Al-Hayat daily

The number 60 is frequently used by local media, especially by ministers and top officials. For example, the Minister of Finance was reported to say that 60 percent of Saudis are rich; Shoura Council member Khalil Al-Khalil was reported to say that 60 percent of young Saudi men are ready to join terrorist organizations; and the Minister of Health was reported to say that 60 percent of Saudis suffer from obesity.

Nowadays, the number 200,000 is also frequently used in the media. Al-Madinah daily reported the other day that the Industrial Energy City, which will be built soon, will create 200,000 job opportunities. It appears that this number was mentioned by experts interviewed by the newspaper. I did a quick search on this figure and found that it was cited by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and the Ministry of Transportation. Both ministries signed an agreement after which the spokespersons were quoted as saying that the agreement would create 200,000 job opportunities.

In fact, not only Saudi newspapers use this figure, but also Kuwaiti newspapers. The other day, I read a report in a Kuwaiti daily saying that a newly-developed island would create 200,000 job opportunities. Is this a magical number or what?

We tend to use large figures when we talk about development projects that are being implemented or will be implemented in the future and when we make official statements to the media. In reality, only a small number of job opportunities are created. It was said that the economic cities would create a large number of job opportunities but in reality they did not. People no longer believe such figures.

To restore trust, we need to cite the correct figures without exaggeration because the wrong figures will undermine the credibility of the spokesperson and the official authority they represent. People will no longer take such news reports seriously.