Abu Dhabi’s new English newspaper

HF says the birth of his paper is a reflection of good economic times in the UAE: This is one of the fastest growing countries in the world and those are our readers. (Is each and every article monitored and scrutinized by the Royal Family?) We don’t have anyone from the government in our offices and like the BBC, there is a difference between being government owned and government run. We have a lively debate about the stories we’re covering and the editorial priorities of the paper. We don’t want to be burdened by the past. I think people lose sight of the realities by focusing so much on censorship. (How will it work out in the long run by the fact that you don’t want to be burdened by editorial practices of the past?) Well fundamentally quality is my weapon, and if I can produce a high enough caliber of a newspaper, then I will succeed. (How about your coverage of Jimmy Carter’s visit to the Middle East? How did that differ?) It emphasized that dialogue is better than no dialogue. We intend to take a sober, learned view of the conflicts that surround us and trying to find solutions to them. We embrace a sophisticated view of the world and we acknowledge the wrongs on both sides. (How palpable is the conflict Iraq while living in Abu Dhabi?) This is not a dangerous place. For us it’s easy, like many Americans, to forget about what’s going on around you. Life is normal here, there is no insecurity. At the same time, you know if a conflict arises between Iran and the US, it’s just nextdoor and it will affect you directly.