II. PROBLEM STATEMENT.
The development of a strong and independent media is acknowledged as one imminent factor in the development of a free civil society. By making complex political issues known to a wider audience, free media play a crucial role as mediator between the public and the political class. In the long run, free media will raise political awareness, enhance political knowledge, create informed voters and thus strengthen democracy and civil society.
Currently in Palestine there are several obstacles, which hinder the development of an independent, professional media as identified by the above mentioned, research papers. These problems and shortcomings fall into five general categories although it should be understood that there is an overlap between a number of them and each has a knock on effect on the others.
A. Lack of professionalism
There are a number of reasons why this is the case:
(i) The infancy of many Palestinian media institutions especially the audio and audio-visual sector.
The rapid growth and proliferation of Palestinian media institutions since the 1993 has not necessarily been matched by qualitative development. This is particularly the case in the audio and audio-visual sectors. The print sector is more established and is the oldest media sector in the region. However the print sector formed and developed under the very severe conditions created by the Israeli occupation. This stunted the natural development of the press.
This factor is related to economic and political considerations as listed below.
(ii) Lack of training
According to a survey and research carried out by Birzeit Media Institute (BZMI) and JMedia and Communications Center (JMCC) in June 1999 on a sample of
228 journalists in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem, lack of training was a central issue.
Eighty percent of the Palestinian journalists questioned felt they needed more training. Seventeen point eight percent had never had a training course in journalism; thirty point seven percent had had training for less than three months while forty one point eight percent had had training for more than six months.
It is interesting to note that sixty percent of the journalists said they were not satisfied with the professional level of the Palestinian media.
(iii) Reliance on news agency sources instead of local investigative journalism
There are a number of reasons why Palestinian journalists tend to rely heavily on news agency sources particularly in the print sector. The lack of good editorial management results in a lack of coordination in news coverage and often means that the editor resorts to news agency stories. This option is also a safer one in a political sense as local controversial issues can thus be avoided. Also the information resources and networks are not as yet in place to encourage local investigative journalism.
(iv) The prevalence of self-censorship in Palestinian Journalism
In the BZMI and JMCC study mentioned above, fifty-nine point one percent of journalists felt they had redlines they could not cross particularly in coverage of internal political issues, corruption and security. Sixty-two point one six admitted that they experience self-censorship while writing.
(v) The dominance of pro-Palestinian Authority media institutions.
This is a key factor in the discussion of an independent, professional media. In addition to the self-censorship mentioned above fifty-three point five percent of the journalists questioned had had the experience of having their material censored by the editor for political or security reasons.
This is not surprising, as the three Palestinian dailies are pro- PNA to a greater or lesser degree. The Voice of Palestine is an Authority organ as is Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC TV). There are private broadcasters but only one of the independent radio stations broadcasts news. The focus of the broadcasters is entertainment-based programming. There are a number of weekly and monthly print publications that are organs of the opposition parties but their circulation is low.
B. The popularity of regional and international media competitors
In the audio-visual sector, foreign media, broadcasting from Israel, the neighboring Arab countries, or via satellite have usurped the domestic market mainly due to the lack of professionalism and quality of the local products thereby driving Palestinian viewers towards state of the art foreign providers such as the Qatar based Aljazeera channel.
This is a key issue, as according to the BZMI and JMCC study 79% of Palestinians regards TV as their main information source. While only 13% regard Palestinian newspapers as their main source of news on ongoing events in the country, region and the world. Regional and satellite current affairs do not always cover national issues or not from a Palestinian perspective thus the Palestinian public is not ultimately served by these providers while the press as described in A is neither independent nor professionally equipped to bridge the gap.
In the audio sector a recent survey showed that the national Voice of Palestine had been outstripped in terms of listener numbers by its chief competitor, the Voice of Israel.
This trend of Palestinian audiences abandoning local media products for regional and international competitors reflects their dissatisfaction with the quality and professionalism of their own media.
C. Political Considerations
As outlined above the particular political landscape of the media under the PNA has had a limiting effect on the free development of a strong independent Palestinian Media.
It must not be understated, however, that the chief political denominator in this equation is the particular and complex dominance of Israel over the Palestinian areas. The military, political and economic control of Israel has had its effects on all Palestinian institutions not least the media. It is important to emphasize that the Palestinian media are not provided with access to the most important newsmaker in the region, the Israeli government.
D. Economic considerations
As with the political realm the Palestinian areas are dependent on Israel. The economic dominance of Israel pays an important factor in the development and prosperity of the Palestinian media. For example the cost of printing papers, audio and audiovisual equipment and production costs is the same in the PNA areas and Israel,
while the income is 6-10 times higher from advertising revenue. Also in Israel the annual income per capita is approximately $15,000 as against $900 in the PNA areas.
This may demonstrate some of the economic difficulties faced by Palestinian media institutions.
E. Legal considerations
The Palestinian media works without any firm legal basis. The Palestinian Basic Law, which guarantees freedom of expression and the freedom of the press, was never signed by President Arafat. Neither do a press law nor a law regulating the legal status of journalists exist.
