MBC and Dawood Al-Shiryan: An Oversight or Bad Management?

“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” ― George Orwell

The MBC is one of the oldest and most popular TV companies in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. It started with only one channel (MBC) and then extended into a network of multiple channels (MBC 1), which is the original channel, MBC 2 for foreign films, MBC 3 for animation films, MBC 4 for series, and MBC Action for action films; each channel is thus specialized in a specific genre of entertainment. There is also MBC Bollywood for Indian films and series. The MBC channels have gained great popularity with their viewers, especially from the middle and high classes. It does not seem they care about the poor and the underprivileged.

We very much understand that the MBC network is a private company with commercial policies and strategic goals. It claims to be independent but, in fact, it is heavily controlled by the Saudi Government and implements the Saudi polices, goals, and agendas. The government Saudi channels are not popular and they have a very restricted number of viewers, just like all the TV channels that are run and funded by the Arab governments. These channels always praise the government and the officials of the country and their "fictional" great achievements, investments, and their great efforts to raise the standards of living for everybody in the country and take them to the moon or Mars to enjoy themselves! Most of the TV programs in the government channels are similar and boring; they revolve around this main theme of praising the government and officials in the country with few exceptions that are not worth mentioning here. Most of the Arab viewers do not really watch the government TV programs in their country, and they watch the news and care about the news when there are items that affect their daily lives. They find that most of the programs are out of touch with reality and the producers and teams behind these programs are doing the job for a living! The TV presenters and anchors, and program producers behave like robots and parrots and even as slaves; as long as they stay on their jobs and keep their names on the payroll. They never criticize their government because the government is made of angels who never make any mistake or blunder! This is one of the reasons why there is a great deal of corruption in the Arab countries. Who dares speak about corruption in the government structure anywhere in the Arab world? If you do, you will be accused of everything and you will be labeled: a “troublemaker”, “bad citizen”, “sick person”, “mentally-disturbed”, “terrorist”, and even a “traitor” who is betraying his country because you are criticizing the government! For the official TV, and for hypocrites, “the government is the country”! You are allowed to do anything you want and break all social norms, bonds, and rules as long as you do not criticise the government. You are a good citizen as long as you do not lift the cover of the sewage!

This is why we have grown up with private TV channels, presenters, and independent program producers although they have a rather limited space of freedom and the general rules and government guidelines apply to them as well. MBC has been one of these private channels and Dawood Al-Shiryan (also spelled “Al-Shirian”) is one of the TV anchors who devote their talk shows to critical analyses and viewpoints on many social issues in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. This has made him very popular with the viewers of the MBC. He is very honest in his analyses and very intelligent in his attempts to shed light on the social problems and challenges facing the ordinary citizens in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Arab world. He always digs deep and talks to a variety of people and officials in a very sharp, attractive, and challenging style. He is a giant in his talk shows and is a giant as an Arab writer and journalist.

Dawood Al-Shiryan is nicknamed ‘the Sulphur of Arab Journalism’ for his fiery rhetoric to bring about reforms to the Saudi and Arab societies in terms of social relations and enhance the quality of life for all citizens and residents. He has been looked at as a ‘trouble maker’ because he always brings to discussion and debates social problems that are regarded as “taboos” in the Saudi context although they are legitimate societal issues and challenges that need to be addressed, tackled, and dealt with by the media. But, as always, there are many hypocrites and some influential people who are too conservative and want things to stay as they are. They try their best to keep the ‘status quo’. This is the main reason why Dawood Al-Shiryan has many critics and ‘enemies’ working behind the scene to bring about his downfall.

Dawood Al-Shiryan has a well-respected history in journalism, writing, and TV presentation. It is very difficult to do justice to the man in one article. I will, therefore, offer here some brief details to help the reader make a rough idea of his status and his achievements.

Dawood Abdulaziz Mohammed Al-Shiryan was born on 15 August 1954 in Unayzah, Saudi Arabia. Some sources say he was born in 1957 in Riyadh. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies from King Saud University in Riyadh in 1976. He began his career in journalism in 1977 with the Saudi Al-Jazira newspaper but he practiced journalism when he was in his third year of university study. He then joined Al-Yamamah magazine in 1977 and became its managing editor. He also worked as its acting editor-in-chief now and then and contributed to its development.

