RIYADH: The proportion of women working for Arab News rose to more than a third in 2018, moving closer toward the Riyadh-based newspaper’s target to have a 50:50 gender-balanced newsroom by 2020. The ratio of women working across the global operations — including editorial staff in the Saudi, London and Dubai bureaus, regular Opinion writers and foreign correspondents — stood at 35 percent at the end of 2018. That compares to 31 percent in 2017 and just 13 percent the previous year, according to Arab News’ “Gender equality meter,” published today. Arab News last year outlined its aim to become the first newspaper in Saudi Arabia to have a gender-balanced newsroom. The drive — referred to internally as the “50:50 by 2020” initiative — covers all the newspaper’s bureaus and areas of operation. The increase in the proportion of female staff last year was the result of active recruitment, increased training initiatives, and steps to provide career guidance with the help of the newspaper’s publisher, the Saudi Research and Marketing Group. Faisal J. Abbas, editor in chief of Arab News, said the newspaper’s “50:50 by 2020” initiative reflected the wider reform drive in Saudi Arabia, part of which is to encourage more women into work. “Having a diverse newsroom is not about ticking boxes — it is about giving equal opportunities to skilled journalists based in Saudi Arabia and beyond, while also providing training and nurturing young talent within the Kingdom,” said Abbas. “It is also about serving our community better by doing what we do best — quality, insightful and inclusive journalism.” “Our ‘50:50 by 2020’ initiative is in line with the positive steps in Saudi Arabia toward giving opportunities to everyone in society, especially the burgeoning youth population.” Further announcements regarding the progress of the “50:50 by 2020” initiative will be made in the future, along with updates to the Arab News “Gender equality meter.”