Okaz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Founder | Ahmad Abd al-Ghafur Attar |
| Publisher | Okaz Organization for Press and Publication |
| Editor-in-chief | Jameel Altheyabi |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Political alignment | Liberal |
| Language | Arabic |
| Headquarters | Jeddah |
| Circulation | 250,000 (as of 2010) |
| Sister newspapers | Saudi Gazette |
| OCLC number | 2265453 |
| Website | Okaz |
Okaz (Arabic: عكاظ) is an Arabic Saudi Arabian daily newspaper located in Jeddah.[1][2] The paper was launched in 1960[3] and its sister publication is Saudi Gazette. The paper is printed in Riyadh and Jeddah and operates offices across Saudi Arabia.[4] The daily publication serves the provinces of the Hejaz and Asir.[5] As of 2012, Abdullah Saleh Kamel served as the chairman of the board of directors of the Okaz Organization for Press and Publication.[6] Okaz has been referred to as "...an Arabic version" of the New York Post.[7]
Okaz was established in Jeddah in 1960 by Ahmed Abdul Ghafoor Attar and is one of the oldest newspapers in Saudi Arabia.[8][9] John R. Bradley, in his book Saudi Arabia Exposed: Inside a Kingdom in Crisis, described it as a "downmarket newspaper ... the closest Saudi Arabia has to a yellow press."[10]
Despite Bradley's description, Okaz was originally a cultural weekly based in the Hijaz.[9] In October 1964, it was relaunched as a daily paper.[4]
Its name was used as Okadh in some scientific publications while referring to it.[11] In fact, the paper is named after the popular Okaz market, which was one of the largest open markets during the pre-Islamic era in the Hijaz region in which eminent poets of the period came together to congregate poems and hold recitation competitions in Taif.[4][12][13][14]
Popularity
Okaz was most popular newspaper in Hijaz at the beginning of the 1990s. In the mid-1980s, the paper was often perceived as a newspaper in decline because of failure to invest. However, it invested in printing facilities and its circulation expanded.[15] In 2009, Okaz is regarded as the most popular paper in the Hijaz and third most popular in Riyadh. Furthermore, Okaz is said to be one of only two major Saudi print media that do not have the member of the Al Saud family among its share-holders.[15] Based on the results of a media survey conducted by research company Ipsos Stat, Okaz is first in readership ratings, beating many other newspapers published in the country.[16] Dubai Press Club states that the paper is mostly preferred by Saudi nationals and younger people.[17]
Circulation
In 2002, Okaz was the largest newspaper in the country.[2] In 2003, it had an estimated circulation of 147,000 copies.[3][8] Its estimated circulation is reported to be 150,000 in 2009.[15] Dubai Press Club in 2010 reported that Okaz is the most popular Arabic daily paper in the Kingdom with a circulation of 250,000 that was confirmed by the media research.[17]
Global Investment House stated the market share of Okaz as around 6% in 2009.[12] The circulation of the paper was 250,000 copies in 2010.[17]
The online version of the paper was the 23rd most visited website for 2010 in the MENA region.[18] It was reported by Forbes Middle East in 2011 to be one of top ten online newspapers (specifically the ninth) in the MENA region.[19] In 2012, Okaz's online edition was ranked by Forbes Middle East as the sixth in the MENA region with 42.56 million hits, including 12.60 million unique hits.[20]
Political approach
Okaz, a paper of Hejaz, is considered to be one of the two leading liberal daily papers in Saudi Arabia. The other one is Al Watan.[21] However, the paper was reported to be close to late Crown Prince Nayef.[7]
Prominent columnists
The newspaper has several well-respected columnists such as Juhair bint Abdallah Al Musa'id and Abdallah Al Jufri.[9] The pioneering deputy chair of the National Society for Human Rights, Al Jawhara bint Mohammed Al Anqari also writes for Okaz.[22] Hussein Shobokshi is among the former columnists of the paper who left it after publishing an article on accountable government.[23]
