment and interest in environmental issues. That's why we have been only too happy to join your Corporate Club right from the time it was launched. We are pleased to both participate in the WWF's programmes and report on these, thereby helping spread environmental awareness. We also welcome news from you and would willingly carry stories, articles and news, apart from what our own journalists do.

Of course, the free advertisements that KT has provided, and continues to provide, is our contribution to the WWF as their Corporate Club member and towards the cause of a better environment.

On an average, how many stories does KT print on the environment per week or per month?

I would say, roughly seven items a week in the broadsheet. This is, on an average a story a day. In addition, our associated publications periodically carry features and supplements on environment. I am sure we do not miss out on happenings relating to environmental safety and conservation. There have been any number of features on conservation topics that we have done. Write ups on issues depends on the availability of supporting information supplied by responsible conservation organizations such as yours.

Do you think environment is a major area of interest for the UAE media?

Not yet. That's my feeling. But is it different anywhere else? Unless there is a big disaster like the tsunami or Bhopal gas or Exxon Valdez oil spill, does environment make a lead news? A reason might be that environmental degradation doesn't impact immediately on our lives. The larger issues are to do with politics, business, social issues, health...Environmental subjects in this part of the world are usually about announcements of project launches, seminars, conferences, workshops, festivals, and celebrations, most of which come to us by way of press releases. I haven't come across many investigated pieces or researched articles in this respect.

The environmental topics talked of here have to do with waste and littering, recycling, pollution (to some extent) among others.

What do you consider are the constraints in respect of environmental reporting in the UAE?

Projections are that UAE will spend more than $64 billion in environmental projects by year 2015. There is tremendous scope to report on these activities. But, one very rarely gets tipped off about environmental issues here; more so if the news is damaging. Such tip offs happen in other countries, where non-governmental organizations take on aggressive stands, while scientists, individuals or even officials themselves come forward to provide information to the media.
Another is the fact that the English media has a large presence of journalists from outside this country. They may be having some hesitation in raking up sensitive issues in a foreign land, by way of criticism. The Arabic media is better positioned to speak up on some of these subjects.

A third is low interest levels of the reading public. Interest in most cases is focused on other aspects. The expatriates, who constitute the bulk of the population, are here today, gone tomorrow. I am not sure how much interest they have by way of getting involved in ecological issues. The UAE nationals may be better positioned to be in the forefront of such initiatives.

What made KT join the WWF Corporate Club?

This is a global initiative with a noble aim and purpose. The message is that we take care of our surroundings for now and for future generations. Khaleej Times is glad to be involved in the kind of activities that the WWF takes up. As a media organisation, we are happy to support your work and be part of a good cause. Environment is a common concern of all humanity and we take it as our major concern too.