Al-Wasat (Bahraini newspaper) facts for kids
Al-Wasat logo
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| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Founder(s) | Mansoor Al-Jamri |
| Publisher | Dar Al-Wasat for Publishing and Distribution BSC (c) |
| Founded | 7 September 2002 |
| Political alignment | Independent |
| Language | Arabic |
| Ceased publication | 4 June 2017 |
| Headquarters | Manama, Bahrain |
| Circulation | 30,000 |
Al-Wasat (Arabic: الوسط), also known as Alwasat, was a daily newspaper published in Manama, Bahrain. It was written in the Arabic language. Many people saw Al-Wasat as the only truly independent newspaper in Bahrain. For 15 years, it shared news and stories that were special to Bahrain.
The government of Bahrain stopped the newspaper from publishing on June 4, 2017. Amnesty International, a group that works for human rights, called this a strong effort to stop independent news reporting.
Contents
Al-Wasat Newspaper: Its Story
How It Started
Al-Wasat began in 2002. It was created after King Hamad bin Isa made some early changes in Bahrain. Allowing a key figure who often disagreed with the government to start this newspaper was a big step. It showed that society was becoming more open.
Before Al-Wasat started, Bahrain only had two Arabic newspapers: Akhbar Al Khaleej and Al Ayam. Both of these newspapers were seen as very supportive of the government.
The founders of Al-Wasat were Mansoor Al-Jamri and other important business people from Bahrain. Mansoor Al-Jamri was also the main editor. He was temporarily unable to do his job from April 3, 2011, to August 4, 2011. This happened during a time when the government was strict with journalists and the press.
Why Al-Wasat Was Important
Al-Wasat became the most popular newspaper in Bahrain. It was generally seen as the only daily newspaper that did not always support the Bahraini government. It was the first newspaper in Bahrain to share different points of view.
In 2012, a survey by the Pan-Arab Research Center found that Al-Wasat was the top newspaper in Bahrain. This was based on how many copies were sold and how much impact it had. The "Media Credibility Index" in London also ranked the paper as very trustworthy in May 2012. The newspaper's website was also very popular. In 2010, it was the 15th most visited website in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa).
Awards and Recognition
Mansoor Al-Jamri, the editor-in-chief, received several important awards:
- The CPJ International Press Freedom Awards in 2011 from the CPJ. This award honors journalists who show courage in defending press freedom.
- The International Media Peace Award in 2012.
The newspaper Al-Wasat also won many awards:
- A European Award on December 8, 2011.
- A MENA photojournalism award.
- A UNICEF regional award for electronic media on September 28, 2011.
- Ranked as the 15th strongest MENA newspaper on the Internet by Forbes Middle East on October 27, 2010.
- An Arab Journalism Award on May 13, 2010.
- Bahrain's electronic media Award on March 13, 2009.
In May 2012, Al Wasat was ranked highest on the "Media Credibility Index" by the Next Century Foundation. The Pan-Arab Research Centre (PARC) also said in 2012 that it was the most widely read newspaper in Bahrain.
See also
- List of newspapers in Bahrain
