When I say that the Arab media must reform, stop living in the past and develop a new vision for the future, I believe many people will agree with me. There is now a general conviction that the media should function in a more professional, honest and objective manner, treating the Arab world as one entity and its people as one people. Some may think that such countries as Egypt, Syria and even my home, Saudi Arabia, will ask why others should stick their noses in other country’s internal affairs and not mind their own country’s business instead.
My reply to such fears is that they are what they are — only fears. They are assumptions that many will never be proved since I fully trust my colleagues in both the named countries and in other Arab states which now fully understand what the “learn from Iraq” lesson really means.
I feel confident that my colleagues agree with the following: First, the Arab media, without exception, helped portray and polish the picture of the deposed Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, while ignoring his crimes against his own people. This policy of turning a blind eye continued until we reached the situation in which the Iraqi people found themselves living under American occupation.
Second: The same media which played so misleading a role is now being attacked by all and viewed as a main cause of the crisis. Suddenly people seem to have forgotten that it is the Arab regimes which control the media and so direct it in whatever direction they want. Critics have vented their anger on the media, considering all Arab journalists hypocrites who have for years misled the public as well as the regimes themselves. Although some may have practiced deception under pressure, many others who are sincere and honest had their voices muzzled and were forced out of the profession.
Third: When talking about reform, this includes all countries including Saudi Arabia. We must remember it was the Kingdom that put forward a comprehensive initiative for reforming the Arab world.
I feel a common Arab media language is now beginning to take shape, one which is veering away from the old fiery speeches and exaggerated rhetoric that dominated our press for many years, Muhammad Saeed Al-Sahaf, the former Iraqi information minister, being an outstanding practitioner of what I am talking about.
The general conviction is that the Arab media must reform and play a true national role, serving the public without discrimination. This unwritten media code of conduct should from now on read: “No to lies. No to deception. No to misleading.”
Arab News From the Local Press 24 April 2003
