SYRIA on Al-JAZIRA TELEVISION by Najib Ghadbian*
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CONTESTING THE STATE MEDIA MONOPOLY: SYRIA ON Al-JAZIRA TELEVISION By Najib Ghadbian* 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 controlled by states. The significance of the challenging the state's monopoly over the Syrian case lies in the fact that the Syrian means of persuasion and information in the regime is highly authoritarian and still Arab World. Not only is government media maintains total control of information and rendered less relevant by the new satellite communication. I examine al-Jazira's channels, but also the introduction of freer reporting of several issues considered highly and more independent sources of information sensitive according to the censorship policies may be an additional tool for civil society in of Syria's ministries of information, culture its struggle with states over such issues as the and guidance: political opposition in Syria, freedom of expression, human rights and succession, and the impact of the peace democracy. This is apparent from the way process on the regime's survival ability. I will people are excited about the programs of analyze the content of sample news and these stations. The Qatari-based channel al- programs that have tackled issues considered Jazira has emerged as the leading source of sensitive to the Syrian regime, such as the news and the most candid forum for debating three shows Akthar min Ra'i (More than One issues. Other credible sources of information Opinion), al-Ittijah al-Mu'akis, (Opposite include the Middle East Broadcasting Center Directions) and Bila Hudud (Without (MBC), Arab News Network (ANN), and Bounds), to suggest that these programs may Abu Dhabi Satellite TV station. Although be forcing governments to change their none of these TV stations are totally discourse. independent, they enjoy a higher degree of In a recent article, Jon B. Alterman autonomy from their sponsors. Al-Jazira and suggested that in order to understand the ANN are the only all news stations, but Al- impact of satellite news channels on the Arab Jazira's programs have brought high-level world, researchers will have to study, among newsmakers and high-sensitivity issues other things, "how the satellite television before the public far more than those of ANN. stations cover news, how they compare to Al-Jazira's coverage of Syrian politics terrestrial stations' coverage of news, and how exemplifies how satellite TV is changing the both have changed over time."(1) This article conditions of communication between addresses precisely the gap mentioned by citizens and states in the Arab world and Alterman. increasing the space for civil society, creating more moments in television that are not as Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Summer 2001) 75 Najib Ghadbian SYRIA'S STYLE OF media after its violent confrontation with the COMMUNICATION armed Islamist opposition began in 1979. Over the years, the Syrian government As in many Arab countries, the media in has developed a long list of taboo topics Syria is controlled and managed by the state. deemed embarrassing or threatening to the Media workers are considered government regime. For instance, the government does employees, and those in higher positions are not allow criticism of the following topics: required to be loyal party members. William --the president and his family A. Rugh classifies the press in Syria as a --the ruling Ba`th Party "mobilizing press." The mobilizing role of --the military the media, he says, is to communicate the --the legitimacy of the regime desires of the leadership in pursuit of its goals --the sectarian question of development, industrialization, and enhanced legitimacy. The behavioral Subjects usually censored by the Ministry of characteristics of the mobilizing press, Information include: the government's human according to Rugh, are, no criticism of policy, rights record, Islamic opposition, allegations sanctity of leaders, and non-diversity of of involvement of officials in drug- views.(2) trafficking, the activity of Syrian troops in Although the Syrian Constitution Lebanon, graphic description of sex, materials (1973) guarantees the citizens' right to free unfavorable to the Arab cause in the Arab- press and expression, the state has had a Israeli conflict.(5) virtual monopoly over the press since the The government also has not tolerated Ba`thist military coup of 1963. After the any independent source of information, which coup, the military authority closed down all is considered threatening or critical of the independent newspapers. It passed several regime. A case in point is the crackdown on restrictive articles under the State of all independent Lebanese newspapers in Emergency that has been in effect since the Lebanon, right after the Syrian military military take-over. Article 4b gives the state intervention in that country in 1976-7. The the right to control newspapers, books, radio Syrian military closed down seven and television broadcasting, advertising, and newspapers and one magazine in Beirut. visual arts. It may also confiscate and destroy Moreover, human rights organizations any work which might be threatening the documented the arrest, expulsion, and even security of the state.(3) Till very recently, assassination of prominent journalists by the Syria has had three major national Arabic Syrian security forces. One prominent newspapers, al-Ba'th, al-Thawrah, and Lebanese journalist, Salim al-Lawzi, the Tishreen, and one in English, Syria Times. editor of al-Hawadith, was abducted, tortured, All these papers, in addition to the radio and and killed. His right hand, the writing hand, TV, are controlled and managed by the was badly mutilated, reportedly to warn Ministry of Information. In 1998, Syria others against angering Hafiz Al-Asad.(6) launched its satellite TV station. Nonetheless, the Syrian government Starting in 1974, the Syrian media has not succeeded in maintaining total control became a vehicle to promote the cult of over the dissemination of information. Syrian President Hafiz al-Asad. Ahmad Iskandar citizens have turned, before the age of Ahmad, minister of information from 1974 satellite television, to western radio stations. till his death in 1983, invented Asad's cult in Popular among them were BBC's Arabic order to deflect the attention of the Syrian service, Radio Monte Carlo, and to lesser citizens from the economic and security extent the Voice of America. Another radio challenges which faced the regime.(4) The station that has succeeded in attracting some government tightened its control over the audience was the Arabic service of the Israeli radio. Syrians have tuned to Israeli radio 76 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Summer 2001) Contesting the State Media Monopoly: Syria on Al-Jazira Television more for its daily broadcast of Um Kalthum religious and health programs to the Middle songs than to its news. Eastern, Northern African and European Recently, Syrian media, especially countries. Later, it increased its broadcast to newspapers, has been allowed and sometimes 24 hours. It was followed by the Saudi-owned encouraged to launch criticism and attacks Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC) in against corrupt officials in the bureaucracy. 1991.(8) MBC was the first truly pan-Arab These intervals of criticism tend to TV station transmitting news, family, cultural correspond with campaigns to fight and entertaining programs throughout the corruption, usually with the blessing of the Arab world and Europe. Both its staff and late Asad himself. There are two reasons for programming reflected the pan-Arab nature of this shift in the Syrian media. One is the the channel. MBC introduced increased inability of the Syrian government communication across the world through its to control the incoming information about programs, which resembled those of CNN. corruption and abuse of power, especially One successful example was the widely through the new technology, and second, the popular show, Hiwar ma`a al-Gharb instinctive desire of Syrian journalists to (Dialogue with the West). This program was probe and test the limits set by the censors. pioneering in allowing the Arab public to call For example, it was reported that one of the and communicate their opinions live and with official newspapers, al-Thawra, had a 35 a certain degree of freedom. Despite the title percent drop in sales after it sacked its of this program, the show provided a forum to independent-minded cartoonist, Ali Farzat, several Arab political personalities and who is known for challenging the limits of governments to talk to one another. censorship.(7) He was later allowed to Unfortunately, the program discontinued over resume his work there. disagreement about its direction and cost.(9) While the Syrian government has Other Gulf countries launched their strived to maintain its strict control over the satellite channels between 1992 and 1994. It dissemination of information, its efforts have was no accident that the Gulf Arab states come under increased pressure from two new were the first to transmit through satellite, for sources, the satellite TV stations and the they were financially better off than the rest Internet. Government's initial reaction to the of the Arab countries. Wealthy states were new technology has oscillated between not the only ones to move to satellite attempts at control and toleration. The broadcasting in order to reach a wider authorities have been less successful audience. Other Arab countries including controlling the receiving satellite dishes than Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria restricting the Internet.