Alwasat logo |
|
| Type | Daily Newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner | Private Sector's investors, Chairman (Adel Al-Maskati) |
| Publisher | Dar Alwasat for Publishing & Distribution BSC (c) |
| Editor-in-chief | Mansoor Al-Jamri |
| Founded | September 7, 2002 |
| Language | Arabic |
| Headquarters | Bahrain |
| Circulation | 30,000 |
| Official website | alwasatnews.com |
Alwasat (Arabic: الوسط), also "Al-Wasat", is an Arabic-language daily newspaper in Bahrain. It was founded by Mansoor Al-Jamri and leading personalities from the Bahraini private sector. Al-Jamri is the editor-in-chiefsince the foundation of the newspaper in 2002. He was temporarily forced out of his position between 3 April 2001 till 4 August 2011 during a government's crackdown.[1] Alwasat is one of the most popular newspapers in Bahrain and is generally regarded as one of the only dailies that does not take a loyalist stand to the Bahraini government.[2]
Mansoor Al-Jamri is recipient of the CPJ International Press Freedom Awards in 2011.[3]
It is the first Bahraini newspaper to reflect opposing viewpoints. The newspaper was established after the early reforms adopted by King Hamad bin Isa in the early 2000s. Allowing a key oppositional figure to establish this newspaper was seen as a key event in the opening up of society. Before Alwasat was established, Bahrain had only two Arabic newspapers, Akhbar Al Khaleej and Al Ayam, but were viewed to be extremely pro-government.[4]
Contents |
The newspaper won the Arab Journalism Award in the category of Political Journalism, awarded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.[5] The newspaper also won in 2009 Bahrain e-Content Award for improvements to its website.[6] Forbes Middle East ranked the newspaper number 15 among in its ranking of the top 50 online newspapers of 2010 in the MENA region.[7]
On 15 March, the newspaper's printing office was attacked by mobs carrying knives and clubs. This came after recent 2011 Bahraini protests as some pro-government supporters attacked Alwasat's oppositional views on recent events. The attack happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning after days of harassment of staff and journalists by some pro-government supporters.[8]
Following a talk show on Bahrain television on 2 April 2011, which allegedly exposed fabrications by the newspaper in its reporting of 2011 protests in Bahrain, Alwasat was suspended for one day and put under investigation by Bahrain's Information Affairs Authority. Alwasat Newspaper was accused of using old footage and articles when reporting on current events following the Bahraini protests.[9][10] The Associated Press reported on 3 April that Alwasat did not publish, following a message on state TV that the Information Ministry had ordered the paper to shut down. According to the state-run Bahrain News Agency, government officials again accused Al-Wasat of "unethical" coverage.[11]
The day after the suspension, Alwasat's Board of Directors announced they had accepted the resignation of Mansoor Al-Jamri as Editor in Chief, and Nouwehed as Managing Editor and Head of Local News (Aqeel Mirza).[12][13] The new Editor in Chief will be Obaidaly Al-Obaidaly, currently a columnist for Alwasat.[14] The newspaper restarted on 4 April 2011.[15]
Resigned Editor in Chief Aljamri spoke to the Financial Times following these events and contended that allegations against his newspaper were part of a "sustained campaign" against this specific publication. He explained that there is a possibility of a double agent that was planted in the newspaper to spread fabrications.[16] Bahrain's Information Affairs Authority filed a legal case based on Bahrain's law regarding press, printing and publishing. The General Prosecution summoned Mansoor Al-Jamri, managing editor Walid Nouwehed and head of local news Aqeel Mirza for questioning. They were charged with publishing fabricated stories which "harmed public safety and national interests". Prosecutor General Dr Ali bin Fadhl Al Bouainain indicated that they will stand trial when investigations have been completed.[17]
Karim Fakhrawi, one of the founders of Alwasat, died during detainment, following the 2011 Bahraini protests. The public announcement indicated that he died of kidney failure, but according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, pictures showed bruises on his body. He was a member of Bahrain's main opposition party, Al-Wefaq.[18]
On 4 August 2011, the Board of Directors reinstated Dr. Mansoor Al-Jamri back as editor-in-chief of the newspaper.[19] The investors' general meeting held on 7 August 2011 raffirmed the strategic direction of Alwasat newspaper [20]