By Mohammed Arai
Muslim media, as it stands, should allow us to have a positive view of it. – Farid Sayed
The veteran journalist, a former editor at Muslim News, and the founding editor of Muslim Views, Farid Sayed, spoke to Salaamedia on the #TributeToMuslimBroadcastersSA segment. Sayed has been practising as a journalist for 45 years.
Sayed believes that we should have a positive view of Muslim media, but he also believes that a lot needs to be done for it to move towards mainstream media. “We need Muslim journalists to go into mainstream media, and the Muslim media needs to cover stories that matter, particularly to the marginalised and the poor,” suggests Sayed. “We should not let the strengthening of Muslim media be to the exclusion of Muslim [journalists] wanting to go into mainstream media.” Sayed accentuates Khadija Patel, the editor-in-chief of the Mail & Guardian, and Qaanitah Hunter, a senior political journalist at the Sunday Times, as Muslim journalists who have excelled in South Africa’s mainstream media. “These are the people at the top of media in this country and we are proud of them.”
Responding to the issue of lack of investment into Muslim media, Sayed highlighted the importance of resources being channelled from within the Muslim community to keep the Muslim media operational and effective. “We have Muslim businesses contributing through advertisements, but what about Muslim professionals? They can also contribute towards Muslim media through, for example, subscriptions.” Sayed believes that Muslim media needs to start being creative in how it seeks funding.
When asked how the Muslim media outlets should handle diversity in views, Sayed said: “We have to handle our internal differences with a sense of maturity and take into account the greater good of the community.”
Sayed lauded Salaamedia for introducing the #TributeToMuslimBroadcastersSA segment and bringing together journalists that have served – and continue to serve – in different media institutions. This segment is an exclusive Ramadan broadcast on our platform, inspired by the late Ebrahim Gangat who was well known for his broadcasting talent.
Watch the full interview here:
