Part of the problem may be that some Western journalists mistakenly believe that all people can express themselves with impunity as people can do in their parts of the world.
“One reputable Western agency asked for my comment, and the next day I saw it had been manipulated. My words were juxtaposed in a way that they only added to the sensationalism that the story was trying to peddle. Ever since, I have been wary of talking to the media people,” said a well-known and oft-quoted Saudi intellectual. Since then he has asked media people to submit their questions via e-mail. “That gives me better control of formulating my opinion and ensuring that I am not misquoted, and when I am misquoted I have the documentation in the form of the e-mail to prove my innocence.”
Rasheed Abou-Alsamh, a Saudi-American journalist who has reported in the past about Saudi Arabia in some of the best American publications, including The New York Times, admits that some Saudis are reluctant to talk to the press for fear of being misquoted. “However, I also think that as Saudi media develops more and more, Saudis are becoming used to answering questions from inquisitive journalists,” he said. “As in all societies there are some newspapers that tend to sensationalize the news and deliberately misquote people, but I think the ranks of Saudi journalists are improving and becoming more professional.”
“One does not always know how something will be contextualized back in their own country, and in countries where authorities keep score, one would not want to end up on the blacklist,” said Saudi celebrity and popular talk-show host Muna AbuSulayman. “It does take great courage to speak one’s mind on controversial issues, and some people who don’t agree with the status quo have had sanctions imposed on them.”
Some foreign journalists are impressed with the candor some Saudis exhibit when being interviewed.
“I thought that most Saudis would be very reluctant to speak with me, but I have been surprised by their willingness to talk. It is still difficult, however, to get interviews with government officials,” said Caryle Murphy, a Pulitzer Prize-winning independent journalist living in Riyadh. “I think most government officials are afraid of being misquoted,” says Murphy. “They don’t trust the media, but many Saudis are comfortable talking to the press. Sometimes it takes a while to get their confidence, but if they see you are sincere and interested in their views, usually they will speak with you.”
Some Saudis maintain that foreign correspondents are well meaning, but their editors abroad distort the story in a deliberate effort to sensationalize it.
“No, that is not the case, at least not for foreign correspondents who work for professional media outlets,” Murphy said. “Their editors don’t ‘spice up’ a story. Most correspondents try to report honestly. Sometimes, though, we don’t like what we read about our country because we don’t see ourselves as others see us. This is true for Americans as well as Saudis.”
Murphy said a little more transparency on the part of government ministries would go a long way to prevent individuals from being put on the spot, but she encouraged Saudis to communicate with visiting journalists.
“First, talk to foreign journalists because most of them are here to report objectively on the Kingdom. Second, demand that every Saudi government ministry appoint an official spokesperson who will answer his or her phone; get the information requested by the journalist; and call the journalist back to give the correct information the same day,” Murphy said. “One reason Saudi Arabia has problems with its image abroad is because there is no one to give information and provide background and context for events that occur.”
As a person familiar with both cultures and the roles of interviewer and interviewee, AbuSulayman said she has been misquoted several times.
“But they were mostly due to the ineptitude of the journalist rather than the media outlet or the cultural context of the interview,” said AbuSulayman. “Since I live between two worlds, I think I understand both cultures well and, therefore, make fewer mistakes due to my media training. At the same time, I have very strong convictions, and the cultural context of the interview will not change them; they will just change the way that I might phrase my idea or belief or the examples I will use to drive the point home.”
Programs on MTV and LBC have presented what was seen as inappropriate topics and resulted in legal problems for the Saudis involved. Abou-Alsamh said people should always use common sense when speaking to the media.
“The brouhaha over the MTV and LBC programs will certainly scare some Saudis into not talking to journalists, who will fear possible legal repercussions. I do think that some Saudis are sometimes lulled into a sense of false security with foreign journalists, as they feel they can open up to them and say things they would never say to a Saudi journalist,” Abou-Alsamh said. “Perhaps they are naive in thinking that these programs or articles will never be seen or read at home, but this is not the case — especially with TV programs, which are now beamed directly into most Saudi homes via satellite and widespread access to the Internet. But I do think that we have to make a distinction between the MTV and LBC programs.”
He said in his view the MTV program had some merit. “I watched the whole MTV series on Saudi youth on the Internet and found it refreshing. I can see how what was shown might have angered some Saudis, but it was not sensationalized or distorted,” Abou-Alsamh said.
As for the LBC program that featured a Saudi man boasting about his personal life, the Saudi-American journalist wasn’t so sure, though he said he never saw the program.
“I do think that it was probably edited to make it more sensational than it already was, but then I also don’t believe that the man was unaware that they were filming him in his bedroom boasting about his escapdes,” said Abou-Alsamh. “They probably didn’t even show him the final product before the show was broadcast. So yes, I do think that Saudis will now think twice before opening up to foreign journalists.”
AbuSulayman said those programs might have stirred up less trouble had they been produced and aired domestically.
“That issue is very complicated due to the link between exposure to TV driving ratings up, and the very sensitive issue of cultural identity,” said AbuSulayman. “You cannot discount the factor that it was a foreign TV station that aired those shows. I am pretty sure, if it had been a Saudi channel, Saudis would not have been as upset because some controversial subjects are always being aired. The LBC and MTV pieces felt like the youth were ‘airing our collective society’s dirty laundry to the world.’ By the way, everything that was said on those shows did happen, but it was not handled well. In my talk show ‘Kalam Nouam,’ we discussed issues that were much more sensitive. The difference is that we knew the nuances of the situations, and were able to drive home important messages and solutions.”
To be interviewed, or not to be interviewed: that is the question.
“Try to choose live shows, as there is less of an opportunity to be misquoted,” said AbuSulayman. “But it means that you really have to know your subject at hand, the audience who is watching you, and be prepared to be questioned on everything you ever did, said or stood for.”
