Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI3689
2004-10-18 11:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

MEDIA ASSISTANCE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST: WORKSHOP

Tags:  KMPI KPAO PHUM XF 
pdf how-to read a cable
null
Diana T Fritz 02/05/2007 05:14:29 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 03689

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: AMB
 INFO: PAO DCM POL

DISSEMINATION: AMB
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB: MSISON
DRAFTED: NEA/PI: RKAPLAN
CLEARED: MEPI: HWECHSEL, PAO: HOLSIN-WINDECKER, NEA/PI: DMULENEX

VZCZCADI156
RR RUEHC ALNEA
DE RUEHAD #3689/01 2921133
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181133Z OCT 04
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6389
INFO ALNEA/ALL NEAR EAST COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ABU DHABI 003689 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/PI
PLEASE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/DG

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: KMPI KPAO PHUM XF
SUBJECT: MEDIA ASSISTANCE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST: WORKSHOP
YIELDS ADVICE/ACLAIM FOR MEPI


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ABU DHABI 003689

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/PI
PLEASE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/DG

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: KMPI KPAO PHUM XF
SUBJECT: MEDIA ASSISTANCE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST: WORKSHOP
YIELDS ADVICE/ACLAIM FOR MEPI



1. SUMMARY: An October 4 - 6 Regional Media Assistance
workshop in Abu Dhabi, funded by the Middle East Partnership
Initiative (MEPI) and USAID, succeeded in soliciting an
abundance of ideas and insights from Middle Eastern media
experts. Participants were frank about the need for a more
independent and professional media industry in the region,
and appreciative of this U.S. effort to seek their opinions
and recommendations. NEA/PI and USAID will now turn to
drafting a Scope of Work reflective of the themes that
emerged from the workshop, which in turn should draw grant
proposals that address some of the views expressed by
participants.


2. UAE Information Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed
supported the goals of the workshop and attended Ambassador
Sison's reception for the participants. The workshop
received positive press play in major Emirati dailies, with
no accusations of U.S. pressure or "imposing" reform on the
region. Provided the challenges some non-GCC nationalities
faced obtaining visas can be addressed, the UAE would be a
desirable venue for future programs and events aimed at
Media reform. A recap of the workshop from NEA/PI organizer
and participant Ross Kaplan follows. END SUMMARY.

--------------
WORKSHOP RECAP
--------------


3. From October 4-6, media professionals, media development
NGOs, and donors attended a MEPI-sponsored regional media
workshop in Abu Dhabi entitled "Strategies for Sustainable
Media Development for the Middle East and North Africa."
Attendees included publishers, broadcast executives,
editors, journalists, directors from media development NGOs,
and media and civil society advisors from donor agencies.
The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX)
implemented this workshop and demonstrated reliability and
professionalism. USAID provided technical advice in
development of agenda, participant list, and drafted the
scope of work for this event.


4. The following list comprises 15 participants from 12 NEA
countries, 5 donors representing 4 donor agencies, 5
implementers, and 1 international media expert. Late visa
submissions due to late substitutions for Moroccan and
Tunisian participants resulted in the inability to obtain
visas for these 2 participants. Bahraini participant

withdrew his participation to report on the sudden closing
of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. Lebanese
participant had last-minute medical emergency preventing his
attendance. Yemeni participant was unable to obtain visa due
to an apparently new visa restriction whereby Yemeni
nationals may not receive visas via private sponsorship.
Yemeni participated via conference call.

