Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT694
2008-05-15 13:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: NOW LEBANON NEWS PORTAL SAYS BUSINESS IS
how-toVZCZCXRO5190 RR RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHLB #0694 1361305 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 151305Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1889 INFO RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2293 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2596 RHMFISS/USCENTCOM SPECIAL HANDLING MACDILL AFB FL RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000694
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: NOW LEBANON NEWS PORTAL SAYS BUSINESS IS
BOOMING
Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000694
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: NOW LEBANON NEWS PORTAL SAYS BUSINESS IS
BOOMING
Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) To learn more about the on-line media phenomenon
providing fast-breaking updates during the recent violence,
Poloffs met with NOWLebanon.com staff writer Ben Ryan in the
organization's Beirut offices on May 13. Ryan said
NOWLebanon had recently received a 150 percent increase in
hits on its on-line news portal and added that the
organization plans to expand its area of operations.
Although clearly pro-March 14 in its orientation, Ryan said
that the organization is striving to present English and
Arabic news updates in a factual manner. It's editorials and
longer articles are more partisan and intended to counter the
opposition's media advantage in Lebanon. End Summary.
NOW LEBANON'S SUCCESS GROWS
--------------
2. (SBU) In a May 13 meeting with PolOffs, NOW Lebanon Staff
Writer Ben Ryan (Amcit) reported on NOWLebanon's growing
success as an on-line media outlet for up-to-the-minute
updates on events in Lebanon. According to Ryan, NOWLebanon
has grown exponentially since the site had its debut in July
2007.
3. (SBU) Ryan reported that NOWLebanon typically receives
around 40,000 hits a day on its web-site, but that since May
7, during the most recent conflict between Hizballah and
pro-government militias, the NOWLebanon site had received
more than 100,000 hits per day. NOWLebanon is able to
provide its up-to-the minute updates through a variety of
sources, Ryan said, including news networks, print media, and
a network of other local journalists.
4. (C) NOWLebanon is technically an NGO, according to Ryan.
which receives funding from a number of private donors, from
within Lebanon and also from the Lebanese diaspora. When
asked by POLOFF about the primary backers, the NOWLebanon
team clamped up and said that they could not disclose such
information (Note: Many Beirut political insiders are aware
of the link between NOWLebanon and Eli Khoury, a Beirut
advertising executive who is pro-March 14 and linked to Saad
Hariri. End Note.)
ORGANIZATION SET TO GROW
--------------
5. (SBU) Ryan said the organization is small at the moment
but will expand in the near future. He added that the recent
popularity of the site and the increased demand from readers
will force the organization to increase its services into new
areas of operation. Ryan said NOWLebanon will also be
looking to increase its ties to affiliate news organizations.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) Many Lebanese on-line media portals in Lebanon are
partisan in nature, but NowLebanon is quickly developing a
reputation for accuracy in their "real time" reporting.
(Note: EmbOffs have found this to be a useful and fairly
reliable tool. End Note) A well-designed site, NOWLebanon
is providing an important boost to March 14 in a media market
largely dominated by the opposition. End Comment.
SISON
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: NOW LEBANON NEWS PORTAL SAYS BUSINESS IS
BOOMING
Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) To learn more about the on-line media phenomenon
providing fast-breaking updates during the recent violence,
Poloffs met with NOWLebanon.com staff writer Ben Ryan in the
organization's Beirut offices on May 13. Ryan said
NOWLebanon had recently received a 150 percent increase in
hits on its on-line news portal and added that the
organization plans to expand its area of operations.
Although clearly pro-March 14 in its orientation, Ryan said
that the organization is striving to present English and
Arabic news updates in a factual manner. It's editorials and
longer articles are more partisan and intended to counter the
opposition's media advantage in Lebanon. End Summary.
NOW LEBANON'S SUCCESS GROWS
--------------
2. (SBU) In a May 13 meeting with PolOffs, NOW Lebanon Staff
Writer Ben Ryan (Amcit) reported on NOWLebanon's growing
success as an on-line media outlet for up-to-the-minute
updates on events in Lebanon. According to Ryan, NOWLebanon
has grown exponentially since the site had its debut in July
2007.
3. (SBU) Ryan reported that NOWLebanon typically receives
around 40,000 hits a day on its web-site, but that since May
7, during the most recent conflict between Hizballah and
pro-government militias, the NOWLebanon site had received
more than 100,000 hits per day. NOWLebanon is able to
provide its up-to-the minute updates through a variety of
sources, Ryan said, including news networks, print media, and
a network of other local journalists.
4. (C) NOWLebanon is technically an NGO, according to Ryan.
which receives funding from a number of private donors, from
within Lebanon and also from the Lebanese diaspora. When
asked by POLOFF about the primary backers, the NOWLebanon
team clamped up and said that they could not disclose such
information (Note: Many Beirut political insiders are aware
of the link between NOWLebanon and Eli Khoury, a Beirut
advertising executive who is pro-March 14 and linked to Saad
Hariri. End Note.)
ORGANIZATION SET TO GROW
--------------
5. (SBU) Ryan said the organization is small at the moment
but will expand in the near future. He added that the recent
popularity of the site and the increased demand from readers
will force the organization to increase its services into new
areas of operation. Ryan said NOWLebanon will also be
looking to increase its ties to affiliate news organizations.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) Many Lebanese on-line media portals in Lebanon are
partisan in nature, but NowLebanon is quickly developing a
reputation for accuracy in their "real time" reporting.
(Note: EmbOffs have found this to be a useful and fairly
reliable tool. End Note) A well-designed site, NOWLebanon
is providing an important boost to March 14 in a media market
largely dominated by the opposition. End Comment.
SISON