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Media secrets
Middlesex University Dubai students interact with top-notch journalists who explain the pressures of the profession.
- By Maysam Ali, Notes Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:31 November 29, 2008
- Students at the panel discussion at Middlesex University in Dubai.
- Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
In class journalism students learn all about media laws and ethics, the dos and don'ts of the profession and the geopolitics of news production. It is when they start working in a media house that they learn the secrets of the profession, the unwritten rules and limits enforced. Students of Middlesex University Dubai had a peep into the industry when they sat down with a media panel last week.
Nabil Al Khatib, executive editor of Al Arabiya News Channel, Lauren Taylor, news anchor and presenter at Al Jazeera English, and Amnah Khaishgi, freelance journalist, spoke about media bias, budget and resource constraints and other sensitive topics. Students later described the discussion as being "straightforward and honest".
The panelists started by discussing how covering the recent US elections had been a unique experience.
"The elections were different first and foremost because of the personalities involved," said Taylor. Other factors she cited were the high unemployment rate in the US and the position of the US globally, which was at its worst due to two unpopular wars.
"Last month we focused on countries that are impacted by the US such as Pakistan, the Middle East and Asia. We also highlighted the viewers' reactions when Obama was elected," she added.
Interesting yet informative
Al Khatib said that Al Arabiya had an extra dimension to look into, which was catering to the Arabic-speaking population and explaining the ABCs of the American electoral system in a manner that was both interesting and informative.
"We had to question how to highlight this totally different society to people who are not very familiar with it. It was tough discussions in the newsroom every day; and coverage intensified in the last three weeks," Al Khatib said.
Amnah Khaishgi said that the coverage in India and Pakistan focused on Muslim heritage of Democrat presidential nominee Barack Obama. "The fact that Obama was Barack Hussein Obama: that segment about Obama people loved; even those who were afraid of him bombarding the country loved it," she said. In that sense, the focus was not typical American coverage but rather catered to viewer interests, she added.
Her comments caused much controversy among the students who started discussing the importance of being neutral and impartial. They expressed their concerns about being able to sell news versus sticking to media ethics.
"The question of objectivity is an internal battle. We are humans after all, but it has to do with the media outlet you're working with and how you keep monitoring yourself. You need to fight yourself to make sure that if you have sympathy to parties, it doesn't show," Al Khatib said.
"The good thing about this profession is that people don't like it when you're biased because they feel something is being imposed on them, so they change the channel and this affects the channel's ratings. This is an alarm for those who want to be biased," he added, to which the audience nodded in agreement.
Khaishgi then described how interaction among reporters, the editorial and management levels affects this decision. She said that in newsrooms there is rarely perfect communication between these three levels. "Reporters are human beings who have their own interests so it is the readers who have to check who is giving them the truth," she said. "Don't fantasise the media; they are as good and as bad as all of us."
Student reaction
Dalia Al Ghobary, a media and mass communication student, said the panel provided direct contact with big media representatives. "It helps us understand the field better and know their personal opinions," she said.
Youssra Mujib, another media and mass communication student, said: "This was a practical, open lecture as opposed to the idealistic approach we learn in class. It was eye-opening and inspiring."
Her friend Nori Passela agreed, saying, "It was straightforward with no sugar-coating."
Students left the hall discussing media ethics and the role of a good journalist. The panel discussion inspired an hour of further discussion after the journalists had left the campus.
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