Arab Newsman's Mission: Impartial News

al-Arabiya Seeks to Redefine Coverage in the Arab World

Nabil Khatib , executive editor of al-Arabiya, was online Monday, May 1, at 1 p.m. ET to discuss his Dubai-based network, objective news in the Arab world and the media's impact on public perception of the U.S., the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, war in Iraq and other key issues. al-Arabiya broadcasts alongside al-Jazeera, one of the region's most influential news networks.

Read Washington Post staff writer Anthony Shadid 's feature from today's Post: A Newsman Breaks the Mold in Arab World , ( Post, May 1, 2006 )

The transcript follows.

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Washington, D.C. Anthony Shadid tells of an instance when you cut a line about Jaafari being disfavored in Washington because it was "too subjective." In the U.S. media, it was very common to read that Jaafari was disfavored. Do you think the U.S. media was being too subjective in writing this?

Nabil Khatib: I do believe that often, when it comes to international politics, US media happened to be subjective. But let me clarify, the context was different in my colleague's story. He was building an argument that the campaign against the candidacy of Jaafary for the PM in Iraq, was organized by the Iraqi politicians just to please the American Administration While in fact, the main critics to Jaafary in Iraq, are Sunni politicians who are not in good terms with the US Administration

So, it has different context - although , again, I have a personal view , where the nature of the American News Media very often is different on International Affairs in comparison with it's coverage of internal US affairs/Politics

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Tampa, Fla.: I would like to ask a question on a different topic: the Arabic language. Here in the U.S., news reporters generally use the standard midwestern accent. (Robert McNeal, formerly of the McNeal/Lehrer Report did a great documentary on this titled "Do You Speak American.") English, however, does not have the dialects as does Arabic. Which dialect does Al Arabiya you use? Egyptian? Iraqi? Syrian?

Along these lines, is the emergence of TV and radio not controlled by the various Arab states leading to a standard SPOKEN dialect used in mass communications in the Arab world? I recall reading in Phillip Hitti's "A History of the Arab Peoples" that back in first half of the 20th century, Egypt was the center of the Arab film industry and the Egyptian dialect began to spread out of Egypt via Egyptian films.

Nabil Khatib: So, it is not Syrian or Lebanese or Egyptian - it is the language that was developed over the 20th century in the Arab Press away from complexity in style - understandable to most of the Arabs (if not to all of them)

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Sub Prairie, Wis.: Good day, Mr. Khatib.

Could you evaluate coverage on al-Arabiya, and in Arabic-language media generally, of the Arab genocide ongoing in Darfur? The impression here in America is that Arab governments supportive of the Khartoum regime are indifferent to its mostly non-Arab victims, and that Arab media mostly follow their lead.

Nabil Khatib: I would agree in Principe that the issue of Darfur was not covered (and still not covered) by the Arab media as it should be

I would even say, that sometimes it was ignored, and only the political process around the issue is being covered.

Why?

It has to do with the pressure by official Khartoum on medias in different way,

We in Arabiya had the chance to send reporters to both sides . (Chad/Refugees side) and the side of the tribes in coalition with Sudan government - but not as much as it needed and as much as it deserve

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Bethesda, Md.: What do you think it says about America's belief in freedom of the press when its president is said to have wanted to bomb Al Jazeera for reporting news he didn't like? According to the report, Tony Blair had to explain to him that it would be a bad move.

In my opinion it goes against every fiber and value that this country was founded on, and I don't know why more Americans weren't more outraged by the story.

Nabil Khatib: I can not judge America only based on America's President intentions or believes or policy

I respect your opinion - but it is on different issue (i.e. not about the freedom of press in the Arab World)

I know that there is people in the Arab World , who would make arguments that there is nothing called freedom of press, using the argument about how US is not being fair in it's foreign policy

I do believe that Freedom and freedom of press is something that we need to aim, regardless of what the administrations or governments or regimes policies

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Arlington, Va.: Do the Bush administration's expression of support for democracy in the Middle East have credibility in your view? Do they help journalists seeking to protect and expand the independent media?

