Comments on: How (not) to manage global media http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2008/03/13/how-not-to-manage-global-media/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:50:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Jeff http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2008/03/13/how-not-to-manage-global-media/#comment-392871 Jeff Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:11:48 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2008/03/13/how-not-to-manage-global-media/#comment-392871 Arab information ministers recently adopted a "Charter of Principles" seeking to regulate satellite broadcasts, raising fears among media circles of a concerted move to muzzle stations. Some implications are already visible: Clock TV — owned by Lebanese and Libyan investors — canceled plans to start a new talk show called "Hour by Hour," after the Egyptian government objected to it, apparently because it feared it would become a new voice of criticism. "Free speech in Egypt will not be the only victim here, it's the whole Arab world," said Khairi Ramadan, who was to host "Hour by Hour," dubbing the charter a "huge step backward." "There are serious fears of this charter and the bigger danger is to come." Launched in this backdrop in a week when the OIC summit is held, can BBC Arabic with its 70 years engagement with the Arab audience signal a huge step forward? One wonders how in its interaction the OIC leaders it upholds, promotes and strengthens the cause of free speech through raising awareness and prompting mobilization? Arab information ministers recently adopted a “Charter of Principles” seeking to regulate satellite broadcasts, raising fears among media circles of a concerted move to muzzle stations. Some implications are already visible: Clock TV — owned by Lebanese and Libyan investors — canceled plans to start a new talk show called “Hour by Hour,” after the Egyptian government objected to it, apparently because it feared it would become a new voice of criticism. “Free speech in Egypt will not be the only victim here, it’s the whole Arab world,” said Khairi Ramadan, who was to host “Hour by Hour,” dubbing the charter a “huge step backward.” “There are serious fears of this charter and the bigger danger is to come.”

Launched in this backdrop in a week when the OIC summit is held, can BBC Arabic with its 70 years engagement with the Arab audience signal a huge step forward?

One wonders how in its interaction the OIC leaders it upholds, promotes and strengthens the cause of free speech through raising awareness and prompting mobilization?

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