Qatar's determination to excel paid off: Gambian journalist

Malik Jones is a Gambian broadcast journalist and a former director general of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS). He spoke to Gulf Times about his experience, prior to bidding farewell to Doha, about his coverage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and how it was transmitted to Qatari and expatriate audiences.He said: "This is my second coverage of a FIFA World Cup. The first was as a commentator with the BBC in South Africa in 2010. As an African I was part of the making of history for Africa and to commentate on the matches was just phenomenal. However, Qatar 2022 was a completely different ball game not only for me but to some journalists like myself who witnessed the determination of Qatar to showcase the best World Cup edition despite all the negative propaganda. It was a prestigious model; the first World Cup in the Middle East hosted by an Arab nation."At local English radio QBS where I was engaged as a match analyst and content provider for the newsroom, the will of Qatar to succeed became a fundamental ingredient of my content before the World Cup kicked off. The hostility against Qatar by some foreign media outlets and its protagonists was uncalled for and it has to be watered down by all possible means especially by the media. From my experience this turned out to be exactly what it was promised to be and more. "The media did a terrific job and have never wavered in their quest to rally behind Qatar. At QBS radio there was a team of journalists from different countries and backgrounds and we blended well professionally regardless of our different roles. There was a great team spirit which led to our success. As a print and broadcast journalist, it was like being an ambassador for my country, the Gambia. My stories for the local Point newspaper, in the Gambia was well received. I gave several interviews to local radio stations in addition to a weekly radio programme which I host from here and broadcast in the Gambia."At the diplomatic level the Gambia ambassador to Qatar dispatched a press release to the Gambia which apart from praising the Government of Qatar for hosting the tournament, highlighted my role in the broadcast media and that of the Gambian referee Papa Gassama. The reaction was tremendous back home as was manifest in the mainstream and social media."Personally I felt comfortable with the media in Qatar- both print and electronic. Suffice it to say that without any hint of flattering, the Gulf Times was the paper I looked forward to reading since my arrival in October, I am even subscribed to it. So keep it up!” Jones concluded.