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Middle East Review of International Affairs
Contesting the State Media Monopoly: Syria on Al-Jazira Television
by Najib Ghadbian
*
Editor's Summary
The influx of independent satellite TV stations in the Arab world has undermined the ability of governments to control what people watch and consequently to control what they think. This article takes the al-Jazira satellite TV station and its coverage of Syrian politics as a case study. It analyzes the content of sample news and programs that have tackled issues considered sensitive to the Syrian regime, and illustrates how these programs may be forcing the government to change its discourse.
Satellite TV stations are subtly challenging the state's monopoly over the means of persuasion and information in the Arab World. Not only is government media rendered less relevant by the new satellite channels, but also the introduction of freer and more independent sources of information may be an additional tool for civil society in its struggle with states over such issues as the freedom of expression, human rights and democracy. This is apparent from the way people are excited about the programs of these stations. The Qatari-based channel al-Jazira has emerged as the leading source of news and the most candid forum for debating issues. Other credible sources of information include the Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC), Arab News Network (ANN), and Abu Dhabi Satellite TV station. Although none of these TV stations are totally independent, they enjoy a higher degree of autonomy from their sponsors. Al-Jazira and ANN are the only all news stations, but Al-Jazira's programs have brought high-level newsmakers and high-sensitivity issues before the public far more than those of ANN.
Al-Jazira's coverage of Syrian politics exemplifies how satellite TV is changing the conditions of communication between citizens and states in the Arab world and increasing the space for civil society, creating more moments in television that are not as controlled by states. The significance of the Syrian case lies in the fact that the Syrian regime is highly authoritarian and still maintains total control of information and communication. I examine al-Jazira's reporting of several issues considered highly sensitive according to the censorship policies of Syria's ministries of information, culture and guidance: political opposition in Syria, succession, and the impact of the peace process on the regime's survival ability. I will analyze the content of sample news and programs that have tackled issues considered sensitive to the Syrian regime, such as the three shows Akthar min Ra'i (More than One Opinion), al-Ittijah al-Mu'akis, (Opposite Directions) and Bila Hudud (Without Bounds), to suggest that these programs may be forcing governments to change their discourse.
In a recent article, Jon B. Alterman suggested that in order to understand the impact of satellite news channels on the Arab world, researchers will have to study, among other things, "how the satellite television stations cover news, how they compare to terrestrial stations' coverage of news, and how both have changed over time." This article addresses precisely the gap mentioned by Alterman.
Full PDF Document, 13 pages, 71kB
Endnotes:
Note *: Najib Ghadbian is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Middle East Studies at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, and the author of Democratization and the Islamist Challenge in the Arab World. Dr. Ghadbian occasionally provides political commentaries for Al-Jazira and Abu Dhabi TV satellite stations.Back