In 1980 Dawood Al-Shiryan became the first correspondent for the Associated Press in Saudi Arabia. In 1985 he went to the US and attended a session on the English Language and Journalism. In 1987 he founded a company for Documentation and Information and became its General Manager. In addition, he held the following positions:

• 1987 he worked as the Director-General and Editor-in-Chief of “Al-Dawah” magazine. He also became a member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi National Company for Distribution.
•  In 1989 he became the Chairman of the international magazine “The Muslims” and a member in the Board of Directors of the Saudi Company for Researches.
•  In 1993 he was appointed as the Chairman and first executive of management of Al-Hayat newspaper in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. He also became a member of the Board of Directors of Al-Hayat Publishing House in London until 2003.
• In 2004 he hosted a weekly political program called, “The Article” on Abu Dhabi TV. The program was awarded the Silver Prize for debate and talk programs at Al-Jazeera Network Festival. It was the only program awarded a prize for talk programs after the Gold Prize was withheld in the Festival.
• In October 2006 he became Deputy Director-General of Al-Arabiya Channel and the Director-General of MBC Group in Saudi Arabia. He also became a member of the Board of Directors of Al-Arabiya Channel and a member of the Board of Directors of MBC Group.
• In May 2009, he became the Editor-in-Chief of Al-Arabiya net.

Dawood Al-Shiryan is a specialist in column writing. He wrote a weekly column for Al-Yamamah Magazine for more than seven years. He also wrote a daily column for the newspapers of Al-Bilad (The Country)), Alyom (Today) and Al-Riyadh for more than four years. He then transferred his column “The Weakest Faith” to Al-Hayat newspaper in 1996. This column has become very popular and is regarded as one of the most important political columns in Arab journalism. Dawood Al-Shiryan also wrote for many local and Arab newspapers and magazines. He also attempted to write dramas and plays. His style has been distinguished for its direct and satiric tones.

Dawood Al-Shiryan also worked as a lecturer on two subjects: Journalist Report and Journalist Investigation. He lectured to the final-year students of journalism at the University of Al-Imam Mohammed bin Saud. He also lectured to the staff of Saudi News Agency, the staff of the government newspapers and magazines through the programs of the Public Institute of Administration for Training. He was the first journalist to be selected to teach in Saudi universities and institutes.

On 27 November 2017, he was appointed as the President (Chairman) of the Saudi Radio and TV Broadcasting Corporation until December 2020.

Dawood Al-Shiryan was fond of acting for the theater before he took up journalism and TV hosting. He played a role in a play called Market for Donkeys in Mohammed Fareed theater in Cairo, Egypt.

 More than twenty-five years ago, Dawood Al-Shiryan published in his column “The Weakest Faith” an article in Arabic titled "????? ????? ?????? ?????"The Children of the Cat and the Children of the Dog republished in Al-Hayat newspaper on 22 November 2015.

According to this “theory” or concept, the cats do not care about the feelings or well-being of their children. They are concerned about the security aspect only. If the cat feels its children are in danger, it will move them to another place. The cat does not care whether this new place is cold or warm, clean or dirty. The important thing is that the new place should provide security for its children. This is why some people say, “Are we the children of the cat?” when they feel they are mistreated or being treated improperly. Contrary to the cats, the dogs treat their children in a nice and elevated way taking into account the cleanliness, the well-being, and the luxury of the places where their children live. If we want to use the language of politics, we may say that the dogs bring up their children in five-star hotels and the cats bring up their children in very simple motels. Hence, people have started to say, “He is a child of a dog” as a metaphor for a life of luxury and capability and other metaphors associated with a life in a five-star hotel.

Politics has borrowed this concept of the children of the cats and the children of the dogs. There are countries and governments that treat their citizens in the same way the cats treat their children; and there are other governments and countries that treat their citizens like the treatment of the dogs to their children. If it is said this is an undeveloped country, then you should understand that the government treats their citizens from the “security” angle only and leaves aside the other important aspects of life. On the other hand, the developing country treats its citizens very well and provides them with all the comforts and luxuries of life.

This concept seems to work very well with what we see nowadays with the underdeveloped and developing countries, especially in the Middle East where most of the governments spend most of the national budgets on security and the purchases of weapons and arms just to keep their citizens safe or so they claim! The comforts of modern life are out of the question. The citizens of these countries should live like the children of the cat!

Dawood Al-Shiryan hosted many TV programs for the MBC, Abu Dhabi TV, and Saudi Broadcasting Corporation. But he is well-known for his TV social program Al-Thamina (The Eighth) which he hosted on MBC1 from 17 March 2012 until 12 November 20017.

