Press & Media

Since he assumed the executive power in the Kingdom of Bahrain in 1961, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, had far sighted vision of the extreme importance and vital role which media plays in the progress and welfare of the country and in conveying of the civilized image of the Bahraini progress and prosperity, which contributed to the support of other sectors in the Kingdom.

Because press and media are the mirror of the reality and position of Bahrain , His Highness tended to support and develop the press and media in the country since the early 1960s; that period is considered the new emergence period for the local press in Bahrain to try to issue daily newspapers and periodicals.

Through the following pages, we shall review, my dear visitor, an overview of the local press in Bahrain and the stages it went through over the past years and until the present time.

An Overview of the Bahraini Press

There were 109 newspapers; 19 ceased newspapers and 16 magazines. Nine newspapers are currently being published; four in Arabic: Akhbar Al-Khalij, Al-Ayam, Al-Wasat and Al-Ahd, and three in English: Bahrain Tribune, Gulf Weekly and Gulf Daily News. A weekly newsletter is also issued weekly in Arabic and English: "BAPCO News”. 65 magazines are also published including weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual magazines covering different disciplines. The decade of the 1990s and the first years of the third millennium were marked by a thriving issuance of newspapers, and characterized by the prosperity of the press due to a number of factors, mainly the reform movement espoused by His Majesty the King and His Highness the Prime Minister, which included the freedom of expression that led to the issuance of three newspapers and nineteen magazines during a short period of time not exceeding four years from 2000 to 2003.

Bahrain Newspapers in the 1940s

The press in the 1940s, which was represented in Bahrain newspaper issued by Abdullah Al Zayed, which began its publication in 1939 and lasted until 1944, the official newspaper that was published in 1939 and lasted until 1944, and the official newspaper that was published in 1948, all dealt with political, cultural, moral and social issues. They supported the Allies and made propaganda in their favor and against the Axis countries during the II World War. The official newspaper covered the local and public news until it was developed thereafter.

Bahrain Press in the 1950s

The Bahraini press in the 1950s, except for Alkhmillah Newspaper – spread out the national awareness among citizens; the "Voice of Bahrain" magazine led the idea of starting off and addressing the Arab world rather than remaining concerned with local issues only, that made it formulated in a sober Arabic language, which helped its spread in the Arab countries during that period, in which Arab nationalism started to spread overwhelmingly among Arab Society circle. The press in the 1950s, especially Al Qafila, Al Watan, Al Mezan and even Al Sho’ala, which issued one edition only, had played a prominent role in fighting imperialism, praising national enlightenment and patronizing the 23rd July 1952 Revolution in Egypt, in addition to criticizing the political situations that prevailed in the country under the British protectorate, which made the British stop all of these newspapers in 1956.

The 1950s had also witnessed the issuance of three newspapers which did not touch upon the local issues at all but focused attention on publishing Arab and world news. These newspapers included: "the Arabian Gulf," affiliated to the British newspaper “the Daily Mail”, "the Al Khalij Al Arabi", which was issued by the Gulf Company Ltd., and "Gulf News", which was a subsidiary of Al-Basra Newspaper. The local news stopped when ceased publication national newspapers, and the situation remained so until 1957 when the Bahrain Oil Company Limited "BAPCO" issued a weekly bulletin called the "Weekly Star," which began publishing local and official news in addition to news about BAPCO. The number of newspapers and bulletins, which used to be issued in the 1950s was 11 newspapers and press releases: Al-Qafelah 1952 and 1954, Alkhmillah 1952 - 1956, Al-Watan 1955-1956, Al-Mezan 1955-1956 and The Gulf 1955-1956.

The Arabian Gulf Newspaper 1956 suspended publishing in the early 1960s; The Torch Newspaper published only one issue in 1956, and publication of Bahrain newspaper and Gulf News ceased publication in 1956. The Islander Bulletin, which was published in 1954 stopped English in 1969. The Weekly Star, of BAPCO published in 1957 ceased publication in 1981 and was issued later in the name of "BAPCO News."

The number of magazines published in the 1950s was three: Voice of Bahrain Trade, issued in 1959 and ceased publication in 1983 and Here Bahrain, issued in 1957 and continued its publication until present day.

Bahrain press in the 1960s

The newspapers in 1960s published news, articles and other political articles, delving into the analysis only rarely, and despite the weakness in terms of the number and quality of the newspapers, the 1960s was a period of revival to try to publish daily newspapers and periodicals.

Some of the examples on the good efforts exerted was the attempt to issue daily or weekly newspapers like the weekly "Spotlight", published in 1965 and ceased publication in 1993, and the daily "Gulf Lights," published in November of 1969 and ceased publication in April 1970, and the “Week Echo” which was published in 1969.

The magazines that were issued in the 1960s focused on trade and tourism only: The Commercial Life in 1962, The Arabian Markets in 1968-1972, The Guide 1969-1975. It is noted that the only magazine that continued to publish until today is the "Commercial Life." The press in the 1960s, represented in the “Weekly Lights” and “The Echo of the Week” tended to cover political news and to commend the developmental issues in the country at that time. Few pages in both newspapers were designed for literature, culture and art, which encouraged many young writers to take advantage of the opportunities available to them to publish their literary product through these newspapers.

