17 November 2004
Heinrich Böll Report Provides Snapshot of Arab Middle East Media
16 November 2004
In the last decade, the rapid growth of news media in the Arab Middle East and the emergence of satellite broadcasting in the region are having a profound effect on public debate in these societies. Stations like Al-Jazeera are stirring discussion about topics usually considered taboo and providing a venue for views that would otherwise be censored by state media. However, this "revolution" has not necessarily lessened government efforts to control the media, according to a new report by the Heinrich Böll Foundation.
"Walking a Tightrope: News Media and Freedom of Expression in the Arab Middle East" provides an overview of the media landscape in six countries - Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories and Syria.
Written primarily for donors and organisations who work in media development, the report aims to provoke "meaningful debate on the future role of Arab media within the regional discourse about reform and democratic change in the Middle East."
The report examines media laws and regulations in each country, journalists' codes of ethics and the impact of satellite channels and the Internet on freedom of expression. It also lists media development organisations in the region, training opportunities and a bibliography of resources.
Download the report (in PDF format) here:
http://www.boell-meo.org/download_en/media_study.pdf
To order copies of the report, visit: http://www.boell-meo.org/
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