Mahmoud Abdulhadi, Qatar: Director, Al-Jazeera Media
Training & Development Center
Nadia Alami, USA: Regional Director, MENA, Internews
Mohammed Al-Jassem, Kuwait: Editor-in-Chief, Al-Watan
Dahem Al-Qahtani, Kuwait: Journalist, Al-Rai Al-Aam
Walid Al-Saqqaf, Yemen: Editor in Chief, Yemen Times (via
conference call)
Rafiah Altalei, Oman: Editor in Chief, Al Emra'a magazine
Hussein Amin, Egypt: Chair, AUC-Journalism Dept.
Edward J Baumeister, France: International Media Consultant
Zouaoui Benhamadi, Algeria: Head, Algerian National Radio
Nart Bouran, UAE: News Center Director, Abu Dhabi TV
Patrick Butler, USA: International Center for Journalists
Janblat Chkai, Syria: Correspondent Al-Rai al-Aam
Said Essoulami, Morocco: Centre for Media Freedom - Middle
East and North Africa
Pernille Glynning, Denmark, International Media Support
Shanthi Kalathil, USA: Media Advisor, US Agency for
International Development
Ross Kaplan, USA: MEPI Political Officer, US Department of
State
Rania Khalaf, Egypt: Journalist, Al Ahram Weekly
Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia: Special Media Advisor to the
Saudi Ambassador in London and former Editor, Al-Watan
Mark Koenig, USA: Senior Media Advisor, US Agency for
International Development
Daoud Kuttab, West Bank: Director, Institute of Modern
Media/Al-Quds TV
Aralynn McMane, France: Director, Training and Education,
World Association of Newspapers
Salah Negm, UAE: Deputy Director General, Al-Arabiyah/MBC
Jacky Perkins, Regional Expert, Engaging with the Arab
World, British Embassy Bahrain
Biljana Tatomir, Hungary: Media Program, Open Society
Institute
Mark Whitehouse, USA: Director, Media Development, IREX
Dina Zorba, Jordan: Publisher, Al Sharqiat Group



5. Day one set the framework for development of specific
recommendations by discussing the obstacles to and prospects
for reform of the journalism profession, media as a
business, and media law in the region. Participants with
applicable expertise discussed the situation in their
country and their field which brought about lively
discussion, exchange of experiences, and several
recommendations per topic. Day two focused on the
development of specific recommendations from the Arab media
professionals to donors and implementers as they develop
strategies and implement projects.


6. Several common themes emerged from the discussions over
the first two days. Arab media professionals expressed
sincere interest to forge partnerships with donors and
implementers, suggesting that local Arab organizations could
serve as the main partners while donors and implementers
could play the auxiliary role. Participants stressed the
importance of including women in all media assistance
activities and asked donors and implementers to encourage
media organizations to provide equal opportunities for
career advancement for women. The participants stressed the
need for media assistance to focus on developing local
capacity and maximizing existing capacity to avoid repeating
the use of "parachute" trainers.


7. Daoud Kuttab of the Institute of Modern Media at Al-Quds
University/Al-Quds TV/AmmanNet constructively shaped much of
the dialogue and persuaded many of his colleagues of the
need for a holistic approach that recognizes the
interdependence of journalism, media as a business, media
law, and media support organizations, including
associations, syndicates, unions, training institutions.
Kuttab emphasized a holistic approach by MEPI (together with
other donors) must be coupled with political support,
including sustained high-level USG consultations with Arab
governments to create space for free and independent media.


8. The workshop also identified research on audience
attitudes and preferences, progress in media development,
and successful strategies and approaches in the region and
elsewhere as a common theme that should be integrated into
assistance.


9. Day three of the workshop featured a working visit to
three media houses at Media City in Dubai. At MBC/Al
Arabiya, members of the workshop toured studios and the
newsroom at MBC and the newsroom at Al Arabiya. MBC is
considered a "family channel" with primarily entertainment
programming and several news programs. Al-Arabiya is a 24
hours news channel. The two stations share facilities and
many staff members. Al-Arabiya conducts paid training for
other stations and journalists and anticipates opening a
training center to expand its training capacity.
Participants met with Al-Arabiya's Executive Editor, Abdul
Sattar Ellaz, Business Manager Khan, and Director of News,
Salah Nagm.


10. Nagm claimed that State broadcasters' news programs are
the most watched. Nagm expressed interest in regional
networking, providing local stations international news from
Al-Arabiya, as well as providing training for regional
media.