Dawood Al-Shiryan’s TV program Al-Thamina (The Eighth) (presented at 8 o’clock every day) was one of the most popular TV programs in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. It used to raise serious social problems and issues facing the ordinary Saudi and Arab citizens in their daily lives and in their future aspirations. Dawood Al Shiryan did not use to shy away from discussing important vital issues and problems and used to try his best to find reasonable solutions for them through a panel in his program and through direct telephone contacts with Saudi officials and ministers. King Salman was one of the people who contacted him in one episode of the program when King Salman was the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

Al-Thamina did not use to tackle any political problem or issue. It used to focus on the social and societal challenges, especially those related to economic development and social reforms. This is why the program became very popular. I almost watched all its episodes for more than five years. It was just the program that the Saudis and the Arabs need to enhance the quality of their lives instead of all the garbage programs that bombard us every day, praising the Arab governments for their “fictional” great achievements while their people do not find even food to eat, let alone the basic necessities of modern life. Dawood Al Shiryan has always been part of the Saudi establishment; so there is no reason whatsoever to suspect his motives in raising sensitive issues and challenges and his attempts to find reasonable and acceptable solutions. In fact, this is the true mission of any journalist who really respects his profession and is faithful to true journalism.

Al-Thamina started in 2012 and was a lighthouse for some sort of freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. It was this sort of freedom and its unusual boldness and courage that attracted millions of viewers in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. If there is a reform movement anywhere in the Arab world, then Al-Thamina is exactly the sort of program urgently needed to help such a movement achieve its short-term and long-term goals.

Al-Thamina was canceled by the MBC some time ago without telling us the reason. It was canceled despite its enormous popularity and in spite of the fact that it is urgently needed at this stage of development and freedom in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world.

Dawood Al-Shiryan has been assigned another program to present on MBC 1. The new program is titled “Families Challenge” (???? ????????). The show is the Arabic version of the American Program Family Feud directed by international host Steve Harvey. The Families Challenge is a very simple version of the original program. It is a show of competition between two families selected for each episode to compete to give answers to questions prepared in advance and are asked by Dawood Al-Shiryan; the answers are checked of their accuracy and suitability against a list of answers also prepared in advance. The two families will get some money in return for their correct answers. I saw something of the program and has found it a trivial program to be presented by a giant like Dawood Al-Shiryan. The program does not fit a giant like Dawood Al-Shiryan nor does the style of Dawood Al-Shiryan fit the program. I just do not know why the MBC management has chosen Dawood Al-Shiryan to present such a program. This program fits a female teenager, an amateur young woman, or even a robot! In addition, the questions are very simple and some answers are scientifically inaccurate. One question asks about something that melts in the mouth and the answer is (sugar). Another question asks about the foods that cause indigestion and the correct answer according to the program is “dairy products” which is completely inaccurate. Dairy products are nutritional and very good for health and they do not cause indigestion; so from where did the program bring the answer? The irony is that the MBC, in this program and in others, always advertises for all sorts of dairy products and shows commercials urging customers to use them! 

Dawood Al-Shiryan is a talented media personality and a gifted host of talk shows and debate programs on radio and TV. For me, he could be a Saudi and Arab counterpart of the American talk show legendary Larry King of CNN (1933 – 2021) in his famous and international talk show “Larry King Live” which ran from 1985 till 2010. The one-hour talk show was broadcast three times a day and was watched all over the world on CNN International. It was CNN’s most-watched and longest-running program, with more than one million viewers nightly. Every night, Larry King interviewed one or more prominent personalities, usually celebrities, politicians, scientists, and businesspeople. He hosted more than 50,000 interviews.

We should also mention here Stephen Sackur of BBC in his Hardtalk-- a current affairs interview program on BBC World News and the BBC News Channel. This program is rightly regarded as one of the most famous and illuminating international talk programs in the world.

We do not see any reason why Dawood Al-Shiryan should not be assigned a talk show that could match Larry King Live or Stephen Sackur’s Hardtalk; if not at the international level, then at least at the regional level. Dawood Al-Shiryan has all the talents and skills to do that.

The cancellation of Al-Thamina program by the MBC managers and the assignment of Dawood Al-Shiryan to present a trivial program, “Families Challenge", was not an oversight. It was a deliberate act of backward mentality and bad management. If this was not an insult and was not an act of humiliation for Dawood Al-Shiryan, then it was an insult and humiliation to all his viewers, followers, and all those who advocate freedom of expression and social reforms in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. The MBC managers should be ashamed of themselves.