Turki al-Sudairi

Turki Bin Abdullah Bin Nasser al-Sudairi (1944-2017) is a Saudi journalist, media personality and writer. He is one of the pillars of journalism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He was bestowed with the title King of Journalism by King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and headed the Saudi Journalists Association. Additionally, al-Sudairi was the first president of the Gulf Press Union, served as the editor-in-chief of al-Riyadh newspaper from 1974 to 2015, and authored several collections of short stories.

Turki al-Sudairi was born in 1944 in al-Ghat Governorate affiliated with Riyadh Province, and he received his education in the capital, Riyadh. He developed an interest in literature and journalism early in his professional life and subsequently supervised several editorial departments at al-Riyadh newspaper before becoming its editor-in-chief in 1974. He held this position for about forty-one years, until 2015, before assuming the role of general supervisor until his passing.

Turki al-Sudairi served as Chairman of the Founding Committee of the Saudi Journalists Association for three terms in 2004, 2008, and 2012. Additionally, he was elected President of the Gulf Press Union from 2005 to 2009. He also held membership on the board of the Arab Journalism Award in the United Arab Emirates and the Board of Directors of al-Yamamah Press Foundation.

Turki al-Sudairi sought to make women a major element in journalistic work and contributed to their empowerment in the media, administrative, and technical fields, even before they were given the opportunity to study media in Saudi universities. Seven years after he became editor-in-chief of al-Riyadh newspaper, he established the women’s section in the newspaper in 1980. It was the first female editorial department in the Saudi press. He also created the position of part-time female managing editor, and Dr. Khairiyah al-Saqqaf was the first to assume this role.

Turki al-Sudairi was renowned for his column, 'Leqaa' (Meeting), which debuted in 1972 in issue No. 2,300 of al-Riyadh newspaper. This column held the distinction of being the longest-running in the Saudi press, enduring for approximately forty-three years. 'Leqaa' was regarded as a historical document at the political level, and its influence led several newspapers to publish it alongside al-Riyadh newspaper, including Bahrain's al-Ayam newspaper and various London-based newspapers.

Turki al-Sudairi authored several collections of short stories. In 1991, he published his short-story collection titled 'Hadi Badi'. In 1994, his second collection, 'Naqat al-Awni', was published. Additionally, in 2012, he authored a book entitled 'Islam and Sports'.

Several entities honored Turki al-Sudairi after his passing, in recognition of his contributions to journalism and media. One of the honoring initiatives is that the Riyadh Municipality has named a street in the capital, Riyadh, after him in 2023. In the same year, al-Ahsa Literary Club held a celebration honoring the late man, attended by notable figures, writers, and media professionals. During the event, his daughter, Dr. Hind Turki al-Sudairi, reviewed her father’s achievements, his media career, and some of the positions he took in various media events.

Among the initiatives is the release of the film 'King of Journalism', directed and produced by the brothers Hassan and Ali Saeed al-Madlouh. The film was first screened in 2023 at the Saudi Film Festival, organized by the Cinema Society in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), with the support of the Film Commission. The fifty-three-minute film explores al-Sudairi’s media career spanning four decades. It features interviews with several of his peers, including Abdulrahman al-Rashed, former editor-in-chief of Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, and writer Youssef al-Kuwailet. Media figures from the current generation also commented on his career, including Imad al-Abad, Hani al-Ghufaili, Mamdouh al-Muhaini, General Manager of al-Arabiya and al-Hadath channels, as well as his son Mazen al-Sudairi.