Jihad Al-Khazen (a columnist and editor in various media of Saudi princes over the years) speaks candidly (unusually) about censorship in Saudi media:
(Jihad Al-Khazen, editor-in-chief of Al-Hayat newspaper (at the time of writing the book), which is run from Beirut and London, and who is known for open-mindedness and frankness [sic], said: "We can't afford to lose advertisements coming from Saudi Arabia. And added: this why we have to be careful to not disturb the Saudis at all. But we are freer and more daring with Sudan because it has little money).
"جهاد الخازن رئيس تحرير جريدة الحياة (وقت تأليف الكتاب) التي تدار من بيروت ولندن مشهور بالانفتاح والصراحة، حيث قال لي: «نحن لا نستطيع تحمل خسارة الإعلانات القادمة من السعودية»، وأضاف «لذلك يجب أن نكون حذرين بأن لا نزعج السعوديين مطلقا. ولكن نحن أكثر حرية وجرأة مع السودان لأن لديه القليل من المال»."
Now, of course, Al-Khazen was being disingenuous and outright dishonest: he talks as if the paper is independent and is only subject to advertisement considerations. As if it is not owned by a Saudi prince, and as if he does not get his marching orders from a Saudi prince or Saudi princes. He admitted after the Iraq war that Prince Turki (then head of Saudi intelligence) used to send him intelligence reports which would be printed as articles in Al-Hayat). The story is now out, Mr. Khazen. (thanks Hassan)
(Jihad Al-Khazen, editor-in-chief of Al-Hayat newspaper (at the time of writing the book), which is run from Beirut and London, and who is known for open-mindedness and frankness [sic], said: "We can't afford to lose advertisements coming from Saudi Arabia. And added: this why we have to be careful to not disturb the Saudis at all. But we are freer and more daring with Sudan because it has little money).
"جهاد الخازن رئيس تحرير جريدة الحياة (وقت تأليف الكتاب) التي تدار من بيروت ولندن مشهور بالانفتاح والصراحة، حيث قال لي: «نحن لا نستطيع تحمل خسارة الإعلانات القادمة من السعودية»، وأضاف «لذلك يجب أن نكون حذرين بأن لا نزعج السعوديين مطلقا. ولكن نحن أكثر حرية وجرأة مع السودان لأن لديه القليل من المال»."
Now, of course, Al-Khazen was being disingenuous and outright dishonest: he talks as if the paper is independent and is only subject to advertisement considerations. As if it is not owned by a Saudi prince, and as if he does not get his marching orders from a Saudi prince or Saudi princes. He admitted after the Iraq war that Prince Turki (then head of Saudi intelligence) used to send him intelligence reports which would be printed as articles in Al-Hayat). The story is now out, Mr. Khazen. (thanks Hassan)