Bahrain press in the 1970s

The 1970s is considered the real start for issuing various newspapers in Bahrain. During this decade, three newspapers and bulletins were published: in 1971 a daily newspaper was published in English the “Gulf Mirror”, which continued until 1987. A weekly bulletin was issued by the Ministry of Information: "Bahrain Weekly News," which continued to be published from 1972 to 1973 and ceased publication in 1974. Moreover, the daily newspaper "Gulf News" was published in 1976, followed in 1978 by the English language daily newspaper “Gulf Daily News.” The 1970s has also witnessed the issuance of 17 magazines, which were concerned with social, military, sports, and cultural, economic, medical and security matters.

The publication of some of these magazines continued until today, whereas others ceased publication, such as: the Al Majtama' Al Jadid 1970-1973, Al Bayrak in 1974-1975, The Weekly Sports 1974-1987, Writings 1976-1985, Al Masera 1978-1984, Al Malaeb in 1978-1979, and Al Amal in 1979-1980. The magazines that were published in the 1970s and continued until the present time were: Dilmun 1971, Al Muhandis 1971, Al Bayan 1973, the World of Libraries in 1974, the Statistical Bulletin 1974, Al Quwa in 1977, the Al Mirsat in 1977, Al Bidayah in 1978, the Medical Bulletin in 1979.

By shedding light on the press of the 1970s we can see that there is certain clear maturity in the press performance structure. Its development is also noticed in touching upon several different issues, political, economic, educational, religious, athletic, literary and cultural, giving the reader several options to select what suits him from various subjects.

One of the reasons that helped in publishing this huge variety of newspapers in the 1970s was the flourishing of the literary movement in the country. This period was in fact the starting off towards modernization in an intensive way, which in turn contributed to highlighting many promising writers who were looking for a place in the press.

Bahrain Press in the 1980s.

The 1980s was marked by the maturity of literary and cultural movement in Bahrain. This period was in actual fact the boom period for writing and diverse authorship in the country. The huge number of books printed whose titles amounted to six hundred and five titles on various topics confirmed the abundance of the intellectual production during the 1980s.

The cultural prosperity led to an increase in the issuance of various newspapers, including "Al-Ayyam" daily, which began publication on the 7th of March 1989, and before this "BAPCO News Bulletin" was issued in 1981 in Arabic and English, specialized in publishing news about BAPCO, but it published old and important pictures of Bahrain's recent history. The 1980s witnessed the issuance of two unique magazines: “The Plastic Bulletin" in 1980, which ceased publication in 1996 and "Video Kronke" in 1983, which also ceased publication in 1986. The issuance of this bulletin is considered a qualitative development in issuing local magazines because it was the first time a specialized technical magazine was issued.

The press activity boom continued in the 1980s; the "Education News" was issued in 1981, and later in 1982 Al Wathiqa magazine was issued; it focused on publishing, presenting and analyzing historical documents. Moreover, the Bahraini Lawyers Association issued its first Journal: "the Lawyer" in 1982, and the Association of writers and literary figures in Bahrain also issued "Al Kalimat" journal a quarterly, concerned with cultural affairs; the first issue was published in 1983. The 1983 has also witnessed the publication of four different journals, including "Kalimat", "Afaq Omeyah", “Gulf Panorama”, and “Bahrain Charity”. In 1985 two different journals were published: the "Arab Traveler," a tourist Journals, and the “Gulf Petrochemical," an industrial journal. In 1988, three journals were issued: the "Reform" with its Islamic trend, and "Al Oroba" a cultural journal issued by Al Oroba Club and "Care" a social journal that was issued by the childhood and motherhood care society.

Bahrain Press in the 1990s

The 1990s are considered boom years for local magazines; although this decade was void of any published newspaper, unlike what happened in the past decades characterized by various attempts to issue newspapers in every decade starting in the 1950s, yet, it has witnessed the publication of a variety of 22 magazines; of which two ceased publication: " Technology and Industry," which is a specialized magazine issued by the Ministry of Development and Industry at that time; it was published in 1994 and ceased publication in 1995.