Nabil Khatib: The Official US policy in the Middle East, including the support for democracy in the Middle East, is a very controversial issue in the region

Very often it is believed in the region that the US policy is not based on the real understanding of the situation

"It is a policy based on an approach that is detached from the reality of the region" widely believed

SO, it is one issue to "support Democracy" and totally different issue is how you do it and what are the results

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Salaam Mr. Khatib,

I was wondering have any of your reporters been detained in Egypt, in any circumstance, on the same grounds that the Al Jazeera reporter was arrested for last week while covering the judge's syndicate protest in Cairo? Also, I would like to hear your opinion on such detentions of a journalist doing his/her duty.

Nabil Khatib: Salam Sir

It is a shame to have a journalist detained any where in the world.

Alarabiya Bureau was "crashed" in West Bank , our reporter was forbidden to work in Algeria for long time, our reporter was detained in Kuwait for reporting on a terrorist attack and our bureau in Iraq was shutdown by the Government for 3 months and 3 of my colleagues were killed by American troops in Iraq and 8 were killed by insurgents in Iraq as well

So, this is the situation that I'm trying to describe - it is when a media institution is trying to work as professional as possible and it faces a tough reaction and opposition from anti democratic institution sin the traditional societies ..

If you judge the situation static - you feel it is very negative

If you check how it is developing - you see that the development is being in favor of the progress

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San Francisco, Calif.: Can it be said that there is a general Arab view on Iran's nuclear ambitions? If so what is it? Does it split along Sunni/Shia lines?

Nabil Khatib: I would say it is more complicated than just Sunni/Shia

There is Arabs who are really worried because of Iran ambitions and there is other Arabs who more think that the issue is exaggerated by the US and EU against Iran just because it is Moslem country

Tehran, as I believe is trying to make use of the second kind of thought

Gulf countries, who are rich of oil, close to Iran and had difficult experience with Iraq (during Kuwait invasion 1990/1991) are very much worried and feel them selves in a very delicate situation :

They can not be in confrontation with powerful Iran

They cannot allow it that Iran will have a nuclear arms

They do not want a new war in the region - that will badly affect there interests

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Lisbon, Portugal: Why won't your news network speak out against the genocide taking place in Arab occupied Sudan?

Nabil Khatib: Allow me please to repeat:

I would agree in Principe that the issue of Darfur was not covered (and still not covered) by the Arab media as it should be

I would even say, that sometimes it was ignored, and only the political process around the issue is being covered.

Why?

It has to do with the pressure by official Khartoum on medias in different way,

We in Arabiya had the chance to send reporters to both sides . (Chad/Refugees side) and the side of the tribes in coalition with Sudan government - but not as much as it needed and as much as it deserve

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Lyon, France: There is much talk about the Iranian president's calls to destroy Israel, but isn't this the position of almost every Arab leader?

Nabil Khatib: I do not think that there is much common between the position of Arab leaders and Iranian president on Israel

The Arab leaders have approved so called: "the Arab initiative for peace in the middle East" 29th March 2002 , where the official position of them all is to have a full peace with the state of Israel by them all in return of having Israel leaving the West Bank and Gaza (including East Jerusalem) i.e. the territories occupied in June 1967. and this initiative has nothing common with Iranian President position about the destruction of the state of Israel

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Milan, Italy: Has there been any criticism of Osama bin Laden and the 9/11 attacks in Arab news? If so, where?

Nabil Khatib: Osama Ben Laden would be mentioned MOSTLY if not always with a big criticism in most the Arab News Networks (those Private and governmental)

The support to Ben Laden in some Arab and Moslem societies comes not from media as much as from the media network of fundamentalists (the powerful Network on the Internet that they have)

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Oslo, Norway: Why so much focus in Arab news about Palestinians but no mention of Arab-occupied Sudan and Kurdistan?

Nabil Khatib: Please clarify on Arab-Occupied Sudan ! do you mean Darfur or South or all of Sudan?

