In an address to the graduates, Al-Ansari reflected on his experience during the 2017 blockade and warned graduates against chasing clicks over truth in an era of agenda-driven journalism
Majed Al-Ansari, Adviser to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged Northwestern University in Qatar’s (NU-Q) Class of 2026 to stand firm against efforts to suppress the truth and honour the courage of journalists killed in Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan.
“Journalism is not just a profession. For many, it is a sacred duty that led to the ultimate sacrifice. Journalists, at many times not older than many of you today, gave up their lives in Gaza, in Lebanon, in Sudan, and around the world in the pursuit of truth,” said Al-Ansari.
Al-Ansari delivered the graduation address at NU-Q’s Class of 2026 ceremony on Monday in Doha, attended by graduates, their families, faculty, and university leadership. The ceremony opened with the national anthems of Qatar and the United States.
Reflecting on his own path, Al-Ansari recalled making media appearances during the 2017 blockade on Qatar, when he provided analysis and presented the country’s narrative to international audiences.
“Navigating the turbulent waters of media narratives, agenda-based journalism, and targeted campaigns against my country was not easy. I made a lot of mistakes. […] And at that moment, I realized my voice was no longer mine. It became part of something much bigger,” said Al-Ansari.
He described the weight of becoming an official spokesperson, telling graduates that once in the role, one speaks not as an individual but on behalf of the people and the country.
On its website, NU-Q said Al-Ansari has been central to communicating Qatar’s foreign policy positions since his appointment in 2022, engaging with international audiences through media briefings, diplomatic outreach, and academic forums.
“I stepped into that role knowing that I was leaving behind much of myself. Because in that role, your own narrative takes a step back, and the narrative of your country takes the lead,” Al-Ansari said.
Al-Ansari also reflected on the state of the media industry, warning graduates against prioritising visibility over accuracy.
“Serious journalism, the kind that once competed for credibility and truth, is now often pulled into a different race, one driven by controversy and visibility,” he said, cautioning that the question in journalism had shifted from who got it right to who got there first or who made the most noise.
In his concluding remarks, Al-Ansari urged the newly graduated students of Northwestern University in Qatar to stand firm against efforts to suppress the truth.
Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) is a premier branch campus of the U.S.-based Northwestern University located in Doha’s Education City, offering undergraduate degrees in journalism, communication, and liberal arts.
