To our heroes in Oman, our thanks and appreciation
During this challenging time, so many essential workers are at the front line for our safety: the health care workers, the drivers, the rubbish collectors, the food deliverymen, the soldier, and so...
The epidemic of fear can be worse than the virus
naction, irresponsibility or lack of credibility are loaded words used to describe reactions to the coronavirus initial stage and beyond. Consumer spending is falling — now, people have more...
‘Out of stock’; so what...?
Not finding the needed medication for an overactive thyroid or a prescribed antibiotic following a dental procedure in the pharmacies is annoying. Going from one pharmacy to another hunting for...
Social media has changed the way we mourn
The loss of a loved one is an experience that transcends social, cultural and religious barriers. As a universal and unavoidable human experience, the impact of grief has been studied since Freud’s...
New driving habits pose big challenge
Just the other day, a nicely dressed young lady was risking her life to cross a 120 km speed-limit dual carriageway. Wearing prescribed glasses, medium heels shoes, and having her purse tightly...
Public trust in journalism: the real crisis
Reading, watching or listening, repeatedly, to the same news articles is hard to swallow. The same style, the same tone, the same people interviewed, the same structure. It is a heartbreaking approach...
Census: Why are you asking ‘that’ question?
In a Royal address, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos encouraged Omanis to provide the required information and to cooperate with the census staff to make the exercise a success. It was the first data...
Rescuing journalism from a vegetative state
From an emotional point of view, journalism is a passion. Journalism is to be in love with the art of storytelling. It is to touch people’s heart with information, sharing an opinion, analysing...
Education, skills and employability...
Change is a process, not an event, so I heard. Essentially, there is a need to understand people’s expectations, but also the need to consider what a change will mean for people in the future or how...
Diplomacy in social media: Changes in political communication
One gets distressed and vents it on social media. One gets happy, jubilees it on social media. One gets a funny or insulting me and without second thoughts share it. These are some of the impulsive...
Social media and religion: faith and the web
Religion and the Internet have rung a bell into my curiosity. In fact, it is media and religion that have hit the first signs of inquiry due to the number of broadcasting material popping up —...
Child abuse: eradicating social stigma; tackling the issue
The local media is reporting more openly on child abuse. It has been a no-no issue for a long time; not that it didn’t happen. The matter has been a kind of taboo. The topic becomes even more...
The worlds of journalism, culture and politics
Challenges to journalism do not come just from one area or the other. It comes from multidimensional and simultaneous areas, most notably public trust. It is easier to identify challenges and discuss...
Together for a better Internet...
Is there a need to make social media safer for teens and young adults? Are we going paranoia with the broad variety of content that can be harmful? The discussion is getting louder after a series of...
We shouldn’t be looking at media through pinhole
In the last couple of months, I have followed open sources discussing the quality of the media and journalism in our own backyard as well as around the world. Strategies on how best to take advantage...
A tapestry of associations that we are part of
There was a time when travelling from Ghala to Ruwi would take at least an hour. People would travel on the back of open pick-ups to reach their offices. Going to Madinat Sultan Qaboos was like going...
Serious journalism should no longer be ignored
What is going on? Are people more relaxed with the increase in violence against journalism? Are people more relaxed with the decline of reportage on important issues to society? Are we being seriously...
Content critical to how media influences children
here are times when it feels as if we still need to teach how to lit a fire using stones while most people are already using laser. All because a little girl, named Mona, who is turning three years’...
Social media stars are influencers or endorsers
What an amazing time we are experiencing with social media. Anyone can become a virtual celebrity or make bucks by just posting a video, text or a photo of a product or even expressing an opinion....
A pinch of spice on interpretations
Public opinion in the 18th Century France takes me on a journey of reflections in search of parallels in the 21st century. In her book, Arlette Farge reminds me that words have meaning, particularly...