Al-Watan (Kuwait)
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Al Watan publishing house |
| Editor-in-chief | Khalifa Al Ali Al Sabah |
| Associate editor | Waleed Al Jasem |
| Founded | 17 January 1974 |
| Language | Arabic |
| Circulation | 100,000 (2006) |
| Website | Al Watan |
Al-Watan (in Arabic الوطن meaning The Homeland) is a Kuwaiti Arabic language daily published by the Al Watan publishing house. The editor in chief is Khalifa Al Ali Al Sabah, a member of the Kuwaiti ruling family, Al Sabah.[1]
History
The paper was launched in 1974.[2][3] In April 2014, the paper and Alam Al Youm were temporarily closed down for two weeks by the Kuwaiti government due to the publication of a videotape showing former senior officials plotting a coup in Kuwait.[4] In June 2014, both papers were shut down for five days because of the same reason.[1][5]
In February 2015, the Kuwaiti government shut down Al Watan because the newspaper violated the license law, since the newspaper had less than enough capital to maintain a license.
Circulation
The circulation of Al Watan was 86,000 copies in 2001 and it was the second best selling newspaper in the country.[6] The 2006 circulation of the paper was 100,000 copies.[7]
The paper's online version was the second most visited website for 2010 in the MENA region.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Kuwait orders temporary closure of newspapers over defiance of gag order". Middle East Eye. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ "Kuwait Press". Press Reference. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ↑ Barrie Gunter; Roger Dickinson (6 June 2013). News Media in the Arab World: A Study of 10 Arab and Muslim Countries. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 978-1-4411-0239-3. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
- ↑ "Kuwait shuts down newspapers after coup tape controversy". Your Middle East. AFP. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ "Kuwait papers closed for violating 'plot' blackout". BBC. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ↑ "World Press Trends". World Association of Newspapers. Paris. 2004. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ↑ "Kuwait". Publicitas. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ↑ "Forbes Releases Top 50 MENA Online Newspapers; Lebanon Fails to Make Top 10". Jad Aoun. 28 October 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2014.