One of the more noteworthy developments in the Middle East is the emergence of competing Arabic-language radio and television networks that seek to attract a pan-Arab mass audience. The best known of these among Western audiences is the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera network. Others include the Saudi-supported Al-Arabiya, Al-Jazeeras main competitor, and the Al-Manar news channel, which is owned and operated by the Lebanese Hezbollah. In recent years, the United States has sought to use its media power to win the battle of hearts and minds by launching the Arabic-language Radio Sawa and Al-Hurra TV as counterweights to Al-Jazeera. In this readable and informative book, Fandy offers a critical analysis of the role played by the media, especially the pan-Arab television networks, in shaping political debate in the Middle East. The authors main thesis is that the Arab media lack journalistic autonomy and are simply an extension of their respective government policies. For example, he contends that the two major TV networks, Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya, function primarily as conduits for Qatari-Saudi rivalry and tension. Recommended for all public and academic libraries.Library Journal

Fandy corrects the simplistic debate over whether Al-Jazeera is an independent source that scoops the Western media on Bin Laden’s story, or is only the media arm of Al-Qaeda. First he points out that Al-Jazeera is one of over 700 satellite television stations competing for viewers in the Arab world. Then he examines the nature of the media outlets as a group, who is behind them, what characterizes their programming, how they relate to governments and external political battles, and other matters.Reference & Research Book News

Book Description
As the war on terror rages, another battleground has quickly taken shape and is being waged on daily newscasts around the world. In the Arab world, al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya are leading the fight. But do these news networks simply provide the news? Or, are they, as westerners suspect, tools used by governments and terrorists alike to relay their message to the man on the street as both Arab and Western leaders struggle to win the hearts and minds of millions of people? Fandy examines the impact that these and other news organizations have had on the war on terror, on the Arab world, and on the relationships that Arab nations share with each other, as well as those they share with the West. Focusing on al-Jazeera and other Arab networks, Fandy examines the battle between the Arab world and the West through the popular medium of television. He explores how autocratic governments control the media in order to preserve their own power while simultaneously engaging in a war of words, with their neighbors, the West, or many times, both.

 Fandy Associates provides its clients with a comprehensive report of existing threats. Ultimately, we provide a client-tailored analysis to inform sound political and economic decisions.

 Fandy Associates staff can also help our clients in establishing the right contacts in the host countries, and in facilitating follow-up conversations. We provide training and orientation for political and business people in how to approach Middle East problems. We offer our clients specific intelligence to help them strategize on the basis of conservative calculated risk.

Fandy Associates provides technical assistance and training programs to attain these objectives. The technical assistance will provide government and media organizations with the selection criteria needed to recruit promising journalists. We offer a three-week training program in the U.S. and London to improve Arab reporters? journalistic skills through classroom discussions and internships at different media organizations. The first part of the training program is hosted in one of the best journalism schools in the U.S. and the second part of it will be field training at major newspapers.

The media review section of Fandy associates provides a monthly assessment of Arab media reporting with special focus on accuracy, credibility and ethics.

?        Terrorist organizations, their networking abilities, and methods

?        States that support or harbor terrorists

?        Other broader trends and movements that make terrorism look legitimate in the eyes of recruits and certain populations/groups.

 Through this study of the triangle of terror, Fandy Associates provides long-term forecasting essential to the decision-making processes of governments and corporate entities alike. Not only do we convey factual information on global terrorism, but we also provide analysis and context that give meaning to these facts.