tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post66515501733029384..comments2024-03-27T15:45:49.926+04:00Comments on Life in Dubai: Failing in the basics of journalismSeabeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06939892206726271433noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-16558225709747395132009-08-01T10:23:12.364+04:002009-08-01T10:23:12.364+04:00This just happens over and over here! I don't ...This just happens over and over here! I don't know whether to believe the story in the morning news or WAIT for a "clarification" later in the afternoon. Crazy stuff.<br /><br />My husband who works for the travel industry was so stressed with the phone calls he got from his clients entering UAE as tourists. "Will tourists need the medical certificates too?" and "How about expats in the UAE who travel out for business trip, will they need the certificate when they come back?"<br /><br />As usual, the paper just said the story was untrue, and you're right, no apologies, whatsoever for the confusion that THEY started!Grace in Dubainoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-34248728167289332912009-07-29T12:38:29.555+04:002009-07-29T12:38:29.555+04:00I think the problem is that there is no reliable s...I think the problem is that there is no reliable source to verify anything.Different people from the same government departments say different things and no one knows if the statements made are official or not. Even if an official statement was made the next day they blatantly refuse thet such a statement was ever made.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-28017306277047116312009-07-28T19:53:27.398+04:002009-07-28T19:53:27.398+04:00From writers to editors there's a constant and...<i>From writers to editors there's a constant and serious failure to do a basic professional job and provide information. What they actually do is create uncertainty and confusion.<br /><br />It isn't rocket science is it, it's a fundamental basic of journalism, yet they fail on a regular basis.</i><br /><br />What real incentive do local newspapers have to report things accurately? They are, after all, little more than mouth pieces of the Dubai government and are no doubt subsidised by it or otherwise coerced by it in various ways. I would guess that providing a public service is low on their list of priorities. Is there any "real" competition for readers in the local market that might encourage better writing or editing? It all comes back to a lack of accountability; the interests of local media are inextricably linked to the interests of the government. They are not in a position to hold it accountable. I don't think that local standards of journalism or editing can be viewed in isolation of these factors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-1839194110077994972009-07-28T17:16:41.358+04:002009-07-28T17:16:41.358+04:00Mai, very true. No reference whatsoever to the fac...<b>Mai</b>, very true. No reference whatsoever to the fact that it was their false story that was exposed, no apology for misleading their readers, no apology for being unprofessional journalists. <br /><br />Nothing about making sure that it doesn't happen again either.<br /><br />They keep telling us about their 'professional code of conduct' but all too often the 'journalists' don't check what they're told, don't ask the blindingly obvious questions, and editors and management allow unverified stories to run.Seabeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06939892206726271433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-24575253757425816502009-07-28T16:36:53.346+04:002009-07-28T16:36:53.346+04:00I love how the Gulf News 'correction'is a ...I love how the Gulf News 'correction'is a straightforward WAM file, and doesn't say anything anywhere about "as wrongly reported by Gulf News" or "apologies for the misreporting".... <br /><br />http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Health/10335355.htmlMai Abazahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05575174221596747189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-48969693315371889852009-07-28T15:45:43.428+04:002009-07-28T15:45:43.428+04:00Jassim, I don't think you can thank AB for shi...Jassim, I don't think you can thank AB for shining a light on this. The link says it all. This morning AB's story was headed: "Expats face swine flu ban after holidays abroad: Medical certificate will have to be shown on UAE return." <br /><br />With no more clarification than GN's story they reprinted it without checking the facts.(obviously we now know clarification wasn't available because the story was rubbish). <br /><br />They changed it this afternoon after WAM slammed the reports saying they were completely untrue. <br /><br />http://tinyurl.com/metaqwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-30520780369323943542009-07-28T15:31:23.476+04:002009-07-28T15:31:23.476+04:00as usual Saebee:)
here is some help:
http://www.a...as usual Saebee:)<br />here is some help: <br />http://www.arabianbusiness.com/563134-expats-face-swine-flu-ban-after-holidays-abroad#continueArticleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-36291218373240136982009-07-28T13:09:32.792+04:002009-07-28T13:09:32.792+04:00Even the few facts they did report were apparently...Even the few facts they did report were apparently made up, WAM have refuted the story. "The reports of this issue are completely unfounded." <br /><br />http://wam.org.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocAnews&cid=1248235378939&pagename=WAM%2FWAM_A_Layout&parent=Query&parentid=1135099399846&rendermode=preview-admin-1135099398363Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-50778064191472259322009-07-28T11:21:25.634+04:002009-07-28T11:21:25.634+04:00Interesting. Just scanned through the Arabic paper...Interesting. Just scanned through the Arabic papers. Here's what I found:<br /><br />http://twurl.nl/sxa2omMai Abazahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05575174221596747189noreply@blogger.com