UAE: The National has "grand ambitions"

Posted by Alisa Zykova on October 10, 2008 at 8:57 AM

Abu Dhabi-based The National, launched in April, has a circulation between 70,000 and 90,000 copies but pertains to "grand ambitions" and "leaders who are bullish on print journalism," writes The Los Angeles Times. A seven-section Saturday issue is scheduled to be launched in the future.

The paper is accurately funded, says Deputy Editor Hassan Fattah, who is also former journalist for the New York Times and the Associated Press. However, the funding comes from the state. According to the LA Times, even though this may cause worry amongst Westerners, editor Martin Newland thinks that only a government could help jump-start a project of "this scale" and "this quality this quickly."

Papers in the Persian Gulf are sometimes considered to be "playing little more than a decorative role" for the countries they are based in by providing front page stories that are announcements about foreign delegations visiting the rulers. The National, meanwhile, is different in that it features "hard-hitting" journalism on issues like AIDS or human trafficking and its front page only features the rulers if they participate in "newsworthy" events, reports the LA Times.

The National was encouraged to stop certain stories from being published, such as one the exploitation of young jockeys in camel racing, but refused to do so. The content is thought to be geared towards a wealthy and elite audience, with emphasis on longer articles, "elegant layouts" and "artful" photos, according to the LA Times. Newland suggests that because the editorial choices are "made out in the open" the paper may be preaching more transparency.

The National has nearly 240 reporters, featuring from journalists in their 20s and editors in their 50s, and has also invested in foreign correspondents.

Source: The LA Times