Arab Media, Power and Influence

Conference co-sponsored by Princeton Universitys Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University

Participants
Panel I: How Does Ownership of Arab Media Outlets Drive the News Agenda?
Hisham Melhem, News anchor, Al-Arabiya TV Mona El Tahawy, Columnist, Al-Asharq Al-Awsat news daily Salameh Nematt, Columnist, Al-Hayat news daily Brian Katulis, Author of the Freedom House report, Liberated and Occupied Iraq: New Beginnings and Challenges for Press Freedom Ambassador William Rugh, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, and author of Arab Mass Media Ali El-Saleh, Spokesman, Al-Asharq Al Awsat moderated by: Susan Bennett, Freedom Forum/Newseum

Conference Summary
Panel II: Is Arab Media a Force for Reform, the Status Quo, or Extremism?
Mohammed Alami, Chief Washington correspondent for Al-Jazeera TV Marc Lynch, Associate Professor of Political Science at Williams College Jon Alterman, Director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies James Zogby, President of the Arab-American Institute Mohammed Elmenshawy, Director, Arab Media Project, Center for Defense Information moderated by: Ambassador Edmund Hull, Diplomat-in-Residence at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs Conference panelists and participants were welcomed by Rick Dunham, National Press Club president and opening remarks were given by Dr. Mamoun Fandy, Senior Fellow, the Baker Institute. The first panel addressed the question, How Does Ownership of Arab Media Outlets Drive the News Agenda? and was moderated by Susan Bennett of Freedom Forum/Newseum. A lunch keynote was delivered by Lee Hamilton, recently Vice Chair of the 9/11 Commission, who spoke on American Public Diplomacy and Foreign Policy: The U.S. Role in the Middle East. The second panel addressed the question, Is Arab Media a Force for Reform, the Status Quo, or Extremism? and was moderated by Ambassador Edmund Hull, Diplomatin-Residence at Princeton Universitys Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. The conference was closed by remarks from Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, American University in Cairo sociologist and Middle East democratization expert.

Keynote: Lee Hamilton

Recently Vice Chair of the 9/11 Commission, American Public Diplomacy and Foreign Policy: The U.S. Role in the Middle East.

Closeing remarks: Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim

American University in Cairo sociologist and Middle East democratization expert

Compiled by Nyron Burke

Panel I: How Does Ownership of Arab Media Outlets Drive the News Agenda?
The first panel was tasked with addressing the topic How Does Ownership of the Arab Media Outlets Drive the News Agenda? This panels discussion and disagreement centered on the two constituent elements of this larger question: (1) How free and independent is the Arab media? and (2) What effect does the Arab media have on politics in the Arab world? From the discussion of these questions, important conclusions about the state of the Arab media and policy recommendations were drawn.

Panel I: Mona El Tahawy, Susan Bennett, Brian Katulis, Ali El-Saleh, Salameh Nematt, and Hisham Melhem

How free and independent is the Arab media?

In his opening remarks Mamoun Fandy of the Baker Institute asserted that the Arab media had limited freedom and stated that ironically, the Arab media was most free in American-occupied Iraq and in Israel-occupied

interstate rivalries of their host countries. His statements, along with the examples he offered, implied that the reporting of these media outlets was heavily influenced by the political context in which Arab media, particularly the they had emerged Arab satellites, [operate] on an and operated, noting that Al-Jazeera was anywhere but here model, founded soon after a engaging in detailed reporting palace coup in Qatar of events outside their host to add legitimacy to countries but being careful to the new regime.

avoid controversial reporting on domestic occurrences. -Mamoun Fandy, Baker Institute

Palestine. He focused particularly on Qatari-based Al-Jazeera and Dubai-based AlArabiya, noting the extent to which these stations reflected their respective domestic political situations and

Fandy also noted it was a common pattern across the Arab world that media reflected the political context and even the ethnic divisions of the political landscape. For example, he pointed out that media outlets in Lebanon seemed to reflect the sectarian divisions of that nation, with each outlet serving as a voice for a different aspect of Lebanese society. Fandy observed that Arab media, particularly the Arab satellites, operated on an anywhere but here model, engaging in detailed reporting of events outside their host countries but being careful to avoid controversial reporting on domestic occurrences.

