Alwatan

For other uses, see Al-Watan (disambiguation).
Alwatan
الوطن
Type Daily newspaper
Format Broadsheet
Owner(s) Several business groups
Founded 1971
Headquarters Oman
Circulation 40.000
Website alwatan.com

Alwatan (Arabic: الوطن, The Homeland) is a daily Arabic newspaper published in Oman and distributed internationally. It was founded in 1971 and was first published on January 28, 1971. It is the first and oldest Omani newspaper.[1][2] Alwatan has a daily circulation of 40,000.[3]

History

Alwatan was founded in 1971 to be the first Omani newspaper. It was first published on January 28, 1971. Alwatan was planned to be a daily newspaper but due to problems in printing it was published on a weekly basis in Beirut, Lebanon.[4] The newspaper's editor-in-chief at the time was Nasr Ibn Mohammed al-Taei. It ceased its publication and moved to Cairo, Egypt after the Lebanese Civil War; it later moved to Kuwait City, Kuwait.[1][2]

When Mohammed Ibn Suleiman al-Taei became editor-in-chief, he immediately started planning to expand and make Alwatan a daily newspaper. He employed new employees and journalists, and changed the newspaper's display and organization. On January 28, 1984, Alwatan became a daily newspaper.[4] In August 1988, Alwatan founded their own publishing establishment in Oman, where the newspaper is still being published. Alwatan published its first issue from Oman on August 26, 1988.[4]

In 1996, Alwatan switched to the Broadsheet format and set its slogan. On July 18, 1997, Alwatan launched its Internet website and service, providing readers access to its articles.[1][2][4] In 1999, Alwatan changed to glossy paper, and became the first newspaper to use this type of paper in Oman. In 2001, Alwatan increased the number of the newspaper's pages and added new sections to celebrate the newspaper's 30th anniversary.[1][2]

Alwatan has been credited with the improvement of Omani arts and sports and is considered the only reliable source for the history of sports in Oman.[2] Alwatan has deployed journalists in the capital cities of the all the major Arab and Western countries.[1] As of 2007, Alwatan has 187 employees and is the best-selling newspaper in Oman.[1][2]

Sections

The Alwatan newspaper currently has 20 pages. It started out with 12 pages, and the number of pages has increased steadily until it reached 20 in 2001. Below is information on the content of every page.[4]

Management

Alwatan's editor-in-chief manages the policy of the newspaper and supervises its preparation. He is helped by a managing editor and a deputy managing editor. The newspaper's departments include:

See also

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History of Journalism in Oman" (in Arabic). Oman TV. Archived from the original on April 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Alwatan history" (in Arabic). Alwatan. Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  3. "The Arab Media’s War of Incitement". Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on March 22, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Omani media" (in Arabic). Sultan Qaboos University magazine. Archived from the original on 2007-03-15. Retrieved 2007-04-13.

Published sources

  • Al-Abd, Atef (1995). دراسات في الإعلام العماني – Studies in the Omani Media. Dar al-Fikr al-Arabi. 
  • Farid, Samir (1989). وسائل وأساليب الاتصال في سلطنة عمان – Means and Methods of Communication in the Sultanate of Oman. Angelo Egyptian Library. 
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