The other magazine "Mustafa", a magazine for children, was published in January 1995 and ceased publication in September of that same year. Some magazines, issued in the 1990s, concentrated on scientific and technical, sports, business and cultural issues; which represented a positive phenomenon dictated by the conditions of globalization and banking and technology boom. The diversity of the magazines of the 1990s can be noticed through its titles according to the publication, namely:

“Physical Education and Sports Sciences”, issued by the Bahrain Institute of Sports in 1990, “The News Bulletin” issued by the Bahrain University Sports in 1992, which is concerned with the University's activities and news, “the Monetary Bulletin” issued by Bahrain Monetary Corporation in 1993, “Benevolence”, issued by the National Foundation for the Disabled in 1993, “Cultural Bahrain”, issued by the Cultural Sector at the Ministry of Information in 1994, “Mother and Child” issued in 1994, and focused on the health of women and children, the “Sport Culture Series” published by the Bahrain Institute of Sport in 1995, “Horizons” published by Horizons Publishing Parliament in 1995, and specialized in scientific affairs and specifications, “The Consumer” issued by the Ministry of Commerce in 1996, “Childhood” issued by the Bahrain Society for the Development of Children in 1996, “Bahrain This Month” issued in 1997, which was concerned with tourism and recreation, “Bahrain Today” issued by Al Ahram Advertising Agency in 1997 and specialized in tourism, “The Arab Accounting Magazine,” a journal published by the University of Bahrain in 1997, “Human Sciences Journal,” a journal published by the University of Bahrain in 1998, “the Gulf and Businessmen” published in 1999 and concerned with the success stories of businessmen, “the Commercial Complexes” a commercial tourism magazine issued in 1999, “the Family” issued in 1999 and concerned with family matters, “Bahrain Workers, published by the General Committee for Bahrain Workers in 1999, “The Wisdom” published by the General Parliament for Wisdom in 1999, concerned with retirees and the elderly, and “the Arabian Gulf University newspaper” published by the Gulf University in 1999, which is a cultural and scientific journal.

Bahrain Press in the third millennium

The first four years of the third millennium were characterized by the issuance of three newspapers within close intervals; two newspapers were published in 2002: "Al Wasat" and the other in English “The Gulf Weekly.” In 2003, “Al ‘Ahd” weekly was published. Any one who follows the history of press publication is Bahrain will find that the issuance of each newspaper was "at" wide intervals. In 1976 Gulf News was issued and nearly 13 years later Al Ayam newspaper was published in 1989.

Press publication did not stop but continued and included the issuance of 19 very diverse magazines. That period had witnessed the publication of limited educational, cultural, social, commercial, sport and political journals and some other journals. Moreover, the University of Bahrain, some of the ministries of the Kingdom and the rest of the civil society institutions participated in the issuance of more diverse and more private journals; we can trace the publication of these magazines according to the issuance year from 2000 to 2003.

In 2000 three magazines were published: “the Educational and Psychological Sciences Magazine”, a referee, quarterly and specialized journal published by the University of Bahrain, “The Arab Food and Nutrition Journal” issued by the Bahrain Center for Studies and Research, and “Education” issued by the Ministry of Education.

In 2001 three magazines were published: “Training and Human Resources Development” issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, “Exhibitions and Arab Conferences” published by the Arab Union of International Conferences and Exhibitions, “Bahrain Sports” and “ The Bahrain Governorate Bulletin”.

In 2002 seven magazines were published: "Trade and Industry” issued by the Ministry of Trade, “Female Papers” issued by Rural Girl Association, “Cultures” and “Awan” issued by the Bahrain University, “Al Warika” issued by the Bahraini Libraries Society, “Saheel” issued by the Bahrain Horse Race Club and “The World of Medicine and Health.”

Five magazines were issued in 2003: “Renovation” issued by the Socio-Cultural Renewal Society, “Integrity” issued by the Islamic Education Society, “Your Health is Our Goal” issued by Bahrain Specialty Hospital, “The Deputies” issued by the Secretariat of the Parliament, and “The Democratic” issued by the National Action Association.

The reasons for the prosperity of newspapers in the 1990s and the first years of the third millennium are:

The low rate of illiteracy and the increasing number of learners, especially university degree holders, which created an enlightened group that were looking for newspapers that would meet their needs and satisfy their wishes according to their different specialties.

Increasing awareness of the importance of specialized magazines for the development of skills and refine expertise. The issuance of specialized magazines, such as scientific, medical and educational journals led to the development of the skills of workers in those fields, and the development of printing presses in Bahrain, in addition to the rapid use of modern technology in the screening of colors, printing and art direction. This encouraged some to publish the magazines as a form of investment.

In addition to the availability of local journalists, who are experienced in the field of press, the contributions of specialists such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, economists, administrators, and others specialized in writing articles in newspapers and magazines have supported and contributed to the publication of specialized newspapers and guaranteed its continuation in providing them with written materials on regular basis. Moreover, the introduction of computers and the giant Internet network has increased publication of different specialized and public articles in the newspapers.

The internet and new technologies have also contributed to the increase of publishing global political, economic, technical, scientific and sports news on a continuous basis in the local newspapers and magazines. Moreover, the development of the public sector and the establishment of associations, clubs, cultural centers, academic institutions, research and study centers and national factories resulted in issuing specialized magazines that aim to publish all kinds of news about those institutions and the publication of articles and specialized studies. The contribution of public and private sectors in the issuance of local newspapers through easy procedures for granting licenses for newspapers and magazines issued by the public sector, and feeding the newspapers with advertisements issued by the private sector had helped in paying for the cost of printing.

The reform movement endorsed by His Majesty the King and His Highness the Prime Minister is considered among the most important factors that encouraged the movement of the issuance of the local press.