Lebanon: Print Media -- Newspapers

UNCLAS BEIRUT 000334 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ELA - SOMERSET, NEA/PPD, R, INR/R/MR INR-PARENT SECDEF FOR OASD/PA LONDON/POL PARIS/POL WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC USCENTCOM FOR CCPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OPRC KPAO PREF PREL KISL KPAL LE SUBJECT: Lebanon: Print Media -- Newspapers ¶1. This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (U) Summary: This cable provides information on Lebanese newspapers including political affiliations and circulation figures where available. Lebanon's print media is diverse, vibrant and often opinionated. There are twelve local newspapers; among these are one French-language newspaper, L'Orient-Le Jour, and one English-language newspaper, The Daily Star. There are also two pan-Arab newspapers, Al-Hayat and Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat. In addition, there are over one hundred Lebanese magazines covering political, social, and economic issues. End Summary. Arabic Language Newspapers -------------- ¶3. (SBU) An-Nahar: An-Nahar is moderate and anti-Syria. Gebran Tueni founded An-Nahar on August 4, 1933; following his death in 1947, his son, Ghassan, assumed leadership of the paper. In 2000, Ghassan retired and his son, Gebran Tueni, succeeded him. On December 12, 2005, Gebran Tueni was assassinated; Ghassan took over the paper, assisted by his grand-daughter Nayla, Gebran's daughter. An-Nahar is receptive to requests for coverage of U.S. policies. ¶4. (SBU) As-Safir: As-Safir is characterized as an Arab nationalist newspaper. As-Safir was founded in 1974 by Talal Salman, who was funded by and cooperated with Libya and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Since the alleged kidnapping of Al-Imam As-Sadr to Libya and the 1985 battles between the Lebanese and the Palestinians, Libya ceased funding As-Safir. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar funded the paper following Libya's withdrawl. When Rafiq Hariri became prime minister, he totally financed As-Safir. As-Safir always criticizes U.S. policy, the Embassy, and the Chief of Mission, no matter who it is, harshly. ¶5. (SBU) Ad-Diyar: Ad-Diyar was founded in 1988 by a retired army officer, Charles Ayoub, who became known for his pro-Syrian, yet independent views. Ayoub frequently criticizes U.S. policies, although the paper does include other views and it is sometimes sensationalist. Ad-Diyar's political persuasion changes every few years; currently, it is characterized as pro-Syrian. 
 ¶6. (SBU) Al-Mustaqbal: Al-Mustaqbal supports the Hariri family and it is well-financed. Rafiq Hariri founded the paper in 2000; his sons now control it. ¶7. (SBU) Ash-Sharq: Ash-Sharq supports the Hariri family now, whereas initially it was pro-Syrian. Founded by the Ka'ki family in 1950, Ash-Sharq was the first Lebanese newspaper to enter the Syrian market and to be sold along with Syrian dailies. Because of Rafiq Hariri's financial support, the paper aligned itself with his family. ¶8. (SBU) Al-Anwar: Al-Anwar was founded by Anis Freiha in 1959, and is a part of Dar Al-Sayyad ("House of Fishermen"),which also publishes eighteen topical magazines. It is financially supported by various Gulf countries. Al-Anwar is considered centrist and independent. ¶9. (SBU) Al-Liwa': Al-Liwa' is pro-Sunni Muslim and moderate. Al-Liwa' was founded by Abdel-Ghani Salam in 1962. It addresses the mainstream Sunni Muslim audience primarily in Beirut, but it is a popular newspaper in Tripoli as well. Its financial support comes primarily from Saudi Arabia. ¶10. (SBU) Al-Bayraq: Al-Bayraq was founded in 1912. It is owned and directed by the head of the Lebanese Editors' Syndicate, Milhem Karam. This daily is a prestige publication of its owner, and it always follows the policies of the Lebanese President. Since Emile Lahoud left the presidency (November 23, 2007),it has reported news without any clear political affiliation. ¶11. (SBU) Al-Akhbar: Al-Akhbar is characterized as pro-opposition, i.e., pro-March 8. Founded in 2006, it is owned by a group of businessmen, mostly from the Gulf. It also has considerable support from a group of Lebanese businessmen who have relations with Michel Aoun and Hizballah. Some say Al-Akhbar is owned by Hizballah and financed by Iran, but the editor-in-chief denies this. The paper is well-connected to Hizballah sources, as well as other Islamic militant groups. The staff members include editorialists of various affiliations. Lebanese usually read Al-Akhbar because it is believed to have the most information. Al-Akhbar frequently criticizes U.S. policy and, in the past, it has critiqued the Chief of Mission's activities and statements. ¶12. (SBU) Al-Balad: Al-Balad started in December 2003 and is owned by a group of Kuwaiti businessmen. It started with a clearly moderate policy and was able to attract an audience quickly. In an environment where the highest circulation of any newspaper reached 18,000, Al-Balad reached a daily circulation rate of 52,000. During the July 2006 war, however, Al-Balad's circulation decreased drastically. Following the war, it focused on reporting the news without any clear political affiliation. Circulation improved as the paper changed into a daily semi-socio-political newspaper, which also entertains. French and English Newspapers -------------- ¶13. (SBU) L'Orient-Le Jour: Originally, there were two newspapers -- L'Orient and Le Jour. L'Orient was founded by Journalist George Nakkash in 1925; Le Jour was founded by prominent Lebanese intellectual Michel Shiha in 1934; L'Orient and Le Jour merged in ¶1971. This paper is the only French-language daily and is a result of the dominant francophone society which emerged with the French Mandate over Lebanon following the demise of the Ottoman Empire. This paper's audience is the Lebanese elite and, traditionally, the diplomatic corps. The paper's policy is similar to An-Nahar's -- it is considered moderate and pro-Christian. ¶14. (SBU) The Daily Star: The Daily Star, characterized as independent, was first published in 1952 by Kamel Mroue. Following his assassination in 1966, supposedly by Nasserites, the paper ceased publication. It was re-launched in November 1996 by his son Jamil Mroue. The Daily Star is the only Lebanon-based, English-language newspaper. It has the highest turnover average of among journalists of all Lebanese newspapers because of the lack of qualified English journalists; and, recently it has had severe financial difficulties. Pan-Arab Newspapers -------------- ¶15. (SBU) The pan-Arab newspapers, Al-Hayat and Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat, are Saudi-owned. Each newspaper has a "Lebanon page," focusing on news events. The Paris and the Washington Lebanese Al-Hayat correspondents are senior journalists with excellent connections. Both the in-country journalists and the external ones consistently contact Embassy Beirut. Comment -------------- ¶16. (SBU) Newspaper headlines and prominent lead stories are read daily on television and radio talk shows. Political talk shows frequently have journalists as guests and the editorials are discussed. Every television channel has a daily political talk show; and, once or twice a week, depending on the television channel, there is an evening political talk show. Typically, these shows host a politician and journalists with different political affiliations. Newspaper reports generally frame the discussions. Print journalists have become the television or radio talk show commentators. ¶17. (SBU) Understanding the political affiliation of Lebanese newspapers may assist in understanding specific stories, editorials, analyses, or commentaries. Individual politicians and political groups use the newspapers as platforms to express their opinions and persuade the public to support certain positions as well as to ameliorate or escalate situations. Lebanese newspapers are not independently financed; and, circulation numbers remain mostly unknown. Ad-Diyar publishes its circulation figures as 10,000-12,000 per day; Al-Balad says its circulation is 40,000 per day. End Comment. Sison