(Wall Street Journal) Jon B. Alterman - Remember the dream of free media in the Arab world? It was supposed to break down authoritarianism, embolden people to challenge extremists, open up societies. Instead of a voice for change and political courage, the Arab TV stations and newspapers too often play to the galleries, legitimizing harebrained ideas and coarsening public debate. Free information helped undermine communism and it continually challenges the regimes in China and Iran. But rather than contribute to a public debate on the ills of the Arab world, Arab media have nurtured Arab grievances against other governments.
2002-11-22 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive