US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI3689

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. 
 
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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. 
 
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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." 
 
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COMMENTS: 
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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