11. Participants next visited Dubai Television's news
studios, meeting with Samer Hamzeh, News Center Director.
Dubai TV, a state-owned broadcaster, reflects the ability of
the richer gulf states to support the latest in studio and
production equipment, a situation that is not standard
throughout NEA countries. Dubai TV's news facilities were
equal to or better than MBC/Al Arabiya.


12. Participants finished with a visit to CNN Arabic, which
also serves as its Gulf Bureau and the main center covering
terrorism regionally. Caroline Faraj, editor, discussed the
role of the bureau, which also is responsible for producing
Inside the Middle East, a CNN International program. Faraj
indicated that approximately 50% of the hits on CNN Arabic
come from the United States.


13. Participants identified dozens of recommendations to
donors and implementers in the topic areas discussed at the
workshop. The full set of recommendations will be presented
in the final workshop report drafted by IREX. Below are
priority recommendations identified by the participants.


14. Journalism:

-- Enhanced professional training opportunities are very
much needed by journalists, editors, and other media
technical support personnel throughout the MENA region.
However, training support will prove more effective if
donors in close consultation with local partners design
programs that address several concerns (See next three
points).

--As much as possible, training should be conducted in
Arabic by local, Arabic trainers. International and U.S.
specialists can surely contribute, but their work should
include serious attention to the training of trainers.
--Technical assistance should be provided to local
university journalism faculties that are open to change, and
also to existing or newly emerging mid-career media training
institutions serving the MENA region.

--Sustained follow-up activities can greatly increase the
effectiveness of training, including long-term coaching,
refresher courses at progressively more advanced levels, and
creation of real opportunities for trainees to publish or
broadcast their work. For example, following a course on
investigative journalism, participants might be offered a
platform, such as a web publication, where their latest
investigative work might be published. Also, editors should
be included in training, so that they understand and better
accept new techniques being introduced by newly re-trained
journalists upon return to their news rooms.

--Careful selection of training participants, in
consultation with local partners, is important.
Participants in each group of any training activity should
start at a similar level of preparation (i.e., beginning,
middle-level, or advanced).


15. Media Business:

--Participants stressed the importance of skilled business
managers in media enterprises but also emphasized the lack
of sufficient people to fill this need. Therefore training
was emphasized with a focus on comprehensive and sustained
programs such as support to executive development, training
series, certificate programs, and management schools.
Advertising, marketing, general strategic management, use of
research are all areas that need to be addressed.

--Audience and market research was repeatedly stressed as a
vital need. The workshop recommended that such research be
supported, that media managers be trained in its use, that
international research standards be applied, and that
emphasis be placed on developing independent and competent
groups to conduct such research.

--Local media and new technology were singled out as needing
special emphasis in developing a sustainable business model.
Both media are relatively new to the region; and, if they
are to develop further, they will need sound management
skills.

--Participants stressed the need for translation of
documents on management practices, business training
materials, and research into Arabic.

--The workshop suggested that one consider a gradual shift
from free to fee-based training that would develop the
sustainability of management courses, institutes, and in-
service training.


16. Media Law:

--State ownership, domination and controls over the media
constitute the most fundamental barrier to developing free,
independent media in the MENA region. Thus, Arab government
officials need to be constructively engaged by U.S.,
international organizations, and other donor government
officials to increase awareness of the considerable benefits
of freer media - and to ease fears regarding any (mis)
perceived drawbacks to more open media systems.

--Training of more media law lawyers, jurists, and other
media law specialists is needed in the MENA region.

--Support for independent media industry associations and
other capacity-building in the general areas of media law
advocacy, alliance building, and lobbying are also needed.

--Internet information data bases (in Arabic) should be
established to provide sample legislation and expert
commentary on the best international practices for ensuring
enabling environments for free media. Particular attention
could be devoted to successful legal practices from fellow
Muslim (or otherwise similar) national media systems.

--In sum, greater visibility is needed to stress the key
importance of media law reforms. Training and advocacy
activities should involve media-sector NGO representatives,
parliamentarians, government officials, jurists, and other
pertinent decision-makers.


