A recent survey attempts to uncover how Arab journalists really view the US, its government, policy and people since 9/11, asks Reem Leila Since 9/11 the Bush administration has repeatedly charged that the Arab media is biased against the US, but is this true. Not so, says a new survey released by the Centre for Electronic Journalism at the American University in Cairo (AUC). Much of the conventional wisdom that has shaped US public diplomacy policy towards the region, the survey claims, is devoid of substance, given that Arab journalists see their mission as one of driving political and social reform in the Middle East and North Africa. Iraq and Palestine fall well below such internal Arab issues as political reform, tackling human rights abuses, reducing poverty and improving education on journalists' agendas. Lawrence Pintak, director of the Centre for Electronic Journalism at the AUC, believes a majority of Arab journalists are not anti-American but consider themselves agents of change, much like their Western colleagues. The majority of journalists in the Arab world consider their primary mission to be to drive political and social reform in the Middle East, the survey found. It is the first to be conducted on such a wide scale, involving a survey of 601 journalists from 13 Arab countries. The results will be published in the July issue of the International Journal of Press/Politics. Pintak points out that Arab journalists draw a clear line between US policy and the American people. They criticise the US for failing to live up to its ideals which they largely share, and exhibit clear scepticism about the role of the clergy. "The findings shatter most American stereotypes about Arab journalists and undermine the very basis of US public diplomacy since 9/11," says Pintak. Arab journalists overwhelmingly condemn the US actions in the Middle East, with 77 per cent "unfavourable" to the US administration and 89 per opposing its policies. Yet 62 per cent of Arab journalists taking part in the survey said they had a "favourable" view of the American people. They also share many of the avowed priorities of American foreign policy. "Arab journalists don't hate America, they hate the fact that -- from their perspective -- the US does not live up to its own promises," says Pintak. Of the surveyed journalists, 75 per cent stated that their top priority was pushing for political and social change, goals they share with George W Bush's putative "democratic agenda". Two-thirds believe Arab society must be gradually reformed while one- third believe the change must be "radical". Al-Ahram 's leading commentator, Salama Ahmed Salama, argues that the American people are still considered a largely benevolent force. This, says Salama, lies behind the Arab world's great interest in the US elections and their support of Barack Obama, whom they believe might help rebalance US policy in the region. Eight out of the journalists' top 10 priorities, according to the survey, involve regional change and include political reform, human rights, poverty eradication and education. Many consider the "lack of political change" and the current US administration's policies, particularly towards Israel and Palestine, as the greatest threats to the Arab world. Politically, half of the journalists questioned aligned themselves with the forces of democracy. Though Palestine and Iraq figure well down the list of priorities journalists remain sceptical about US motives, with just 13 per cent expressing any confidence in the Bush administration's support for a Palestinian state. Two-thirds think US calls for democratic reform and Palestinian rights are gestures intended only to counter anti-US sentiments. Pintak believes that, "Arab journalists are pragmatic". Almost half say Western "interference in the Arab world is permissible if it benefits Arab peoples, though the overwhelming majority says nothing can justify the invasion of Iraq. They also give themselves terrible marks for fairness, independence and professionalism. The survey mentioned that while Arab journalists do not rule out American involvement in the region 83 per cent currently believe America's role in the Middle East is overwhelmingly negative and 79 per cent believe no benefits can justify the US invasion of Iraq. Just under half are open to the idea of some Western interference in the Arab world if it ultimately leads to benefits for Arab people. The survey, says Salama, is an accurate mirror of how Arabs view America since 9/11. "This is clearly revealed in what they write," he says, pointing to a recent European survey which ranked the US and Israel among the most disruptive countries in the world. "This is a widespread attitude towards the US and its policies, and applies not only in the Arab region but internationally."
