In a conversation with Muhammad Haydar Sheikh, a former media expert, we discussed the shortcomings of the Arab media and how it has no presence in the Western world. It seems there is unanimous agreement among Arab governments to forbid the media from traveling abroad. The Western world, on the other hand, does not forbid the Arab media from visiting it.
Mr. Sheikh added that the Arab media has never sought a global audience — probably because it does not know how to do so — and further that the existing Arab TV channels are no credit to our reputation. Not one of those Arab TV channels has ever made any attempt to present our views, opinions and beliefs to the West. We seem unable to understand the power of public opinion and how it plays such a vital role in the formulation of policy in the West. It influences decision-making as well as pressuring or even terrorizing.
We in the Arab world have a need for our own version of CNN, an international channel to broadcast real news, information and to conduct dialogues free of egotism. If we had such a thing, our concerns could be presented directly to the world with nothing or no one between us and them. It is said with some truth that the world never notices the Gulf unless an oil crisis threatens or the Arabs appear as fanatics and barbarians whose only aim is to throw Israel into the sea.
