Ministry of Media (Saudi Arabia) explained

Agency Name:Ministry of Media
Type:Ministerial Department
Preceding1:Ministry of Media
Jurisdiction:Government of Saudi Arabia
Headquarters:Riyadh
Minister1 Name:Salman bin Yousuf Al Dossary
Minister1 Pfo:Minister
Child1 Agency:Saudi Press Agency
Website:Official English Website

The Ministry of Media (Arabic: وزارة الإعلام) is one of the governmental bodies of Saudi Arabia and part of the cabinet. The main function of the ministry is to regulate the media of Saudi Arabia and the communications between Saudi Arabia and other countries.[1] It is headquartered in Riyadh.[2]

The ministry's current incarnation was founded in 2018 after Saudi's former Ministry of Culture and Information split duties into the Ministry of Media and the Ministry of Culture.

History

The ministry was founded in 1962 as the ministry of information.[3] [4] The first minister of information was Jamil Ibrahim Hejailan who held the post between March 1963 and December 1970.[5] [6] Successor of Hejailan in the post was Ibrahim Al Angari.[5] In 2003, its portfolio was expanded to include cultural affairs and was renamed as the ministry of culture and information.[3] [4] Later, on 1 June 2018 the culture was separated from the media resulting in two different ministries: Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Media.

Iyad bin Amin Madani served in the post between February 2005[7] and 14 February 2009.[8] [9] His successor was Abdulaziz Khoja.[9] Khoja's appointment was regarded as part of the then King Abdullah's reform initiatives.[10] His tenure as the minister of culture and information ended on 08 December 2014 when Abdulaziz Alkhedheiri was appointed to the post. [11] On January 29, 2015 Adel Al Toraifi was appointed to the post. [12]

On 22 April 2017, Awwad Alawwad was appointed as minister. His primary mandate is to revitalize the culture and media industries at home, support government communications abroad and strengthen Saudi Arabia’s cultural relations around the world.[13]

On 27 December 2018, Turki Al-Shabana was appointed minister of media replacing Awwad Alawwad in the post who was appointed as a court advisor.[14]

On 25 February 2020, Majid Al Qasabi was appointed by royal decree as minister of media replacing Turki Al-Shabana.[15]

Organization and activities

Censorship

See main article: Censorship in Saudi Arabia. The ministry has "responsibility for all the Saudi media and other channels of information". The ministry has been called the "main agent of censorship" in the kingdom. It is charged with the purification of culture prior to it being permitted circulation to the public. A special unit, the management of publications department, "analyzes all publications and issues directives to newspapers and magazines" stating that way in which a given topic must be treated.[16]

Censorship is strict enough for works of the minister of culture and information himself: the former minister Abdulaziz Khojah's own works of poetry were banned in Saudi Arabia.[17]

Other bodies

The ministry also oversees the activities of the following bodies: King Fahd Cultural Centre, Administration of Folklore, Saudi Society for Culture and Arts, General Administration of Cultural Activities and Literary Clubs, and General Administration for Literary Clubs.[3] It is also responsible for the activities of the General Administration for Public Libraries and the General Administration for Cultural Relations.[3] The Saudi Press Agency is also part of the ministry.[3]

In London and Tunis, the ministry has information offices.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ministry Addresses. Saudi Embassy. 25 January 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110426144919/http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/ministry_addresses_in_saudi_arabia.aspx. 26 April 2011. dmy-all.
  2. http://www.s-ge.com/de/filefield-private/files/2816/field_blog_public_files/4865 Basic addresses
  3. Web site: Ministry of Culture and Information. SAMIRAD. 25 January 2014.
  4. Book: David E. Long. Culture and Customs of Saudi Arabia. registration. 1 January 2005. Greenwood Publishing Group. 978-0-313-32021-7. 15.
  5. Abdulrahman Saleh Shobaili. An Historical and Analytical Study of Broadcasting and Press in Saudi Arabia. 9798658527567. Ohio State University. 31. . PhD. 1971.
  6. Book: J. E. Peterson. 2003. 67. Historical Dictionary of Saudi Arabia. Scarecrow Press. 2nd.
  7. Web site: 14 February 2005 - Saudi Cabinet Meeting. SAMIRAD. 8 September 2012. 14 February 2005.
  8. Web site: About Saudi Arabia, Members of the Council of Ministers as of November 2010. Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. 5 October 2014. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110616222323/http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/Biographies-of-Ministers.aspx . 16 June 2011.
  9. News: Profiles. 28 August 2012. Saudi Gazette. 15 February 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120924170406/http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=2009021529327. 24 September 2012. dmy-all.
  10. News: Saudi King appoints first woman to council. 1 September 2012. CNN. 14 February 2009.
  11. News: Cabinet shake-up puts 9 new ministers at the helm-up. 16 August 2024 . Arab News. 30 January 2015.
  12. News: Massive Cabinet shake-up. 24 April 2015. Arab News. 30 January 2015.
  13. Web site: Dr. Al-Awwad thanks leadership for appointment as Minister of Culture and Information The official Saudi Press Agency. www.spa.gov.sa. 30 August 2017.
  14. News: Saudi Arabia's King Salman appoints new foreign minister in sweeping Cabinet reshuffle. Arab News. 27 December 2018.
  15. Web site: Saudi Royal Decree Forms 3 New Ministries, Merges 2 Others. Asharq AL-awsat. en. 2020-02-25.
  16. Book: Jonathon Green. Encyclopedia of Censorship. 2005. Infobase publishing. 493. 9781438110011. 5 October 2014.
  17. News: Hanna Labonté. Saudi Man of Letters and Cautious Reformer. 4 September 2012. Qantara. 23 August 2010.