News coverage of scientific discoveries in Qatar: Low localization and its socio-institutional causes

The study analyzes 429 news articles from six local newspapers and interviews with 15 journalists and editors to assess the state of local science journalism in Qatar. Despite significant investments in scientific infrastructure, local science news has not kept pace, with most stories sourced from foreign agencies and lacking contextual relevance. This is due to a science-unfriendly news culture where local science is not seen as newsworthy for the largely expatriate audience, and “copy-and-paste” journalism is prevalent. The study recommends addressing structural challenges to foster a news culture that values and supports local science journalism in Qatar and beyond.