Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): Where do Bahraini newspapers get their expenses from? All the Bahraini newspapers issued in the markets are affiliated with parties within the ruling family, and this is no secret. These newspapers deserve direct or indirect financial support to cover their expenses. Like other sectors, newspapers have been affected by the country's economic stagnation.

Due to the economic situation the country is witnessing, businessman Hazem Janahi predicts that "some paper newspapers would stop being issued" in addition to the closure of a number of shops, retail stores and car showrooms. Janahi believes that such actions do not take place in the context of an economic stagnation but rather the "period of shaping a new economic future."

Regardless of whether we are experiencing an economic stagnation or structural correction as Janahi assumes, it seems clear that paper newspapers are experiencing financial crises that may push them out of the market.

There has been no information so far that the Royal Court has stopped supporting newspapers close to it, and so is the case with the Prime Minister's Court. However, the decline in advertising spending has caused financial difficulties for newspapers. Commercials are the second largest source of income for some newspapers.

The president of the International Advertisers Association, Khamis Al-Muqla, attributes the decline in spending to "reducing the spending by large advertisers such as telecommunications, banks and agencies whose activity accounts for a large share of advertising exchange in Bahrain".

The commercial entities are not the only ones seeking to control their advertising spending, as the government has approved a "significant reduction in advertising expenses". A government official in a government agency told Bahrain Mirror that the government binds the authority with three annual ads.

"We have been working for two years to reduce our expenses on publications and subscriptions ... We don't buy many copies of these newspapers, it's almost just copies for the offices of the main officials," he adds.

Years ago, government contributions were a good resource for Bahraini newspapers, but today it is limited to a very small number of subscriptions.

"Digital advertising activities and social media outlets are estimated at about 10% of all traditional advertising," Al-Muqla says.

Perhaps such figures explain the statement of Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) (Governmental body) headed by Ahdiya Ahmed, in which it warned news pages on Instagram of legal proceedings against the republication of materials published in Bahraini newspapers. The statement included hints of financial issues.

"We must distinguish between the right of expression and the practice of journalism... The profession means obtaining licenses from the competent official authorities, resulting in the establishment of a commercial company that is subjected to the rules of business, thus allowing it to publish advertisements to finance its activity and pay the salaries of its employees," BJA said.

In April, Information Minister Ali Al-Rumaihi announced that a new press law would include provisions aimed at legalizing electronic media, including news websites, platforms and news services accounts.

The move by the Ministry of Information and Bahrain Journalists Association against social media platforms gives further indication that government newspapers are moving towards the edge. There is a big financial crisis and followers are receding after discovering that their voice is absent from those newspapers that are absent from the event.

Arabic Version