Opportunities for positive intervention

The communications and information revolution and the tumultuous political, social and economic developments to which the region has been exposed are transforming the practice of journalism - its fields of operation and influence – across the region.

Among the transformations are

• the emergence and growing prominence of Arab satellite television channels in expressing, and helping create, public opinion across the Arab world and in redrawing the relationship between the media – in all its forms – and the public
• the massive expansion and diversity of sources of information provided by the Internet, opening new horizons for the practice of journalism and demanding new skills in terms of both process and production as the monopolies exercised by the state and private bodies over the production and dissemination of information and opinion are undermined and conditions emerge for an unprecedented convergence of media and an increasingly interactive relationship between media providers and their audience. The Internet has also given rise to a new kind of journalism in the Arab world, with growing numbers of young Arab bloggers posting on the Web
• the rapid expansion of non-state media in the Arab world, and concomitant demands, by both journalists and their public, for pluralistic media and unrestricted freedom for the dissemination of information and opinion

The speed and scale of change has resulted, inevitably, in Arab journalism suffering “growing pains”. What was once taken for granted, in the area of management systems, work processes, editorial policy and the skills required of journalists is now being questioned. Press freedom, journalistic standards and ethics, self-regulation - crucial to a profession that endeavours to present its audience with the truth – are all undergoing fundamental revision.

The challenge facing Arab journalism is not only to keep abreast of the changes impacting the profession globally but to compete to the highest standard. Arab journalism cannot fall behind its counterparts in the rest of the world, North or South, East or West.