One year (if not more) after I first asked Ahmed to join us for a recording, we finally cross paths. This Saudi internet cewebrity doesn't need much introduction, so I'll just link you guys.
@ahmed on Twitter
Saudi Jeans Blog
Riyadh Bureau
Also relevant:
Saudi Journalists in Action
Here, Souma, Ahmed and I talk about journalism, blogging, Ahmed's work at NPR, and women's status in the kingdom.
Wear headphones, enjoy, rate us on iTunes, add us on Facebook and/or take this survey and help us out here at the podcast.
@ahmed on Twitter
Saudi Jeans Blog
Riyadh Bureau
Also relevant:
Saudi Journalists in Action
Here, Souma, Ahmed and I talk about journalism, blogging, Ahmed's work at NPR, and women's status in the kingdom.
Wear headphones, enjoy, rate us on iTunes, add us on Facebook and/or take this survey and help us out here at the podcast.
Good talk.
ReplyDeleteMr. Ahmed, I enjoyed listening to you.
It's not hard to train journalists, writing comprehensively takes some getting used to yes, but if you're willing to take criticism and are able to adapt its easy to do. I was hired by Saudi Gazette to work as an editor and train the writers there. After several weeks of them making the same mistakes and me sitting down with them to discuss their writing and interviewing skills it was obvious that they did not want to learn and because there is very little culture of chain of command they refused to do anything and simply would complain saying that it was my job to fix their writing. No it is not my job, my job is make sure the stories are coherent and check for fact errors, not to sit through an interview with the American consul general and wondering why he cant speak english.
ReplyDeleteIt's as Ahmed said, the main problem is that journalism in general (and GOOD journalism specifically) isn't valued here, so everyone's all "Who cares if there are errors?"
DeleteGreat podcast - I can almost smell the coffee!
ReplyDeleteI've commented on it in my blog: http://59steps.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/saudi-arabia-by-no-means-a-social-monolith/
Thanks for the mention!
DeleteVery nice. I enjoyed it. I appreciate the fact that you can discuss the Kingdom's paradoxes objectively. I'll keep listening.
ReplyDeleteGood luck you are doing a great job.
ReplyDeleteListening to you I'm reminded that if there is one thing I can't stand it's intollerance!
I wish you and your listeners happines and more freedom
David Canterbury UK
guys this is great to a certain extent but the fact that you do it in english instead of arabic makes it rather sad than great. is this some sort of escapism from reality, or you guys just wanna become internet stars asap and this is an easy way to fame? as you know that you will get the thumbs up from 'western' people? guys if you want to get real about what you now only talk about then GET real, and instead of running away from who you are, face it, and make some real difference! target your own people, speak arabic, and talk to the ones who need to hear what you have got to say, not to the ones who you think will most probably like and cheer what you say. this is very immature in a way. no offence meant, and hope this helps in some weird way! sorry but what you are doing here is totally misdirected! this is not journalism, this is running away from it!
ReplyDeleteHaha, thanks for dropping by!
DeleteI wouldn't say "misdirected", though, and no, THIS podcast is not journalism. It never claimed to be.
i didn't mean this podcast in particular, i meant the phenomenon of the self-appointed 'vanguard' of saudi youth choosing english as language of discussion of issues that are supposed to concern saudi arabia by which they intentionally and firmly disengage themselves from the very subject matter they claim to discuss. this is such a poorly camouflaged attempt at self-glorification and self-aggrandizement that only the like-minded will cheer, nod or join. your 'haha' response, meant to ridicule but failing to make a single point (except that you only welcome responses that support your point, which goes against the foundation of any sort of meaningful discussion), all but confirms this, if you excuse me. when are you guys going to get real and try and solve a single issue in your own reach instead of this 'heroic' blogging in english and other symptoms of cultural schizophrenia? i do not mean to offend, i am trying to make a point here that i believe is legitimate. you guys really don't see how self-defeating it is that you are doing? it's like the (you know what nationality) expats sitting by the pool and talking in broken french among each other whenever anyone comes by because 'we are like the french'. come on, get real. seriously
DeleteNo, in fact I was laughing at the irony of this entire thread. Perhaps if we discussed this without the convenient shroud of anonymity, we could actually bring out the valid points you're trying to make. Here when you're ready. :)
Delete