Arabs depend on media they don’t trust for information

Dubai: Arabs don’t trust the credibility of TV news channels yet they still rely on TV as a primary source of news, said speakers at the second day of the Arab Media Forum 2014.

During the session titled ‘Arab media a question of credibility’, Dr Saud Kateb, a researcher and writer, said statistics have found that people don’t find news credible.

“What people do is after they watch the news on TV; they go online and social media to research further. They don’t take news from one source.”

Kateb said media in the Arab world is taking sides and writers and journalists have become obsessed with providing the audience with what they want to hear.

“I conducted a research and found that the most-watched political TV show in the Arab world [he refrained from naming the show] is a non-credible one. People with certain views watch shows that agree with their views.”

Bassim Tweissi, Dean of Jordan Media Institute, agreed that Arab media, especially TV stations, have lost credibility, especially during the second round of the Arab Spring.

“Unfortunately, in the second round of the Arab Spring, we witnessed a relapse, especially in TV news stations. They became part of the conflict. Instead of it being a tool used by people to know the truth it became a weapon used by a parties to fight each other,” he said.

Tweissi also said writers and journalists should not provide the audience with what they want to hear. Instead, they should be provided with what they need to hear. He said those who are leaders of change should decide what needs to be heard.

The speakers agreed that the loss of credibility of the Arab media is attributed to editorial influence, political agenda, ownership and the crisis in the Arab world.

Speaking about some solutions, Nadia Bilbassy, a senior correspondent of Al Arabiya Channel, said training of TV journalists is key.

“I think that training is key, all journalists have red lines but I still think that it is up to the journalist to try his best to bring the truth out there within these lines.”

On the other hand, Professor Najwa Kamel advocated a revival of strengthening and adherence to the professional code of conduct which would act as guidelines for media practitioners.

“These would guide them on how to cover controversial subjects. Professional code of conduct can check on bias and lack of neutrality.”