are too closely intertwined here to really say which is which. Sometimes even the locals can't tell you whether the impetus behind something is religious or Khaleeji.
Another issue is the divide between the Arabic and the English media here. Radio, print media...though I am not bilingual, I have always had the distinct impression that there are some topics that will be reported/discussed in the Arabic media that won't see the light of day in English.
I would concur that there have been slight improvements in the media here over the last couple of decades (the lead story each day is no longer about "cables of congratulations and condolences" that HH sent to someone, I no longer have to sit through HOURS of Koranic instruction on the radio every Friday), but let's be frank: the papers and radio here couldn't compete with some college campus efforts back in the States.
As others have alluded to, the necessity to base reporting on FACT not EMOTION is a novel one in this culture, as is the importance of presenting BOTH sides of an issue.
And to be honest, I don't really think that they WANT to sign on for freedom of the press if it means having to put up with unsavory ideas and people insulting (in their point of view) their leaders/families/religion. But that is EXACTLY what it means to have freedom of the press. You WILL read stories about things you find distasteful, you WILL be offended by the ideas that others espouse. But you will be well-informed, and you will be able to respond to those with whom you disagree.
But as I said, I don't think this region truly wants that level of freedom. They're culturally and religiously too sensitive to allow people to say what they want. People's public image remains FAR too important here to allow it to be besmirched by some story about how Sheikh So-and-so's company didn't pay wages to their workers for 6 months.
It'll never happen.
are too closely intertwined here to really say which is which. Sometimes even the locals can't tell you whether the impetus behind something is religious or Khaleeji.
Another issue is the divide between the Arabic and the English media here. Radio, print media...though I am not bilingual, I have always had the distinct impression that there are some topics that will be reported/discussed in the Arabic media that won't see the light of day in English.
I would concur that there have been slight improvements in the media here over the last couple of decades (the lead story each day is no longer about "cables of congratulations and condolences" that HH sent to someone, I no longer have to sit through HOURS of Koranic instruction on the radio every Friday), but let's be frank: the papers and radio here couldn't compete with some college campus efforts back in the States.
As others have alluded to, the necessity to base reporting on FACT not EMOTION is a novel one in this culture, as is the importance of presenting BOTH sides of an issue.
And to be honest, I don't really think that they WANT to sign on for freedom of the press if it means having to put up with unsavory ideas and people insulting (in their point of view) their leaders/families/religion. But that is EXACTLY what it means to have freedom of the press. You WILL read stories about things you find distasteful, you WILL be offended by the ideas that others espouse. But you will be well-informed, and you will be able to respond to those with whom you disagree.
But as I said, I don't think this region truly wants that level of freedom. They're culturally and religiously too sensitive to allow people to say what they want. People's public image remains FAR too important here to allow it to be besmirched by some story about how Sheikh So-and-so's company didn't pay wages to their workers for 6 months.
It'll never happen.