The Saudi Arabian English-language newspaper, Arab News, has published this past month a second article dealing with the media in the Arab world. The writer, Qenan al-Ghamdi of the Arabic Al-Watan newspaper, calls for a more mature and responsible “code of conduct” for Arabic media outlets.
While calling for “reform” in the Arab media, al-Ghamdi seems to desire a media consensus throughout the entire Arab world. He writes, “I say that the Arab media must reform, stop living in the past and develop a new vision for the future…. There is now a general conviction that the media should function in a more professional, honest and objective manner, treating the Arab world as one entity and its people as one people.” The Saudi article is quite clear on possible objections to such a scheme: “[C]ountries as Egypt, Syria and even my home, Saudi Arabia, will ask why others should stick their noses in other country's internal affairs and not mind their own country's business instead.”
As an example of the detrimental effects of the current system, in which “the Arab regimes which control the media”, al-Ghamdi writes that many journalists “who are sincere and honest had their voices muzzled and were forced out of the profession.” Such was implicitly the case when it came to the Arab media treatment of the Saddam Hussein regime. The Arab News article says, “the Arab media, without exception, helped portray and polish the picture of the deposed Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, while ignoring his crimes against his own people. This policy of turning a blind eye continued, until we reached the situation in which the Iraqi people found themselves living under American occupation.” Now, as a result of the American successes in Iraq, the article continues, “The same media which played so misleading a role is now being attacked by all and viewed as a main cause of the crisis.” But, this is unfair in al-Ghamdi’s view, due to the absolute state control of the media in Arab countries.
In conclusion, the Arab News article states, “the Arab media must reform and play a true national role, serving the public without discrimination. This unwritten media code of conduct should from now on read: ‘No to lies. No to deception. No to misleading.’”
While calling for “reform” in the Arab media, al-Ghamdi seems to desire a media consensus throughout the entire Arab world. He writes, “I say that the Arab media must reform, stop living in the past and develop a new vision for the future…. There is now a general conviction that the media should function in a more professional, honest and objective manner, treating the Arab world as one entity and its people as one people.” The Saudi article is quite clear on possible objections to such a scheme: “[C]ountries as Egypt, Syria and even my home, Saudi Arabia, will ask why others should stick their noses in other country's internal affairs and not mind their own country's business instead.”
As an example of the detrimental effects of the current system, in which “the Arab regimes which control the media”, al-Ghamdi writes that many journalists “who are sincere and honest had their voices muzzled and were forced out of the profession.” Such was implicitly the case when it came to the Arab media treatment of the Saddam Hussein regime. The Arab News article says, “the Arab media, without exception, helped portray and polish the picture of the deposed Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, while ignoring his crimes against his own people. This policy of turning a blind eye continued, until we reached the situation in which the Iraqi people found themselves living under American occupation.” Now, as a result of the American successes in Iraq, the article continues, “The same media which played so misleading a role is now being attacked by all and viewed as a main cause of the crisis.” But, this is unfair in al-Ghamdi’s view, due to the absolute state control of the media in Arab countries.
In conclusion, the Arab News article states, “the Arab media must reform and play a true national role, serving the public without discrimination. This unwritten media code of conduct should from now on read: ‘No to lies. No to deception. No to misleading.’”