Muscat, The Ministry of Information, represented by Oman Daily, celebrated the 50th anniversary of issuance of Oman newspaper’s first edition.

The ceremony, held at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, was held under the auspices of Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information, and attended by media personnel, intellectuals and the paper’s founders from Oman and abroad.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abdullah said that newspapers around the world have become accustomed to marking their milestones by getting a pause during which they contemplate their accomplishments.

The minister pointed out that daily action in the field of press provides no room for celebration outside the 8 columns of the paper, both in print form and in electronic form. The true celebration of journalism stems from a resolve to achieve more progress and realize success in all aspects of the profession, he added.

Dr. Abdullah said that Oman Daily constitutes the greatest evidence of achievements made throughout the march of the Sultanate of Oman—the nation, the state and society—over half a century. The paper “symbolizes the Book of Life in the march of modern Omani renaissance,” he observed.

“Over the the past five decades, Oman Daily’s role was not limited to monitoring achievements and presenting them to society, but rather establishing social awareness, building a patriotic spirit that was essential at the start of the country’s renaissance and contributing to the evolution of an ‘enlightenment discourse’ for shaping Omani identity,” the minister said.

During the celebration, Dr. Abdullah inaugurated a postage stamp commemorating Oman Daily’s 50th anniversary. age stamp was initiated in conjunction with Oman Post.

The minister also opened an exhibition showcasing the stride of Oman Daily, as well as a visual presentation on the paper’s stages of development. The presentation included a dialogue with the first editorial staff of Oman Daily.

The ceremony included a symposium, titled “This nation and this paper”, featuring the political, cultural and social settings that gave rise to the paper, its content, its press discourse and its stance on all matters.

Source: Oman News Agency