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Arab League media charter draws fire

DUBAI — The second day of the Arab Media Forum held here in Dubai saw serious criticism of the Arab League Broadcasting Charter issued by Arab ministers of information, to regulate satellite broadcasting in the region.

Eminent journalists and media personalities who attended the panel discussion rubbished the relevance and legality of the Charter saying the ministers of information had no right to draw ethical codes for the Press.

They maintained that it was a clear violation of Press freedom and impeded free and fair coverage by satellite channels.

The Charter adopted on 12 February, 2008 during the meeting of Arab Ministers of Information in Cairo was criticised for the provisions that gave the signatory countries the right to freeze, or revoke the broadcasting license of any channel that breaks the agreed-upon regulations.

The panel discussion on the second day of seventh 7^th Arab Media Forum was moderated by Muntaha Al-Ramahi of Al Arabiya Channel and was attended by Mahmoud Shamam, Member, Board of Directors, Al Jazeera, Nakhle El-Hage, Director of News and Current Affairs, Al Arabiya News Channel and Salah Aeddine Maaoui, General Director, Arab States Broadcasting Union.

Shamam said the Charter had no value because those who ratified it had no right to issue the Charter.

“If they are keen to preserve ethics among youth, then it’s the role of the family and not the government to do so,” he asserted.

He said that while the government-owned satellite channels were under censorship, the independent broadcasters still maintained the right to decide on their content.

El-Hage of Al Arabiya said the Charter had no legality and instead of the ministers unilaterally issuing the Charter, they should have called upon the media organisations and raised their concerns.

Defending the broadcasting charter, Salah Aeddine of Arab States Broadcasting Union said that with the flourishing of over 500 satellite channels in the region, it’s important to regulate their operations as it’s the existing practice in the Western countries as well.

“The Charter aims to organise satellite broadcasting by introducing certain professional norms and rules. In the Arab world, there is no legislation or regulation on satellite broadcasting. The Charter is to fill this void,” pointed out Aeddine.

He also said that the Charter was a mere directive, and not obligatory on any broadcasters, and hence did not impede on the freedom of expression or right to information.

The recent rise of Arab satellite networks was also lauded at the Forum as experts opined it had provided a unique opportunity to present the voice of the Arab people across the region and the world as a whole.

In a session titled “Consolidation Driving Arab Broadcasting Networks’ Growth”, panellists assessed the impact of mergers and acquisitions involving the emerging gatekeepers of content and access on the future of the Arab media landscape, including the preservation of Arab cultural values.

Hosam El Sokkari, Head of BBC Arabic, said, “Compared to the English voice, the Arab voice was less heard and had a limited reach. This often led to a sense of alienation among the Arab people who felt voiceless and misrepresented by reigning media establishments.

“The situation is changing now. Instead of media becoming a barrier of understanding between the two cultures, the emerging networks have built valuable bridges of communication and understanding.”

Nigel Parsons, Managing Director, Al Jazeera English, said the widespread fear that the rise of such large networks would result in the demise of local media have so far proved unfounded.

The spread of technology, which helped facilitate the rise of the Arab satellite media, has also empowered the local media -providing them with new opportunities for growth, added El Sokkari.

Experts also debated the challenges and opportunities posed to media in the Arab world in the dawn of emerging technologies, and highlighted various shortcomings such as reluctance to adapt to new technology as well as personal inhibitions that are hampering the sector’s sustained growth process. The forum concluded yesterday with the announcement of the Arab Journalism Awards.

Journalism awards

DUBAI — Four journalists from the Arabic Press in the UAE were among those who received the Arab Journalism Awards for 2008 at the closing ceremony of the Arab Media Forum yesterday. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai presented the ‘Media Personality of the Year’ award to Makram Mohammed Ahmad, editor-in-chief of Egyptian weekly Al- Mossawar and head of the Egyptian Journalists Association. Shaikh Mohammed also presented a special award to the family of the late Iraqi journalist, Shihab Al Tamimi, and a special award to Jehad Al Kazim of Al Hayat newspaper for his columns.