Seven Points Not on the Arab Media Agenda – What is There to Celebrate?
28 October 2015By Ramzy Baroud
It has been recently announced that Arab 'media experts' plan to 'celebrate'
Arab Media Day on April 21, 2016. The theme for the first day, of what is
meant to be an annual tradition, is: ''The Role of the (Arab) Media in
Combatting Terrorism''.
The mockery is surely multi-faceted. One is the clearly politicized choice of
the theme of the proposed event. The term 'terrorism' is a political one, and
is rarely applied to violence committed by Arab regimes: it only applies to
their detractors.
Another is the fact that the committee of 'experts' which made the decision
was itself appointed by the Council of Arab foreign ministers in their Cairo
meeting last May. The Council operates under the ineffectual and mostly
ceremonial Arab League.
Of course, various Arab countries are enthusiastically planning to join the
'celebrations' with some, unscrupulously, emphasizing the importance of the 'combatting
terrorism' theme, for obvious reasons: positioning themselves as victims of
terror, never as purveyors of violence. The event – as most other common
themes in Arab media – is likely to tout rulers as the saviors of nations,
and condemn their detractors as terrorists, terrorism sympathizers or
potential terrorists.
In reality, Arab media has little to celebrate. If anything, Arabs should
lament the moral malaise afflicting their media, whether official,
semi-official, independent or opposition. This is not to mention the hundreds
of useless, glossy magazines that objectify women, belittle the social
challenges facing Arab societies, and embrace western globalization as if
Arabs only exist to consume, but not to think independently or critically.
If April 21 is to be of any value at all, it should be a day of candid
discussion about urgent and practical steps required to escape the complete
collapse of credibility under which most Arab media has prevailed since the
so-called Arab Spring in the last four-and-a-half years.
As someone who has spent over two decades working in Arab and international
media spaces, written about topics related to the Middle East, in general,
and engaged in issues concerning the Arab world specifically, I wish to put
forward a few suggestions for consideration by the organizers of Arab media
committee:
Violence, Not Terrorism
Terms such as 'al-irhab' (terrorism) and 'al-ta'asub' (extremism) are often
lobbed by Arab media in all of its platforms for a specific political end:
demonizing the other. Instead, the term 'al-'unf' (violence) should be used
and confronted, regardless of who the party responsible for acts of violence
is. While the State is often granted monopoly on violence through
conveniently enacted laws, this monopoly is not meant to be used so
nonchalantly and without an iota of accountability, as is currently the case.
Engaging, Challenging – Not Preaching
Arab media, in general, and commentators, in particular, tend to treat their
readers with palpable pretentiousness. It is as if Arab media is the
originator of wisdom and of all that is to be known. If there is any truth to
that, Arab media would not be in such a poor state. Instead, owners and
managers of media platforms should truly engage society: listen and learn
from real people about their real life problems; understand that there exist,
outside the sanctified media bubble, intellectuals and ordinary people with
much wisdom and insight. Media is not meant to celebrate the seemingly
endless virtues of the regime, or be celebrated for its own supposed virtues.
It is a perpetual podium for ideas, challenging, difficult and rarely
gratifying.
Universal Rules regarding Distortion and Fabrication
While some Arab regimes have recently enacted laws that punish journalists
for promoting what certain governments perceive as fabrications and
misinformation, pro-government journalists are largely exempted from such
expectations. It is neither the right nor responsibility of governments to
define what is true, thus permissible, and untrue, thus punishable by prison
term or heavy fines. Journalists' unions should provide moral guidance to
their members, challenge those who permit themselves to serve as mouthpieces
to any political party or regime and protect those who remain committed to
the integrity of their profession.
Carving Space for Independent Thinking
Media is not just meant to be a platforms for opposing opinions. While this
is necessary in order for the media to espouse a healthy democratic space in
any society, Arab societies are hardly democratic, and opposing opinions
often serve as hate fest between regimes and their enemies. Whenever
possible, Arab media should open up a space for those who wish to think
outside the political and ideological self-serving box. Arab intellect should
not be limited to those 'pro' or 'anti' this regime or that party. There are
always alternative ways of rationalizing which could, with time, offer real
alternative to the status quo and conventional wisdom.
Offering Solidarity, regardless of Politics
Arab media should agree on some basic values that include standing by and
defending those victimized by Arab regimes for voicing honest opinions,
however critical. When a journalist suffers, is imprisoned, fined or
ostracized, the entire media community loses a battle. Solidarity among
journalists, regardless of personal political views or even ideological
affiliation, should be enshrined into any code of conduct in any
self-respecting media community anywhere.
Understanding that Women Are Not Honorary Citizens
MENA Media Monitoring has recently criticized the marginalization of Algerian
women in the country's media. According to its report, women are given 29
percent of the media space available, while men enjoy the rest. Women are
often restricted, not just in space, but also in the topics to which they are
meant to contribute, thus cramped only within areas related to family, food
and fashion. In fact, Algeria is, perhaps, more fortunate than other Arab
media where women are even more restricted, or used as token, as opposed to
being active participants in discussions of serious political weight and
societal impact. Engaging women in the media is not a favor to be bestowed by
men, but a right – and an essential one – for any thinking society.
Setting Serious Goals, Not Celebrating Failure
One is not oblivious to the fact that no democratic media can truly function
in a non-democratic society. However, it is the failure of Arab democracies
that should heighten the sense of responsibility among Arab media and
journalists. Arab media should set realistic but serious goals, and re-visit
these goals with utmost honesty and transparency, no matter the confines and
restrictions. There are many battles to be fought and won and, certainly, a
price to be paid, but none of these challenges can be undertaken under the
cloak of Arab foreign ministers or League.
This is not a judgement on Arab journalism itself, for the Arab world is
teeming with journalistic talents that are yet to be utilized or explored. It
is an attempt at an honest reading of the unfortunate reality under which
Arab media is forced to operate. Until journalists and media professionals,
through collective effort and after many uphill battles, redeem some respect
for their tightly controlled medium, there is no reason whatsoever to
celebrate.
– Dr. Ramzy Baroud has a PhD in Palestine Studies from the University of
Exeter. He has been writing about the Middle East for over 20 years. He is an
internationally-syndicated columnist, a media consultant, an author of
several books and the founder of PalestineChronicle.com. His books include
'Searching Jenin', 'The Second Palestinian Intifada' and his latest 'My
Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gaza's Untold Story'. Visit his website:
www.ramzybaroud.net.
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