MY ASSIGNMENT

I have selected three news sites for my first assignment for the course. These are: Alarabiya, CBN and Gwaker.

Alarabiya

Alarabiya seems to be very popular news channel which presents credible local, national and international news, current affairs, business and financial markets, sports and talk shows.

Founders

Alarabiya is based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates which is partly owned by the Saudi broadcaster Middle East Broadcasting Centre. In 2008, New York Times quoted Alarabiya director Abdul Rahman al-Rashed, as saying that the station was founded "to cure Arab television of its penchant for radical politics and violence."

Credibility

* On January 26, 2009 American president Barack Obama, within a month in the White House, gave his first formal interview as president to this television channel that enhanced its credibility as a reliable and trustworthy media organization of the Arab World.

* It was the first channel to air the assassination of Rafik Hariri, prime minister of Lebanon.

* According to New York Times, Alarabiya presents “objective reporting rather than for shouted opinions.”

* Arabic and English language services and TV and websites in both the languages make it more reliable and credible news channel. It has Urdu and Persian service in the website.

* This is 24/7 news channel and updated news regularly.

* Well edited, professional looking and presence of correspondents in many countries in Arab and western world make it more credible.

Pro- American

There are some accusation to this news channel to be pro- American and pro –Saudi because of its anti Islamic extremist policy and Saudi investment.

Controversy

* It was in controversy since its launch in 2003. It was banned to broadcast from Iraq after it broadcast an audio tape of deposed president Saddam Hussein. Iraqi government had banned the channel for one month in September 2006 accusing it of “imprecise coverage.”

* Iran expelled its correspondent in 2008 and its offices in Gaza city was bombed in 2007 after Hamas criticised it saying the channel” misquoted Hamas leader.”

* One Alarabiya reporter was killed in the US bombing in Iraq in 2004 and another reporter was abducted and murdered in the same country in 2006.

Main Rival

It is reported in the news during its establishment in 2003 that Doha based another popular TV channel, Al Jazeera, is its main rival. Al Jazeera became popular because of its breaking news coverage especially of the Al-Qaida and Arab World.

Impartial

Quoting various sources of the news agencies, the news site, for example, in its main news heading, (December 9, 2009) says “Sarkozy warns against religious "provocation.” It quotes the French President Sarkozy as writing in “Le Monde” newspaper making the main news trustworthy, convincing and credible. Presentation of news quoting reliable and multiple source make it more trustworthy. Alarabiya fulfils most of the criteria of the reliable news channel therefore this is a credible news channel.