Arab Mass Media: Newspapers, Radio, and Television in Arab Politics

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Since September 11, 2001, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, many television viewers in the United States have become familiar with Al Jazeera as offering an alternative take on events from that presented by mainstream U.S. media, as well as disseminating anti-American invective. Westerners have tended toward simplistic views of Arab newspapers, radio, and television, assuming that they are all under government control and that freedom of press is non-existent. William A. Rugh, a long time observer of the Arab mass media, offers a more nuanced picture of the Arab press as it relates to the political situation in the Arab world today. Although governmental influence over the media is stronger in the Middle East than in Europe or the United States, Rugh argues that there is more diversity in the Arab media than most people in the West realize. In reality, the Arab media are coming to reflect the diversity and wide range of opinions of those within the Arab world itself. In particular, the advent of privately owned Arab satellite television in the 1990s has led to significant liberalization of the media throughout the region. Rugh concludes that a democracy of ideas and voices is slowly growing in the Arab world, and he remains guardedly optimistic about the positive role the Arab media can play in processes of democratization and nation-building.

Reviews

This outstanding and much-needed reference work is the product of fine and meticulous scholarly research by a former American-Mideast Educational Training Services.The book is highly recommended to academic and special libraries as well as government agencies dealing with Arabic countries. * Multicultural Review *
The most cited author on Middle East media has issued another classic.Arab Mass Media is a must-have for any academic, personal, and professional library byt especially for media scholars and anyone who cares or writes about Middle East media. * Transnational Broadcasting Studies *
[A]n essential guide for any who would understand the nature and state of Arab news reporting today. * Internet Bookwatch/The Midwest Book Review *

Author Bio

WILLIAM A. RUGH is President and CEO of America-Mideast Educational and Training Services Inc. (AMIDEAST), a nonprofit organization promoting understanding and cooperation between Americans and people of the Middle East. Fluent in Arabic, he has advanced degrees from the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, and a doctorate from Columbia University. He has served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen and the United Arab Emirates.