Qatar News Agency is the official news agency of the State of Qatar. It has been in operation since 1975. In 2022, the agency launched its Spanish, French and German services.
Media assets
News agency: QNA
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
QNA was established by the Emiri decree No. 94 of 1975. The agency is owned by the state and formally affiliated with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The agency’s editor-in-chief reports directly to the minister of information. The ministry issues all the decisions regarding the organization of the QNA. The agency’s director general is appointed by the Emir of Qatar. In 2021, Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani appointed through a decree Ahmed Said Jaber Al Rumaihi as Director-General of QNA.
Source of funding and budget
According to Emiri decree No. 94, QNA is fully funded through a state subsidy that is included in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology annual budget.
Editorial independence
As a ministry-run agency, QNA follows a set of editorial rules imposed on the station by the Qatari government. Criticism of the authorities is not allowed at QNA.
There is no domestic statute or independent assessment/oversight mechanism that would validate the independence of QNA.
July 2024