I have been fortunate to witness the transition and transformation of Kuwait Times into a modern newspaper of the technology era. Ever since it was established in 1961, it has been evolving in tandem with the time, pioneering the change in the newspaper industry. By 1997, the time when I joined the newspaper, the Kuwait Times was on the threshold of a full-fledged computerization, leaving behind an era of typesetting and linotype machine composing.

Till then, we used to collect galleys from the telex machine or teleprinter machines, which would then be corrected by hand and proofread. Then the pages would be made up, imposed and printed while distribution was carried out by hand. But, with the advent of computers, copyediting, proofreading and the printing became easier, bringing in more flexibility in accommodating latest news.

The turn of the 21st century saw the rise of a new journalism medium for a new millennium: The Internet. While many newspapers remained diffident and sluggish in the face of the Internet revolution, Kuwait Times took the plunge, adapting to new platforms and technologies to stay in tune with the technology innovation. Interestingly, followers of the old school of journalism have found it increasingly difficult to stay afloat in a media world where newer types of journalism have flourished and reigned, creating an altogether new media landscape.

Today, with the vibrant and dynamic social media section such as X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, et al, Kuwait Times has carved out a niche for itself as a dynamic media house, pioneering the change along with other major media houses across the world. Although the impact of the Internet on journalism is simply a microcosm of the larger phenomenon of dramatic change brought about by the online digital revolution, the challenges for the media were multifarious in the fast-changing digital world.

The Internet has irrevocably accelerated the pace of the news, as journalists race to stay ahead of each other as well as their readers’ demands. At the same time, the newspaper has to deliver the news in a fact-based and objective manner without compromising on objectivity. Kuwait Times is fully conscious about the fact that journalists in the digital age must operate in a world where the news cycle moves faster.

So, it is vitally important for the newspaper to strike a balance between timely reporting and maintaining the veracity and truthfulness of the news that is being disseminated. At the same time, it is imperative to promote a perspective through a lens that includes fair framing, editing and reporting.