Mamoun Fandy of the Baker Institute

Hisham Melhem of Al-Arabiya TV stridently disagreed with Fandys assertion that the Arab media was free only under occupation. He pointed out that Kuwait and Lebanon were examples where the Arab media For privately owned did experience media, investigative some freedom. He emphasized reporting within the courage of the Lebanese the Arab world media in was very difficult criticizing Syria due to the lack of even at the cost of reprisals. legal protections Melhem did note, for journalists and however, that in their sources, his experience as a journalist, which indicated self-censorship the importance of was a common the rule of law. problem, and such censorship -Hisham Melhem, was often Al-Arabiya TV encouraged and enforced by editorial staff. Melhem also cautioned against the assumption that privately owned media was independent or provided good reporting. Melhem asserted that even for privately owned media, investigative reporting within the Arab world was very difficult due to the lack of legal protections for journalists and their sources,

Brian Katulis, WWS MPA 00, author of the Freedom House report, Liberated and Occupied Iraq: New Beginnings and Challenges for Press Freedom

which indicated the importance of the rule of law. However, he agreed with Fandys argument that journalists were freer to criticize other governments than they were their own.

Brian Katulis, author of the Freedom House report, Liberated and Occupied Iraq: New Beginnings and Challenges for Press Freedom, supported Melhems point regarding the limits of the privately owned media, and agreed that privately owned media do not necessarily provide better reporting. Katulis noted that it would be difficult for the Arab media to ever really be independent of their states unless they gained a greater understanding of their audiences. He observed that little was known about the market share of the various media outlets or the reasons why they had captured it. He considered this lack of information about the audience a barrier to greater independence. Salameh Nematt strongly agreed with Fandys assertion regarding the freedom of the Arab media only under occupation, and noted that Melhems references to Lebanon and Kuwait were the exceptions that prove the rule. Nematt pointed to the rapid creation of new media outlets after the fall of Saddam Hussein and noted that there were now 140 to 200 newspapers that freely operated within Iraq that represented a rainbow of views. Nematt argued that the relationship between the Arab state and the Arab media was that of servant to master, and that it was therefore no surprise that when the interests of the people conflicted with the interest of the state, the media sided with the state.

Ali El-Saleh, spokesman, Al-Asharq Al Awsat and Salameh Nematt, columnist, Al-Hayat news daily

Nematt further observed that the Arab media Melhem highlighted his concern that Arab media was critical of the Iraqi elections, and had might serve as a form of false liberalism which focused on the flaws due to the concern of would give the Arab world an empty substitute for the Arab regimes about a domino effect. real input into the politics of their countries. He Ambassador William observed that the discussion Rugh pointed out that of politics in the Arab media If we want to participate while ownership of Arab often featured extremes in the debate that is going media was important; competing against each other other factors such as but that the huge important on in the Arab world, and financial dependence, center is missing, he said. have more American personnel selection and voices heard, we ought to protection of journalists Melhem also saw politics participate in Al-Jazeera by the law were also very affecting and limiting the important considerations. effect of the Arab media. - Ambassador William Rugh In addition, he noted He noted that in a prior job, that if U.S. policy makers his editor would often pass wished to make Al-Jazeera more successful, we on complaints and criticism from government should continue to boycott it because boycotting officials. He further noted that major press outlets it gives it cachet in the Arab world. If we want such as Egypts leading daily Al-Ahram were to participate in the debate that is going on in essentially mouthpieces of their governments the Arab world, and have more American voices and therefore heard, we ought to participate in Al-Jazeera, did not really by having U.S. policy makers appear as guests impact politics. and commentators on the station, and on other major Arab broadcast news programs. Mona El Tahawy focused on What effect does the Arab media have the emerging on politics in the Arab world? but limited phenomenon Fandy mentioned that media had an of blogging important role to play in framing and reporting within the Arab information about changes that were happening world, and the in the Arab world, but he saw the Arab media as potential for largely reflecting the politics on the ground. Arab bloggers In his view the media environment was shaped to have an effect Mona El Tahawy, columnist, by the societies in which they operated. Hisham on their local Al-Asharq Al-Awsat news daily mainstream media and on the political system as a whole. She noted that Bahraini authorities had recently arrested two moderators of an Internet forum, indicating that at least the Bahrainian regime saw some political threat from the work of online forums and blogs. Her communications with bloggers (e.g. Big Pharaoh in Egypt) revealed that most bloggers viewed the Internet as a tool to express their views and frustrations with a closed political system. El Tahawy added a caveat to her
Hisham Melhem, news anchor, Al-Arabiya TV

