Beirut paper assesses proliferation, quality of new Iraqi media
Text of report by Mustafa Kamil entitled "Analysis from Baghdad of the new Iraqi media: Savage freedom and uncensored chaos" published by Lebanese newspaper Al-Nahar web site on 26 September:
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When the US occupation began, the Iraqi media found itself living in a new unfamiliar era and went through a series of profound changes that left numerous effects on it and on its Iraqi target audience, which was deeply shocked by those changes.
The new era's media demonstrated several fine qualities but also showed numerous morbid signs. Among the fine qualities were the openness to the world and the use of modern media tools in addition to a certain latitude that some persons are now describing as freedom; Others see it as chaos, something similar to what the famous Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa called savage freedom. It is largely a reckless, irresponsible freedom.
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Posted by Matthew Burton on September 26, 2004 at 10:52 AM in Media landscape | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (33)
Post-Saddam Media Flourishes, Not Without Controversy
IPS-Inter Press Service September 17, 2004, Friday
By Peyman Pejman
BAGHDAD - Since the fall of Saddam Hussein and his regime last year, one of the clearest signs that a new Iraq has emerged is the flourishing media business.
But their coverage, and that of international Arabic-language satellite channels such as Al-Arabiye and Al-Jazeera, has been subject to much debate. U. S. and many Iraqi officials say the coverage has been biased and has provoked violence.
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Posted by Matthew Burton on September 17, 2004 at 11:08 AM in Al Arabiya, Al-Sabah, Aljazeera, Media landscape | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (195)
Al-Jazeera continues news reporting in Iraq despite ban
Text of report by Qatari newspaper The Peninsula web site on 11 September
Doha: Despite a ban imposed by the Iraqi authorities on the popular Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV channel, the station continues to actively air live telecast of news and events in the violence-infested Arab nation.
A highlight of the channel's coverage of Iraq is a number of interviews conducted telephonically of opposition politicians, teachers and intellectuals in Iraq, some viewers in Doha said on Thursday [9 September].
A spokesman of the TV channel told The Peninsula last weekend that Al-Jazeera's coverage of the events unfolding in the war-torn country was important for Iraqi viewers, as also for the outside world. He also clarified that the ban was not for an indefinite period, as pointed out by sections of the global media. "We were taken unawares by the extension of the ban, which is to continue until further notice," said the official.
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Posted by Matthew Burton on September 11, 2004 at 02:25 PM in Aljazeera | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (175)
Arab Advisors Group releases Saudi media audience study
Al Jazeera viewers base in Saudi Arabia is 5 times larger than United States Sponsored AlHurra's audience. Al Hurra's credibility scores are quite bad in contrast with those of Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya.
A new scientific survey by the Arab Advisors Group revealed that close to 89% of Arab households in Saudi Arabia have Satellite TVs. The results also revealed that Arab SAT TV Viewers in Saudi Arabia have little trust in AlHurra News Channel. In contrast Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya news channels have much higher credibility amongst a much larger viewers base. The survey covered all channels viewed in Saudi Arabia be they news, music, sports and general entertainment. Radio listening patterns were also covered by the survey.
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Posted by Matthew Burton on September 5, 2004 at 11:17 AM in Al Arabiya, Alhurra, Aljazeera, Middle East media | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (99)
Reuters on the Aljazeera ban
DUBAI (Reuters) - Leading Arabic television channel Al Jazeera says Iraq's U.S.-allied authorities have extended a ban on the controversial broadcaster and closed its office in Baghdad.
Iraq's interim government first ordered the closure of Al Jazeera's Baghdad office for one month in August for backing "criminals and gangsters" by airing parts of videotapes from groups claiming to have seized or killed foreign hostages.
Al Jazeera officials said on Saturday they were informed that the extension of the ban was indefinite.
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Posted by Matthew Burton on September 4, 2004 at 02:56 PM in Aljazeera | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (333)
Al-Jazeera lawyer says decision to keep Baghdad office closed "illegal"
Transcript of September 4 Aljazeera broadcast, featuring interview with AJ's lawyer:
Kurayshan: Iraqi forces have stormed Al-Jazeera offices in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and sealed them with red wax. The forces also broke down a door on the second floor of the offices. This comes at a time when the one-month closure of the offices ended. The Iraqi government extended the closure indefinitely.
We have with us from Baghdad Haydar al-Mulla, Al-Jazeera lawyer in Baghdad. Mr Haydar, what exactly happened today?
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Posted by Matthew Burton on September 4, 2004 at 02:39 PM in Aljazeera | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (60)