17. Print and Internet: (The Print and Internet section
covered specific needs of these two media, although many of
the needs were identified in the journalism, business, and
media law sessions described above.)

--For Internet, participants recommended more training on
how to make the internet a viable business model.
Sustainability may not be immediately achieved, but Internet
business skills will prove vital as internet media develops.

--For Internet, participants expressed general need for the
technical training for media's specific needs - web design,
use of proxy servers, interactive tools, etc.

--Most press syndicates in the region remain state-
dominated, and therefore unable to defend the professional
independence of their members. As a result, participants
recommended either the fundamental reform of existing
syndicates, or support for the creation of new, more
independent professional associations.


18. Broadcast:

--The broadcast section covered specific needs of the
broadcast industry, although many of the needs were
identified in the journalism, business, and media law
sessions described above.

--The workshop emphasized the importance of supporting
emerging local private media - local radio, community radio,
local television. These media are not widely accepted by
Arab governments nor are most of those existing highly
professional. Furthermore, neither the satellite nor state
broadcasters discuss local issues, leaving an information
vacuum and a focus on issues such as Iraq and the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict.

--There was significant support for and discussion of local
production in radio and television. Participants encouraged
support to production of public affairs, news,
documentaries, and human-interest series on radio and
television.

--Support was encouraged for special reporting on broadcast
media - human interest, issues-bases reporting, coverage of
civil society, social reporting, etc.

--The issue of the transition from state to public
broadcasting received much attention. Most participants
observed that state broadcasters were not currently suited
to modern demands and did not meet the criteria of being a
public service. Therefore, without specific agreement, the
participants noted the importance of following and staying
engaged where possible in true reform efforts, e.g., as in
Morocco.

--------------
PRESS COVERAGE
--------------


19. US Ambassador to the UAE Michele Sison delivered the
welcome remarks, emphasizing the United States' willingness
to provide support to political, economic, and social
reforms, however underscoring that reform must come from
within the region itself. Her remarks were carried in four
major Emirati dailies. The articles were positive,
highlighting the USG's focus on getting media assistance
recommendations directly from experts in the region.


20. The UAE's largest daily also interviewed some of the
workshop participants at the conclusion of the workshop.
The interviews were parlayed into a full-page feature
article by UAE columnist Ali Al Amoudi that appeared on
October 14 in the Arabic daily Al-Ittihad (circulation
85,000). He reiterated the goals of the workshop as stated
in the press release, and extensively quoted from President
Bush's speech at the graduation ceremony of the University
of South Carolina describing MEPI. In the body of the
article, he interviewed workshop participants Rafia Taleih,
Dawuud Kettab and Dr. Hussein Amin, describing their
reactions to each session. They praised the fact that the
workshop provided an opportunity to exchange opinions. Dr.
Hussein was quoted, "We need media reform, because it is
connected to political and economic reform and we should
benefit from the U.S. experience because it is developed in
these areas." Rafia stated, "We shouldn't be close-minded
and reject openness just because this workshop is coming
from the U.S. and because we have different points of view
regarding U.S. foreign policy. These programs are going to
serve us and our potential to strengthen freedom of media,
democracy and educational reform."

--------------
COMMENTS:
--------------


21. Several visa issues arose which should be noted for
future workshops in the UAE. In the NEA region only GCC
citizens can travel visa free to UAE. Using the normal
channels (through local sponsorship by the hotel or airline)
can mean that last minute participants will not receive
visas. Since sponsorship is through hotels, most of which
use a private tour agency, one must pay special attention to
the process. Given the processing time needed by immigration
authorities, late substitutions should be avoided to the
maximum extent possible.


22. Participants and Ambassador Sison expressed strong,
positive feedback on the workshop. Beyond their enthusiasm
for the produced recommendations, participants were
particularly impressed by and appreciative of MEPI's effort
to consult with Arab media professionals, rather than the
perceived current method of having strategies and programs
imposed on them by MEPI and BMENA. The participants asked
that this model of consultation and contribution to the
development of donor and implementer strategies and programs
continue.

SISON