comments, emphasizing that the effect of Arab blogging on political systems in the Arab world remained limited, because relatively few people had access to the technology to post or read blogs. Brian Katulis stressed that it was difficult to know what political effect the media was having in the Arab world because of the paucity of research on Arab audiences. Katulis highlighted however that very preliminary research indicated that audiences in the Arab world were interested in local issues; had an appetite for educational Audiences in programming; the Arab world liked interactive shows with the [are] interested ability to phone in; in local issues; and liked debates [have] an appetite and discussions by experts. for educational Katulis pointed programming; to the potential political impact of [like] interactive media and press and shows with the noted that nearly ability to phone 200 newspapers and magazines had in; and debates emerged in Iraq and discussions after the fall of by experts Saddam Hussein. He noted that the Brian Katulis recent Iraqi election campaign heavily relied on this media to get their message across, but that terrorists in Iraq also seemed to be attempting to use the media to

manipulate the Iraqi public. He observed key elements which limited the press to function freely in the Arab world and noted that in Iraq, security was a major problem, and that across the Arab world there was a need for rule of law, independent Salameh Nematt judiciaries, and mechanisms for regulating the media and ensuring integrity. Salameh Nematt painted a picture of the Arab medias effect on Arab politics as being very limited to boundaries allowed by the rulers. Nematt asserted that the Arab media was largely controlled by the states and was used by the states to influence their publics. He pointed out that despite the role of the media however, there did seem to be a change occurring within Arab states, where the people of Iraq and Palestine seemed to be moving away from violence and towards greater democratic mature politics. He emphasized the extent to which the media reflected the views and the priorities of the rulers.

Brian Katulis

Panel II Is Arab Media a Force for Reform, the Status Quo, or Extremism?
Unlike most other panelists Marc Lynch did not agree that the role of Arab medias popular debate shows should be less emphasized. He observed that cumulatively, ten years of these shows have had a transformative effect, by leading people to accept the view that authentic Arabs can disagree. In Lynchs view such shows had helped create the framework of a pluralist political culture, which had not existed before. However, Lynch pointed out that music videos which often feature liberally dressed women were the single biggest draw in the Arab media perhaps indicative of the onset of a cultural war.

Panel II: Jon Alterman, Mohammed Alami, moderated by Ambassador Edmund Hull, Diplomat-in-Residence at the Woodrow Wilson School, James Zogby, Mohammed Elmenshawy, and Marc Lynch

In responding to questions political parties [in the from conference participants, Mohammed Alami emphasized Arab world] because that the Arab satellites the press presents played a great role in Arab no action plans. politics by showing pictures of protestors such as those Jon Alterman, Center in Lebanon, so that people, for Strategic and feel its okay. Noting the International Studies effect of his own organization, Al-Jazeera, he stated, the politics of silence are over because of Al-Jazeera. James Zogby supported this point, saying when people Additional Comments from the Second Panel

Press [can] not replace

know they are being watched, their behavior changes. Jon Alterman underscored the point that even though it aided the process and had an effect on politics, the press could not replace political parties because the press presents no action plans. Marc Lynch agreed with this line of reasoning, asserting the Arab media has done a lot to create infrastructure and help build the expectations necessary for change, but by itself it cannot do much to bring it about.

