Power lies with the Fourth Estate

In the real world, nothing happens at the right place at the right time. It is the job of journalists and historians to correct that."
This may be a rather jaundiced view of the journalists' profession from Mark Twain, but since the early 17th century, when the first newspapers were introduced in Europe and pioneering journalists began to report on local events or happenings further afield, newspapers were relied upon to provide a factual account of a situation, and an insight into the story that had shaped those events. It was these early editions that marked the beginning of mass communication.

Isobel Abulhoul OBE is CEO & Trustee, Emirates Literature Foundation; and Director, Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
Since those first days, ethics have dictated that journalists should only report on the facts that are available at the time of reporting, not their opinion of events. As a consequence, the relationship that a newspaper has with the reader is built upon trust - the reader trusts that the newsdesk of their newspaper is presenting an unvarnished account of the story, giving them the information they need to draw their own conclusions.
Newspapers provide a platform for incisive interviews with the people making the news, giving them the opportunity to put their point of view across and the reader to assess the validity of their argument. All publications have their own allegiances and these are often reflected in the opinion pieces that present a particular view of the world or slant on an issue. These are often designed to provoke a response, giving an alternative perspective of a story rather than one that chimes with the consensus, challenging people to think in a different way and consider alternatives.
Investigative journalism also has a part to play in how readers view the world and championing issues to bring them to the public's attention has had a long and honourable tradition in the press. Charles Dickens, who, like many novelists, began his writing career as a journalist, campaigned for the rights of the homeless and dispossessed, leading to his early stories being serialised in the press and ultimately inspiring and informing his body of work. The word 'Dickensian' immediately conjures up visions of the accepted view of the poor in Victorian England, and it is Dickens' work as a reporter, amid the streets of London, that ignited his desire to help and to highlight the plight of the poverty stricken.
The stories that provide a view into the world may not always be initiated by dramatic events or great upheavals but by gentler insights. The pages of a newspaper might enable readers to get a flavour of another country through their travel or cookery columns or gain an insight into another person's life struggles in the features section. I love reading book reviews and author interviews, so in addition to relying on newspapers to keep me up to date with the world at large, they also bring me huge enjoyment. In fact, one of the key reasons why I would choose one newspaper over another, apart from the issue of trust in the integrity of the reportage, would be the quality of the crosswords and other puzzles, which for me are such a draw.
It is the power of words to inform, educate, enlighten and entertain that gives the reader an opportunity to see other viewpoints and appreciate that there may be a different way of approaching a situation, or of viewing the world, or simply show that life experiences are universal to all and part of the human condition, no matter their nationality, beliefs or culture. A well-crafted article can provoke discussion, and in the last 40 years there have been tumultuous changes in the way that a number of issues are viewed around the world. The media has highlighted the status of women, for example, bringing changing attitudes in many countries toward the education of girls, placing the spotlight on behaviours towards women in India, and publicising the #MeToo campaign, which has brought to light the treatment of women in the workplace. Closer to home, there have been campaigns to improve the rights of labourers and domestic staff. These changes in attitude would not have been possible without the power of the media.
In today's world, everyone has an opinion and the capacity to share their views to thousands - or millions - of people via the power of social media. The rolling news agenda online and through the news channels means that there is a constant bombardment of knee-jerk reactions, a diet of fast news to be consumed along with fast food. With 'fake news' hitting the headlines on an almost daily basis, the trust that people had in the media has been tested. Well-researched, factual, unbiased and balanced viewpoints are ever more crucial tools in providing informed and considered comment and debate. 
It is through traditional newspapers such as Khaleej Times that world events can be viewed in an insightful, intelligent and knowledgeable manner, facilitating an understanding of the complex issues that shape the future of us all.