Author and Journalist Khaled Al-Bassam Dies

Bahrain Press Association – November 10, 2015: Bahrini Press Association and the Bahraini media community mourn the death of the Bahraini writer and journalist Khalid Al-Bassam who died on the morning of Tuesday 10th November 2015. Al-Bassam was one of the most prominent journalists and writers who enriched the Bahraini journalistic and literary wealth through his writings, historical and literary publications.

He was also a researcher who worked for many newspapers and magazines in Bahrain and the Gulf region since 1981. He was the editor in chief of the “Huna Bahrain” from 2001 until 2005.
Last month, Al-Bassam was awarded the Gulf Cooperation Council Member States Creativity Award in the Qatari capital, Doha.

Al-Bassam wrote more than 32 books on history, literature, and journalism and was honoured by Khoja- a Saudi cultural institution last year in the city of Jeddah in recognition of his overall contributions and his historic and literary books.

He was interested in the history of Bahrain, the Gulf, and the Arab world in general and produced significant writings on this subject such as: Those Days, Men In Islands of Pearls, The Caravans, The Port Memories, the Friction Shock, Tales from Bahrain, Women of Old Times, Gulf Time, We are all for your sake, a Chat on the Tigris, The Exiled Diary, and the Good Najdi.

Al-Bassam also authored three literary books: The Heart Mail, Groves, and Playing Music on Lines, in addition to two novels entitled “There is no photographer in Onaizah” and “the Teacher of Dhofar.”
He completed the Pioneers of the Bahraini Media History project, which consisted of five books commissioned by the Bahraini Media Ministry.
His books “Bay of Tales” and “the Friction Shock” were recognised in 1993 and 1998 respectively as bestsellers in Britain as per the evaluation of the Arab press in London.
He won the first place in the favourite Columnists Poll in the Bahraini press in July 1999.
He was honoured by the Bahraini newspaper «Al Wasat » in November 2007, for all his written works in history and journalism. He was also a member of the Arab Journalism Award Jury (Dubai) 2008.