By Walid Al-Saqaf
Daniel Pearl Fellow
Editor, Yemen Times
Sana’a, Yemen
Hosted by the Washington, DC bureau of The Wall Street Journal

In the US: What I learned
There is no doubt in my mind that I have learned a lot from my experience as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal for five full months. The most important things I learned were:

Research is 80% of the story:
I was told from the very beginning that for any story I want to be published in the WSJ, I will have to spend plenty of time doing thorough research. So I did my research by using the available tools such as FACTIVA search engine, the World Wide Web, the library available to WSJ staffers, and also by talking to other reporters who worked on the subject of the story.

Upon finding all I needed from readily available tools, I then pursued further research to points in which I had doubts that would need thorough and specific feedback. This was usually done by contacting experts or academicians who are specialized or have been involved in the subject of the story. They were not necessarily going to be quoted, but their information was useful to pursue a more complete and in-depth story.

Factual accuracy is a MUST:
Working for a world-class newspaper such as the WSJ made me understand the importance of factual accuracy, and the need to – on many occasions – triple check the facts. I have come to the point where I would literally count the digits of numbers in my stories even though I may have copied and pasted them from reliable sources. My experience taught me not to take things for granted, but rather assume that there should at least be a bunch of invalid facts or assumptions in my story, and those must be corrected. In fact, there always was when I checked my articles.

Better editing makes better stories:
I have also come to realize the emphasis the WSJ makes on editing. They have a strict and comprehensive editing policy, which is sometimes frustrating for a newcomer. But in time, I realized that this was for the best for all sides. It is best for the reader in particular, who will be reading a story that had been well-refined, simplified, validated, and perfected.

Teamwork & deadlines:
I have also learned that teamwork is encouraged in a professional newspaper environment, particularly when there is limited time. I remember the London bombing story that I contributed to. There was more than one name in the byline and at the bottom of the story, there were names of those who contributed to it. Some reporters were not physically in the same location. It amused me to see how many people could work independently and then have their produced work weaved into a perfect and complete story. Of course, the main responsibility here is shouldered by the ingenious editors who give the assignments to each journalist, and then receive the feedback and put it all into one piece. That is marvelous work that shows how powerful and well-coordinated the WSJ’s reporters and editors are.

And much more:
I’ve learned how to draft questions based on research, how to fix timetables that match my schedule, how to approach individuals through public relations schemes and more.

At Home: What I’ll do
Of course, what I learned will not be of any use unless implemented in practice, and that is why I have plans and ideas that can help me use the knowledge attained in this program. Fortunately, being my own boss – as the Editor of Yemen Times – helps a lot!

Apply what I learned to my own work:
All that I have learned I shall apply to my future work – right away – and that can be done by:

Training:
Training will be the most vital process in any drive to improve performance in my newspaper because only then will I maximize the benefit from the program and spread the knowledge. I’m planning to train myself gradually in a year or so to become a trainer and teach what I learned through workshops, seminars, on-the-job training, and even informal meetings. But that doesn’t mean that I won’t start training, in whatever capacity I can, immediately after I return.

Collaborate with others worldwide:
The program proved to me that there are many organizations in the world willing to give a hand and promote professional journalism. So starting in 2006, I plan to start communicating with NGOs and institutions in Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere, to bring trainers, invite journalists for activities, and collaborate to enhance the standard of journalism.

Push for stronger newspaper structures:
My AFPF experience made me realize that stronger newspapers in the U.S. usually have better staffers, up-to-date facilities and equipment, more connections, research facilities, and most important of all, better management. But most newspapers in Yemen are on the brink of collapse and need urgent assistance. I initiated the establishment of the Yemeni Newspapers Association with the aim of raising the standard of Yemeni newspapers and working with international organizations to achieve this by training managers and focusing on ignored aspects of training including marketing, layout, human resource development, etc. I’ll continue this effort upon return.

Share enthusiasm and achieve success:
I believe that producing better stories that appeal to the readers using those ideas will raise the level of enthusiasm of my colleagues. I expect that the better quality achieved in the paper, the higher the circulation and the higher the income of journalists will be and that is, frankly, the best motivation. Better circulation will be a direct indication of success of my participation in the program. Perhaps the best way to celebrate such a success is to nominate more Yemeni journalists to AFPF and other programs, and even potentially form some kind of partnership with similar organizations to hold activities in Yemen and/or elsewhere in the Arab world.