Tribune News Network
Doha
Director of Qatar's Government Communication Office (GCO) HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed al Thani has called for principled communications, greater government transparency and willingness to cope with external scrutiny.
He made the call during a public interview at Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) recently.
Sheikh Saif has headed the GCO since it was created by Emiri Decree in 2015 to encourage the flow of information between Qatar's ministries and other agencies with the citizenry internally and the world outside. The office heralded Qatar's effort to craft a modern strategy for communication based on the free flow of information, but respecting local values and traditions.
Commenting on the blockade of Qatar in the context of the country's longstanding commitment to international outreach, he argued that continued dialogue at home, in the Middle East, and globally is a central pillar of Qatar's communication strategy.
Sheikh Saif said the GCO's focus has remained constant in which,"Sticking to our principles is most important to us," he said."Put simply, the GCO's role is to coordinate communication strategies across each ministry and communicate the facts and engage externally, whether in Qatar or elsewhere."
In his opening remarks, Everette E Dennis, NU-Q dean and CEO, who moderated the session commended the Sheikh for developing an office that departs from more controlling ministries of communication, common in some states that"most often constrain, rather than enhance public understanding."He noted that several NU-Q graduates serve in positions with GCO, and have been on the ground floor in helping develop"this new and imaginative agency."
Since the blockade, Sheikh Saif said it has become clear that engagement and dialogue are the most constructive way forward. He said that the GCO and other ministries"continue to intensively engage with media," adding,"we remain clear that we do not fear the boycott and we are willing to sit on the table and build a dialogue."
On freedom of speech in Qatar, he said the media has been important to Qatar's evolution."Whether that's regarding labour practices or foreign affairs, scrutiny has helped to shape policy. If we disagree with a piece of coverage, we may not get a correction, but it's important that we remain tenacious in speaking to the media and presenting the facts," he said.
When asked to assess the quality of media reporting around the globe, Sheikh Saif pointed to coverage in the US and European media where he said journalists"report both sides." International media coverage, he said, has been robust as it has followed the path of the blockade. Similarly, he said, local media in Qatar has been fulsome in its coverage, while media of the blockading countries has been more one-sided and sometimes a purveyor of fake news.
Sheikh Saif said coverage of the blockade had highlighted trends that were already underway.
As for Qatar's diplomatic agenda after the blockade, he said,"Unlike some countries, which have different strategies, we don't hire lobbyists to do our bidding. Qataris and government officials will continue to engage, whether that's with Congress, think tanks, universities, or other people in the society who have issues. We do it through ensuring we have a constant stream of visits with media outlets and others every few months and ongoing activities which allow us to directly engage with public opinion. We do it as a government, not as an office."