Kurdistan is being covered when it comes to Iraq Kurdistan

While it is not an accessible area when it comes to Turkey, Iran and Syria

Big part also, has to do with the fact that those interest groups in Kurdistan are not focusing on Arab media as much as on European media when it comes to this issue (unfortunately )

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Herndon, Va.: Mr. Khatib,

I consider it a privilege to engage in educated discussion with anyone from the Middle East as a way to further our mutual understandings.

Given that, my question is this, with some background:

When the inflammatory cartoon of Muhammad was published months later rioting, fires, looting and general disregard for civilized behavior ensued throughout the middle east (at least, that is how many here in the US see it). In one iconic picture, looters were ransacking a KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) -- a business most likely owned by a local and not a Dane.

While publishing the cartoons was certainly in bad taste and inflammatory, the chaos that ensued only served to further enforce in the minds of many here that Muslims ARE fanatics and terrorists since this behavior spanned so many countries -- with some states doing nothing to stop it or even encouraging it.

How do you see the media reversing this trend (if at all) in the Middle East and here in the West?

Nabil Khatib: Thank you for this question Sir

Yes, you are right in your observation

The media in the region played a very controversial role in this issue

In the same day of the tragedy of the Egyptian Ship in the Red Sea, where 1500 people died - media had to choose if to follow this tragedy and guarantee a good flow of information, or to report about the "later rioting, fires, looting"

I thought and still believe that human tragedy in the Red Sea had priority that day

And other medias kept reporting the rioting, fires, looting for hours and that by it self served as agitating and campaigning power that lead to further more later rioting, fires, looting

But let me summarize: Those later rioting, fires, looting where well organized by specific political parties in the area for political reasons that has to do with internal politics inside the respective countries in the region .

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Arlington, Va.: Mr. Khatib,

A question was posed by someone in Bethesda who obviously believes that the press should be allowed to report whatever it finds newsworthy.

My question is, in the opposite sense, why shouldn't a news organization (e.g. al Jazeera) be considered a legitimate military target if its presence serves to incite violence against one side, resulting in increased military casualties?

Thanks.

Nabil Khatib: Thank you Sir for the question:

If someone would allow him/her self to have a media organization as a legitimate military target just because he/she believed that serves to incite violence against one side then "the other side" will be targeting journalists representing "the other side" and so on.

Journalists in the opposite need to be protected and gaining the status of an international agency during the time of the war - so they can do the job, and it is always up to the public to judge them

Other wise, you would be legitimizing the killing or arrest of journalists because somebody think that somebody did wrong

This can start in the Gulf and end in DC having powerful politicians calling for arrest of journalists who would disagree with this influential politician or that

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Fairfax, Va.: Salaam,

Is your channel broadcast in the U.S.? If so, how can one subscribe? If not, are there any plans too?

Also, how much of your broadcasting is in English vs. Arabic?

Nabil Khatib: Yes, we are in the US, and the best way to check is by accessing our Web site :

www.alarabiya.net where you can actually also watch Alarabiya live and see how you can subscribe

Unfortunately our broadcasting is only in Arabic - Regards

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Boulder, Colo.: The Post article did not mention who owned and operated al-Arabiya, when it was founded, and in whose interest it functions. Please tell us. Thank you.

Nabil Khatib: Thank you Sir

Alarabiya was founded 23rd Feb 2003, and it was founded by it's "mother" company MBC (the Middle East Broadcasting Center) and MBC is the name of the Group - but it is also the name of the first ever Pan Arab station broadcasting through Satellite in Arabic with " a big portion" of News at the time (18th Sept 1991)

It is privately owned by a young Saudi investor (Sheikh Walid AlIbrahim) and after the huge success of MBC TV, it was decided to establish Alarabiya

Now Alarabiya proved to be a success and a good investment as well

Regards

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Arlington, Va.: What type of reactions have you received from governments or groups that are not covered in the way they want? If a government or group is used to being portrayed in a certain way, do they react negatively to your network?

