Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula Prof. Khalid Mubarak Al-Shafi, Associate Professor at UDST Dr. Carolyne Lunga and students of UDST during their visit to the The Peninsula headquarters yesterday. Pics: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: The students of the Digital Communication and Media Production (DCMP- English Track), University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) yesterday paid an educational visit to The Peninsula to gain firsthand experience of how a professional newsroom operates.
The group was accompanied by Associate Professor Dr. Carolyne Lunga, who guided the students throughout the visit and encouraged them to engage with journalists and editors during the sessions.
The visit began with an interactive session with Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Khalid Mubarak Al-Shafi who spoke about the responsibilities of journalists in today’s fast-changing media environment and highlighted the importance of credibility, accuracy, and ethical reporting. He also shared insights from his own professional journey and explained how newspapers continue to adapt to the growing influence of digital media and social networking platforms.
Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula Prof. Khalid Mubarak Al-Shafi briefing the students about newspaper operations. Managing Editor Mohammed Osman Ali also attended the session.
The Editor-in-Chief discussed the challenges faced by modern news organisations, including the pressure of publishing news quickly while maintaining professional standards. The interaction session also focused on the changing reading habits of audiences and the increasing role of online journalism in reaching readers across the world.
The visit offered the students a valuable opportunity to connect their classroom studies with the practical side of journalism and media production.
The students toured different sections of the newspaper. They visited the local news, sports, and business reporting sections, where reporters and editors explained how stories are planned, covered, written, and edited before publication. The students learned about the teamwork involved in producing daily news content and the importance of coordination among different sections of the newsroom.
The Peninsula's online team explaining the dynamics of newspaper's website and social media platforms.
The group also visited the news desk and production section, where they observed the editorial process more closely. Staff members explained how headlines are prepared, how pages are designed, and how the final newspaper layout is organised before printing. Students were introduced to the creative and technical aspects involved in page design and newspaper production.
One of the most engaging parts of the visit was the tour of the online section. Here, students learned about the digital side of journalism, including website management, audience traffic, online ratings, and social media engagement. The online team demonstrated how news is updated instantly on digital platforms and explained the importance of analytics in understanding audience interests and behaviour.
Heads of sections, warmly welcomed the students, briefed them about their responsibilities, and answered questions related to newsroom operations and journalism careers. The interactive discussions allowed students to better understand the realities of working in the media industry.
The visit proved to be both informative and inspiring for the students. It gave them practical exposure to the daily functioning of a newspaper and helped them appreciate the dedication and teamwork required in the field of journalism.
