Doha Center for Media Freedom
Encyclopedia
The Doha Center for Media Freedom is an international institution formally created on December 7, 2007 by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar
, and opened in October 2008 in Doha
, Qatar
. The Doha Center for Media Freedom's stated purpose is to provide physical refuge for threatened journalist
s, as well as to support freedom of the press
by other activities.
, and including cultural personalities such as Egyptian writer Alaa Al Aswany and governmental personalities such as Spanish
Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé, and former French Prime Minister
Dominique de Villepin
. It also had an Advisory Council chaired by the Qatari Minister of Culture, the Arts and Heritage of Qatar, Hamad Abdelaziz al-Kawari and including mainstream media
personalities such as Chris Cramer, former president of CNN
, and Ethan Bronner
of the New York Times, and former governmental ministers Graça Machel
from Mozambique
, Ghassan Salamé from Lebanon
and José Luís Arnaut from Portugal
.
The Director General of the center, who was responsible for the functioning of the center, was Robert Ménard
, who resigned as Secretary-General of Reporters Without Borders
in September 2008. Ménard resigned as director-general of the Center in June 2009, complaining of obstruction by Qatar government officials of the Center's work (notably its criticism of Qatar's restrictive media policies, along with the Center's efforts to bring several persecuted journalists to Qatar for temporary refuge), despite earlier assurances that it would be allowed to operate freely. The Center then ceased functioning.
journalist who had been attacked twice during one week because of her role as a journalist.
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, and opened in October 2008 in Doha
Doha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. The Doha Center for Media Freedom's stated purpose is to provide physical refuge for threatened journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s, as well as to support freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
by other activities.
Organisational structure
The Doha Center for Media Freedom had a Board chaired by Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al ThaniHamad bin Thamer Al Thani
Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer bin Mohammed bin Thani Al-Thani is the owner of Al Jazeera, which is based in Qatar. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the Board of Administration.He is the chairman of Qatar Media Corporation....
, and including cultural personalities such as Egyptian writer Alaa Al Aswany and governmental personalities such as Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé, and former French Prime Minister
Prime Minister of France
The Prime Minister of France in the Fifth Republic is the head of government and of the Council of Ministers of France. The head of state is the President of the French Republic...
Dominique de Villepin
Dominique de Villepin
Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin is a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France from 31 May 2005 to 17 May 2007....
. It also had an Advisory Council chaired by the Qatari Minister of Culture, the Arts and Heritage of Qatar, Hamad Abdelaziz al-Kawari and including mainstream media
Mainstream media
Mainstream media are those media disseminated via the largest distribution channels, which therefore represent what the majority of media consumers are likely to encounter...
personalities such as Chris Cramer, former president of CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, and Ethan Bronner
Ethan Bronner
Ethan Samuel Bronner has been Jerusalem bureau chief of The New York Times since March 2008 following four years as deputy foreign editor.-Biography:...
of the New York Times, and former governmental ministers Graça Machel
Graça Machel
Graça Machel, DBE is a Mozambican politician and humanitarian. She is the third wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela and the widow of Mozambican president Samora Machel...
from Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, Ghassan Salamé from Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and José Luís Arnaut from Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
The Director General of the center, who was responsible for the functioning of the center, was Robert Ménard
Robert Ménard
Robert Ménard is one of the founders and the former secretary-general of the Paris-based international NGO Reporters Sans Frontières....
, who resigned as Secretary-General of Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
in September 2008. Ménard resigned as director-general of the Center in June 2009, complaining of obstruction by Qatar government officials of the Center's work (notably its criticism of Qatar's restrictive media policies, along with the Center's efforts to bring several persecuted journalists to Qatar for temporary refuge), despite earlier assurances that it would be allowed to operate freely. The Center then ceased functioning.
Actions taken by the Center
The first journalist to be given refuge by the Doha Center for Media Freedom was Nilofar Habibi, a young AfghanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
journalist who had been attacked twice during one week because of her role as a journalist.