Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula, with students from the Gulf Studies Center of Qatar University. Also seen is professor Dr Noureddine Miladi (third right), Head of Department of Mass Communication at Qatar University College of Arts
DOHA: Dr. Khalid Al Shafi, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula received at his office on Tuesday a group of students from the Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University.
The students were accompanied by Professor Dr Noureddine Miladi, Head of Department of Mass Communication at Qatar University College of Arts and Sciences (QU-CAS).
The students were provided firsthand information about the newspaper, its development since its launch in 1996. The curious students posed many questions to Editor-in-Chief and heads of various sections of the newspaper who explained the role of each section of daily including local news section, business, sports, online, editorial and production, in addition to the photography and marketing and advertisement.
Each head of section answered questions raised by the visiting students. The students and professor said that they are regular readers of The Peninsula and it helped them in their research works.
“The Peninsula has high standards of news coverage and writing. It has improved a lot compared to 2012,” said Professor Dr Noureddine Miladi. He said that The Peninsula had made huge leap in term of improvement in all areas.
“This is one of the best certified newspapers and its website is the best in the region. Online version of the newspaper is very reader-friendly. The online newspaper maintains a rich archive for last many years and it is very helpful for the research scholars,” said Miladi.
Comparing The Peninsula with other newspapers, Miladi said: “I would like to say that this newspaper is more comprehensive than other newspapers.”
“It caters wide spectrum of readers, citizens and expatriates,” observed a student. “The interesting part of the newspaper is the selection of articles and opinions. The Peninsula has different supplements which are very useful for students and researchers alike,” the student added.
The student said that she would like to thank The Peninsula for the hospitality and providing first-hand information about the newspaper and its editorial operations.
“All sections gave an idea about news processing. I have been reading The Peninsula for long time online and in print version,” said the student.
Another student said that online version of The Peninsula was very informative and she took help for her project on food security last semester. “Most of the material that I was looking for my project was available online.”
“The visit was very exiting as we got a lot of information about functioning of a newspaper,” said Wafa Sultana Mohahiddin, a student of Master’s in Gulf Studies Programme at Qatar University.
“I am honoured to join the group to visit a print media outlet of an Arab country,” said Marian Gao, another student.
“I saw a great team. I asked several questions regarding the development of newspaper and its name and I am very impressed with the answers. Qatar University’s Gulf Studies Center arranged a good practical-study activity for the students,” said Gao.
Another student, Nurgul, said: The Peninsula — in both print and online forms — is very helpful in providing information to expatriates about what is going in the country.”
Gulf Studies Center is a part of the College of Arts and Sciences at Qatar University. The Center was established in 2013, to cover topics of politics and security, energy, economics, culture and society. The Center also aims at producing thought-provoking research on the Gulf Region.
