We’ve been talking about it for years, and God help me, I’m starting to get my hopes up. 

That’s because today, Qatar-based Arabic daily newspaper Al-Sharq published details of a draft media law proposed by the Ministry of Culture’s Department of Communications. 

Highlights include:

• Support and appointment of Qatari journalists through the Ministry of Culture
• Not requiring news websites, periodicals and e-newspapers to hold licenses
• Empowering a committee to set conditions when appointing Editors-in-Chief
• Promoting and supporting media freedom and eliminating censorship in newspapers
• Establishing terms for obtaining a media license: Applicant be a Qatari media professional who is at least 21 years old
• The exemption of government media entities from falling under the law
• A clause that states journalists shall not be allowed to receive any donations or financial benefits

This is pending approval from authorities, but looks great like an improvement to me! What are your thoughts?