Law: Foreign correspondents and media houses can operate with licence

Muscat: The new media law issued by Royal Decree 58/2024 ensures a safe environment for media work and prevents restrictions on the press and media while emphasizing preventing the spread of misinformation and rumors that could harm the country's reputation and cause harm to the society with inappropriate content that can be an incitement to hatred and violence

Article 23 of the law states that correspondents of non-Omani press institutions, media institutions, and electronic media sites may work in the country after obtaining a licence from the Ministry under the conditions specified in the regulations.

Article 22 states that a media professional may work as a correspondent in non-Omani press institutions, media institutions, and electronic media sites within the country, provided that he obtains a licence to do so from the Ministry in the manner specified in the regulations.

A media professional may work in attracting or publishing advertisements, or obtain any cash amounts or in-kind benefits by publishing or broadcasting advertisements in any capacity, signing an advertising material in his name, or participating with his voice or image in paid commercial advertisements, after obtaining permission from the press or media institution in which he works. In the event of a violation,

the violating media professional is obligated to return the value of the cash amounts or in-kind benefits he obtained to the press or media institution in which he works, without prejudice to his accountability.

Article 20 states that a journalist shall perform his work with complete independence, and it is not permissible to interfere in his work or practice means of pressure and coercion against him, including depriving him of performing his work or writing or publishing or transferring him to a non-journalistic or media job without a legitimate reason.

Article 19: The media professional has the right to publish or broadcast news, information, and data that are not prohibited by this law or any other law while Article (18) states that anyone who wishes to practice the media profession must obtain a license to do so from the Ministry under the conditions, procedures, and controls specified in this law and the regulations.