Jon Alterman, Director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (Woodrow Wilson School 87) and Mohammed Alami, chief Washington correspondent for Al-Jazeera TV

Panelists on the second panel responded to many of the comments made by the earlier panelists. They disagreed with some points and reinforced others. There were divergent points of view not only between but within panels. To the degree the second panel discussion dealt with the question of the effect of the Arab media, those comments have been incorporated into the summary above. Primarily however, the second panels comments revolved around the question of the state and role of the Arab media. This question was inclusive of, but broader than, the question regarding the degree of freedom enjoyed by the media.

What is the Overall State and Role of the Arab Media?

Mohammed Alami defended the role of the Arab satellite stations, and reacted to criticism of earlier panelists by noting that the Arab satellites were doing much good in the Arab world and should be given more credit. He contrasted the satellites with the state-owned media in each Arab state, stressing that Arabs can hear their leaders bashed on the satellite even while their state-owned media is describing them as gods. Jon Alterman agreed that some analysts had been overly critical of the Arab media and that the Arab media was not best understood by attempting to apply any sort of coherent view. He further observed that the analysis and discussion of the Arab media had been overly focused on the debate shows, which in his opinion were not the real source of the Arab medias influence. He asserted that the real influence of the Arab media was not in political programming which often featured a rhetorical clash between two extremes, but in the more broadly popular entertainment programming, such as game shows like the Arab adaptation of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Alterman also noted that the real revolution was not in political debate but in immediacy in access to knowledge and other ways of thinking. Mohamed Elmenshawy decried the state of the Arab media, which in his view is characterized by a lack of journalism. He drew attention to

the fact that many Self-censorship Arab journalists often [is] rampant lack professional training. Elmenshawy among Arab further noted that journalists, and self-censorship was that editors and rampant among Arab senior staff in journalists, and that editors and senior staff media outlets in media outlets often often [gain] gained their position their position by having close ties with the ruling by having close elite that therefore ties with the protected their ruling elite interests. Elmenshawy that therefore also critiqued Arab journalists for the protected their way they approached interests. coverage of events and Mohamed politics in the United States, highlighting Elmenshawy, Arab that they approached Media Project, U.S. politics with an Center for Defense assumption that was Information familiar in the Arab world: the importance and dominance of central government; in Americas case, Arab journalists focus their coverage too much on the nations capital, Washington, D.C., giving their viewers too narrow a perspective on how policy is made in the U.S. In Elmenshawys view this resulted in a Washington prism applied to much of the reporting that Arab journalists in the United States sent back to the Arab world. He argued that Arab journalists have missed an opportunity to educate their people about the political debate behind U.S. policy, and the virtues and benefits of such democratic discussion. Finally, James Zogby noted that the satellites had provided an Arab information network. He pointed out that the viewing habits of Arabs were just as complex and varied as the viewing habits of Americans.

James Zogby, president of the Arab-American Institute, and Mohamed Elmenshawy, Director, Arab Media Project, Center for Defense Information

Keynote Speech and Closing Remarks

Lee Hamilton: Conference Keynote: U.S. Public Diplomacy and Foreign Policy in the Arab World The Hon. Lee Hamilton began his remarks by highlighting the poor state of Americas public diplomacy efforts, pointing out the insufficient number of trained professionals at work in public diplomacy and the limited resources committed to the effort. He stated that the United States spends about $1 out of every $100 in the federal budget on international affairs. Of that $1, about 5 cents is spent on public diplomacy. Each year, we spend on public diplomacy about what the Defense Department spends in a day. He further emphasized the need for consistency in public diplomacy, with a focus on dialogue with the Arab world and the need for U.S. embassy staffs around the world to be proactive and aggressive in participating in the media markets where Arab populations get the news and information that shape their opinions. A central point of his remarks was the need for educational outreach

