Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Information and Culture will begin its promotion of electronic journalism and online based media as it looks to fill an important gap in the local media industry, according to Zawya.com.

Saudi journalists are reported to be in support of the move, but they will not be able to launch online news ventures until the measure is approved by the government. Opening the Internet to journalists as a source and forum will be fundamental to developing news outlets in the country. This development will hinge on the expansion and introduction of new technology and the utilisation of contemporary online media.

"For e-journalism to be a success, new technology has to be applied, such as videos, sound files, multimedia services, chat rooms, and facilities for readers to leave messages," said Sara Al-Etaibi, editor-in-chief of Saudi Specialized Publishing Company. "There is no professional electronic newspaper in the Kingdom. Most Arabic newspapers have launched an official Web site in order to keep pace with the evolution of electronic journalism, but these Web sites are still very poor and do not employ the techniques that should be used in an electronic newspaper."

Abdullah Balbaid, editor-in-chief of Radians Information Network, said that some media members still consider the development of Internet-based media outlets a risk in the strict Islamic society. They fear the lack of clear definition of journalists' rights and responsibilities in the online environment.

The development of e-media comes as part of Information Minister Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja's plan to evolve Saudi media. Khoja is a former ambassador, and has said he is "determined to open new vistas for the Saudi media that are more open to the world."

"The ministry issued its new plan to promote e-media by providing a system of regulation in cooperation with the Arab Media Standing Committee. This system will make clear the rules under which e-journalism can operate," said Abdurrahman Al-Hazza'a, a senior official in the ministry.