Oman: Growth of Media Outlets

Middle East Online reports that the media scene is growing in Oman after a royal decree “heralded a new era in broadcasting, bringing to an end more than three decades of dominance by the state-owned electronic media.” The country now boasts four English newspapers and several mainstream Arabic papers and journals.  There are now three privately owned radio stations and the government is attempting to draw new investment into the broadcasting industry.

Programs on these stations cover economics, politics, culture, and sports while the “local flavour [...] is of prime importance.” The article explains that “media plays an important role. It helps build public opinion, promotes national development, works as a mirror of day-to-day activities and serves as voice to the Omani citizen.”