Nabil Khatib: Dear Sir

There is different ways of pressure on us ,

One kind is threats , other closing down our bureaus, or arresting our Journalists

And the least, is when calls from influential politicians in various countries comes, and that would mean , having difficulties to cover there countries, when they are not happy with our coverage and that also mean, not having the access to cover what needs to be covered

And let me repeat what I already wrote as examples on what price can be paid just to publish the truth (to be closer to the truth as we say in Alarabiya):

Alarabiya Bureau was "crashed" in West Bank , our reporter was forbidden to work in Algeria for long time, our reporter was detained in Kuwait for reporting on a terrorist attack and our bureau in Iraq was shutdown by the Government for 3 months and 3 of my colleagues were killed by American troops in Iraq and 8 were killed by insurgents in Iraq as well

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Bethesda, Md.: Americans would like to think that our press here is the most free and accurate in the world. Yet on Election Day 2004 - over three years after the event, 42% of the public here still thought Saddam attacked us on 9/11. Do you see any analogous ignorance amongst the listenership of Arab news?

Nabil Khatib: Thank you Sir for the question

When it comes to International politics, the local view ship is suffering

When it comes to covering the local news, it is easier for the public to judge if what is being broadcasted or published is truthful or not

I think this is the Same in the US and same in EU and in Africa or the Mid East or Asia

And this is in the modern world very dangerous situation in my view, as , the international issues are stopping being fare away from home

The public is not keeping the politicians accountable on foreign affairs as much as it keeps the politicians accountable on domestic issues and same the public attitude towards media as I believe

That why maybe the politicians and media feel that they can "get with it" if the foreign policy is wrong or if the coverage of international affairs is not fair or not accurate

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Sun Prairie, Wis.: Thank you for your earlier response, Mr. Khatib. If I may follow up: why should the government of Sudan -- representing a country far less populous than Egypt and far less wealthy than Saudi Arabia, and practicing conduct over a long period that must be as repellent to civilized Muslims as it is to everyone else -- be able to exercise such influence on Arab governments and media?

The Darfur situation does not, after all, involve mere disrespect to Muslims or even civil unrest, but a deliberate war against a defenseless civilian population.

Nabil Khatib: The situation in Darfur is not being treated as an ethical/moral issue in the Arab media and by Arab leaders/Governments as much as an issue of political interests

Maybe the governments think: "why to disturb the relations with Khartoum because of Darfur"

So, it has to do with the Values of the Governments

And They do believe in the Arab World that the campaign against Khartoum by the EU and US is not for the defense of the Human Rights !!

They even believe that : "If US and EU are worried about the Human Rights status in Darfur/Sudan, why there is not such worry about the Human Rights situation in other places in the middle east"

This way of thinking is very much strong

Maybe it is used as an excuse by Governments to ignore that calls for the respect of Human Rights - but this is the fact and the situation

It is too much complicated to explain all of its aspects but unfortunately this is how it looks like

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Washington, D.C.: Dear Mr. Khatib:

How much are American readers missing by not getting reports on what Arab leaders and media are saying in Arabic, as opposed to what they are saying in English?

Thank you.

Nabil Khatib: I think that the American readers are missing most of what they need to get , by "not getting the Arabic".

I do not think that there is a healthy flow of information (quantity and quality) from the Middle East to the US,

And that by it self creates most of the problem of the misjudgments and misunderstanding and wrong perceptions from both sides towards both sides

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Nabil Khatib: Dear Readers

It was a great chance to communicate with you and to be able to answer some of your questions

I strongly believe that all the questions were very much valid and relevant.

some of them reflects misunderstanding or lack of information, witch is part of the problem that Washington Post was trying (I believe) to contribute to, by offering you an idea about the situation in the Arab Media by publishing the Article about Alarabiya News Channel and what it is trying to achieve,

And also by giving me the chance to address your questions and answer them

Thank you so much for your time and contribution

God Bless you All

Regards

Nabil Khatib

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