The most dangerous threat that the Arab world currently faces is the media. Many media institutions are moneymaking businesses. They neither care about their national responsibility nor about their social obligations toward Arab societies and especially the youth. As for the minority of real media outlets, they function in accordance with the avowed policy of sabotaging Arab-Arab relationships. In some Arab and Gulf countries they aim to create internal disorder.
The grudges that people entertain often surface in many of the dialogues and debates that take place live on talk shows. I believe that sometimes media people even fabricate events. Our media outlets are expected to contribute to elevating and changing the Arab individual.
Nourishing and developing people’s thoughts is one of the responsibilities of the media. The media needs to fulfill this responsibility in cooperation with other educational and social institutions.
The language of violence is often used in the media, to the extent that some channels broadcast vulgar videos and songs, and some even broadcast speeches by terrorists. Regardless of what is being shown, the end results are all negative.
I do not disagree with the fact that the media is an economic institution that must finance itself and then work toward generating a profit. But that does not eliminate its social responsibilities toward the Arab world.
The Arab media at this stage is in an inexcusably degraded position; this is especially the case with the satellite media. Establishing a new satellite channel is now as easy as starting a new coffee shop in any Arab country. The language of media adopted by these channels is not any different from the same type of conversation that goes on within people’s living rooms. In fact, some dedicate their time to discussing local issues, sorcery and some allow for families to discuss certain issues through text messages.
This is an abnormal phenomenon that is corrupting our societies. The Arab world’s disagreement is no longer between governments. It also affects nations and that is the worst threat of an irresponsible media. Some entrepreneurs plan their expected financial targets without paying attention to the national and Arab obligation.
What is even worse is that some deliberately provoke controversies and attempt to defame Arab-Arab relations. Some in fact are good at creating hateful debates.
The media could be used for various purposes, both for business purposes and to meet social obligations. This can include advertising, marketing, propaganda, public relations, and political communication, enrichment and education, entertainment, public service announcements and to deliver news. All of this must be retained within certain boundaries so that we do not end up promoting negativity and hatred instead of using the media for good cause.
