It is difficult to talk about the journey of the dean of Saudi journalism, Turki Al-Sudairi, who has a long journalistic history, through which he contributed to the establishment of a journalism school that extended outside the country and raised the status of the Saudi media at the level of the Arab world.
Those close to the late Al-Sudairi confirm that he is close to everyone, a benefactor and supportive of youth, and is passionate about his work, as he is keen to stand with his colleagues in their difficult circumstances without them knowing, and presents it to them as a monthly reward, so that they do not feel or feel the matter.
The former editor-in-chief of Al-Riyadh newspaper, Suleiman Al-Osaimi, told Okaz: “With the departure of Turki Al-Sudairi, I lost a teacher, a teacher and a brother.
And he adds: Turki Al-Sudairi is a symbol of the Arab and Saudi media, transferring the press in the Kingdom from the local to the regional, Arab and international, and he contributed in the Saudi press industry, and most of the editors-in-chief in the newspapers graduated from his school, pointing out that Turki was noble, generous, with high morals, and supportive of youth .
While the former editor-in-chief of “Okaz” newspaper, Dr. Hashem Abdo Hashem, confirms that three important aspects in the life of the late Turki Al-Sudairi cannot be ignored, the first being that he is an authentic symbol in the history of modern Saudi journalism, and the second is for those who do not know the truth about Turki, who is an intellectual who enriched the journalistic process with his abundant knowledge. The diverse, and the third that cannot be forgotten is that he is the maker of several generations in the field of journalism or his various work sites.
He said, "The loss is great, we all mourn him today, and the country loses a great stature in the value of Turki Al-Sudairi," noting that his relationship with Turki extends for more than 40 years, punctuated by many internal and external trips with the country's officials, noting, "Despite the sensitivities of the profession, work, and competition between us, but That all this was too weak to affect the value of the close relationship that was between us ».
He stated: «I remember very well that day that brought me together with our fellow editors-in-chief during the visit of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz (may God have mercy on him) to Morocco.
Dr. Fahd Al-Aqran, editor-in-chief of Al-Madina newspaper, said that Turki Al-Sudairi is one of the prominent media professionals at the level of the Kingdom and the Arab world. He has great influences on the Gulf and Arab levels, and has a strong presence on all occasions. He worked honestly and sincerely to develop the media profession in the Kingdom.
He adopted a lot of media talents and gave them a great media opportunity, and he was defending the media professionals greatly in all fields, as well as novice writers who provided them with opportunities, whether in his newspaper or in other newspapers.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Youssef, former editor-in-chief of the “Saudi Gazette” and member of the board of directors of Okaz, said that the deceased was a media and cultural figure in the Kingdom, the Gulf and the Arab countries. He is one of the main founders of several press associations at the Gulf level, including the Dubai Press Club, the Saudi Journalists Association, and the Gulf Press Union, and he was also a working member of the Arab Press Union. It was also a catalyst for a generation of editor-in-chiefs at the present time in the Saudi press, the majority of whom were in Al-Riyadh newspaper. Professor Turki is also credited with a very important position in the field of giving journalists their rights, and he was the first to adopt the inclusion of journalists as partners in press institutions, and many journalists in Al-Yamamah Foundation have today become partners in it, and I personally know that he (may God have mercy on him) granted shares from his private share to journalists .
Amr Salam, Anas Al-Youssef, Muhammad Saud (Riyadh)