in the form of exchanges, and in easing the restrictions on Arab students who want to study in the United States. While noting the need to remain flexible to suggestions for changes in format and content, he emphasized the usefulness and necessity of U.S.-sponsored media outlets such as Radio Sawa and the U.S. governmentsponsored satellite television station, Al-Hurra. Hamilton further emphasized the impact U.S. policy has on foreign publics perceptions of the United States, focusing on the need to make progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and to continue supporting Iraq through American military training and economic assistance, while emphasizing that the United States must make clear again and again that our goal is to leave Iraq to Iraqis. Mr. Hamilton concluded his remarks by pointing out recent positive signs for democracy in the Arab world, while reminding listeners of the yet significant challenges facing the Middle East, such as high unemployment rates, a vacuum in education, and repressive governments. Mr. Hamilton underscored the need for the United States to work for freedom and justice by assisting the Arab world in meeting these challenges through committing resources to economic support, educational support, and support for political reform. (The complete text of Lee Hamiltons remarks is available at www.9-pdp. org/press/00-0-0_remarks.pdf ).

Lee Hamilton, recently Vice Chair of the 9/ Commission, spoke on American Public Diplomacy and Foreign Policy: The U.S. Role in the Middle East.

Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim: Closing Remarks Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim began his comments by stressing that he was not as critical of the Arab satellite stations as some of the panelists had been through the course of the conference. He stated that while the Arab satellites had their flaws, they are far, far better than the state-owned media. Dr. Ibrahim recounted his experience in 2000 when he and his colleagues in Egypt were arrested for their work in studying and promoting democracy and liberalism in the Arab world. Ibrahim described his memories of the attempts by the state-owned media to assassinate his character and turn public opinion against him. He noted Even with their flaws, that the state-owned the Arab satellite stations are beneficial media went because they [provide] so far as to advocate his people in the region extrajudicial execution with an alternative to for the state-owned media. crimes he Saad Eddin Ibrahim was accused of having committed. Ibrahim went on to highlight the important role of the Western press, soon followed by the Arab satellites, in revealing the true nature of his arrest and trial. He reflected on the critical roles the independent media and international human rights groups played in bringing attention to his case. Ibrahim further noted his concern about those political prisoners who did not receive such attention from international media, simply because they were less well known. Ibrahim stated that he was hopeful about reform in the Arab world and he emphasized the important role of the media in that reform. He observed that the media played an important role in providing dissidents with protection by keeping the public eye on the actions of the regime. Ibrahim also lent his support to the
Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, American University in Cairo sociologist and Middle East democratization expert

view that even with their flaws, the Arab satellite stations are beneficial because they provided people in the region with an alternative to stateowned media. Ibrahim concluded by noting his support for incremental steady reform in the Arab world, and expressed support for the political prisoners and democrats in the Arab world who have been working for democracy for many years.

Policy Recommendations Regarding the Arab Media

The following policy recommendations are indicative of policy areas wherein conference participants achieved consensus about Arab media during the course of the program: There is a need for rule of law, independent judiciaries, and press laws which protect the Arab press and their sources Effective mechanisms for regulating the media and ensuring integrity which do not result in self censorship are needed Professional and technical training in the Arab world needs to be addressed Arab media often does not report the complexities of the political debate in the United States. In light of this, Arab journalists may need more opportunities to witness and understand the complexities of democratic decision making in the U.S. in order to report on the result as well as the process Press is limited in its impact on the political system. Further reforms of the political system must take place Support research to better understand the market share of the Arab media outlets and the factors behind that share Media and press cannot be separated from the societal context from which they originate. A focus on the societies is needed

U.S - Specific Recommendations

The U.S. should be involved in debate programs on Arab satellites such as Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabiya, etc. The U.S. government-sponsored satellite station Al-Hurra is lackluster and is failing to meet the expectations of the Arab world. New strategies for the station should be considered. U.S. public diplomacy requires consistent approach with a focus on dialogue.

Video Webcast for this conference is available online at http://www.wws.princeton.edu/events/webmedia.html The website for the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs: http://www.wws.princeton.edu The website for the Baker Institute at Rice University: http://www.bakerinstitute.org/ For more information and media inquiries please contact: Steven Barnes Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (Ph.) 609.731.5094, email: sbarnes@princeton.edu

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