Editor of Kuwait Times Discusses Journalism in Kuwait at AUK Communications Class

Ms. Jamie Etheridge, Managing Editor of the Kuwait Times newspaper, recently gave a lecture concerning the state of journalism in Kuwait to students in Dr. Mohamed Satti's Mass Media Writing class at the American University of Kuwait (AUK).

Ms. Etheridge's lecture focused mainly on the challenges that journalists face in Kuwait such as the low wage structure in the industry and the limited amount of respect that journalists receive. In addition, the internet has created new challenges to media organizations. Etheridge noted that social media has allowed individuals to share stories "without regard for facts or verification." Media outlets such as the Kuwait Times have to check the validity of news before they publish it. Despite these challenges however, Etheridge stated that the media environment in Kuwait is the healthiest in the Gulf region, with journalists constantly pushing boundaries as they seek objective reporting of the news.

"It was great having Ms. Etheridge talk to the students. This was a chance for students to interact with a professional journalist and to learn about the challenges that they face in the profession on a daily basis," said Dr. Mohamed Satti, Assistant Professor of Communication & Media.

The class is intended to provide students with fundamental writing techniques used in the media industry. Particular attention is paid to the development of objective writing skills used across print, broadcast and online platforms. In addition to class instruction, visits from media professionals like Ms. Etheridge provides the students with additional insight into how real-world media operates, and how to navigate through certain challenges to produce unbiased and verified news.