Furthermore, the licensing process for press or audiovisual products is not regulated. Independent TV and Radio stations regularly receive only temporary licenses, therefore running the risk of being shut down. It is also not unusual for journalists to be threatened or even jailed.
All this combined with an inefficient legal system does not allow for legal remedies against the violation of press rights
II. PROBLEM STATEMENT.
The development of a strong and independent media is acknowledged as one imminent factor in the development of a free civil society. By making complex political issues known to a wider audience, free media play a crucial role as mediator between the public and the political class. In the long run, free media will raise political awareness, enhance political knowledge, create informed voters and thus strengthen democracy and civil society.
Currently in Palestine there are several obstacles, which hinder the development of an independent, professional media as identified by the above mentioned, research papers. These problems and shortcomings fall into five general categories althoit should be understood that there is an overlap between a number of them and each has a knock on effect on the others.
A. Lack of professionalism
There are a number of reasons why this is the case:
(i) The infancy of many Palestinian media institutions especially the audio and audio-visual sector.
The rapid growth and proliferation of Palestinian media institutions since the 1993 has not necessarily been matched by qualitative development. This is particularly the case in the audio and audio-visual sectors. The print sector is more established and is the oldest media sector in the region. However the print sector formed and developed under the very severe conditions created by the Israeli occupation. This stunted the natural development of the press.
This factor is related to economic and political considerations as listed below.
(ii) Lack of training
According to a survey and research carried out by Birzeit Media Institute (BZMI) and JMedia and Communications Center (JMCC) in June 1999 on a sample of
228 journalists in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem, lack of training was a central issue.
Eighty percent of the Palestinian journalists questioned felt they needed more training. Seventeen point eight percent had never had a training course in journalism; thirty point seven percent had had training for less than three months while forty one point eight percent had had training for more than six months.
It is interesting to note that sixty percent of the journalists said they were not satisfied with the professional level of the Palestinian media.
(iii) Reliance on news agency sources instead of local investigative journalism
There are a number of reasons why Palestinian journalists tend to rely heavily on news agency sources particularly in the print sector. The lack of good editorial management results in a lack of coordination in news coverage and often means that the editor resorts to news agency stories. This option is also a safer one in a political sense as local controversial issues can thus be avoided. Also the information resources and networks are not as yet in place to encourage local investigative journalism.
(iv) The prevalence of self-censorship in Palestinian Journalism
In the BZMI and JMCC study mentioned above, fifty-nine point one percent of journalists felt they had redlines they could not cross particularly in coverage of internal political issues, corruption and security. Sixty-two point one six admitted that they experience self-censorship while writing.
(v) The dominance of pro-Palestinian Authority media institutions.
This is a key factor in the discussion of an independent, professional media. In addition to the self-censorship mentioned above fifty-three point five percent of the journalists questioned had had the experience of having their material censored by the editor for political or security reasons.
This is not surprising, as the three Palestinian dailies are pro- PNA to a greater or lesser degree. The Voice of Palestine is an Authority organ as is Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC TV). There are private broadcasters but only one of the independent radio stations broadcasts news. The focus of the broadcasters is entertainment-based programming. There are a number of weekly and monthly print publications that are organs of the opposition parties but their circulation is low.
B. The popularity of regional and international media competitors
In the audio-visual sector, foreign media, broadcasting from Israel, the neighboring Arab countries, or via satellite have usurped the domestic market mainly due to the lack of professionalism and quality of the local products thereby driving Palestinian viewers towards state of the art foreign providers such as the Qatar based Aljazeera channel.
This is a key issue, as according to the BZMI and JMCC study 79% of Palestinians regards TV as their main information source. While only 13% regard Palestinian newspapers as their main source of news on ongoing events in the country, region and the world. Regional and satellite current affairs do not always cover national issues or not from a Palestinian perspective thus the Palestinian public is not ultimately served by these providers while the press as described in A is neither independent nor professionally equipped to bridge the gap.
In the audio sector a recent survey showed that the national Voice of Palestine had been outstripped in terms of listener numbers by its chief competitor, the Voice of Israel.
This trend of Palestinian audiences abandoning local media products for regional and international competitors reflects their dissatisfaction with the quality and professionalism of their own media.
C. Political Considerations
As outlined above the particular political landscape of the media under the PNA has had a limiting effect on the free development of a strong independent Palestinian Media.
It must not be understated, however, that the chief political denominator in this equation is the particular and complex dominance of Israel over the Palestinian areas. The military, political and economic control of Israel has had its effects on all Palestinian institutions not least the media. It is important to emphasize that the Palestinian media are not provided with access to the most important newsmaker in the region, the Israeli government.
D. Economic considerations
As with the political realm the Palestinian areas are dependent on Israel. The economic dominance of Israel pays an important factor in the development and prosperity of the Palestinian media. For example the cost of printing papers, audio and audiovisual equipment and production costs is the same in the PNA areas and Israel,
while the income is 6-10 times higher from advertising revenue. Also in Israel the annual income per capita is approximately $15,000 as against $900 in the PNA areas.
This may demonstrate some of the economic difficulties faced by Palestinian media institutions.
E. Legal considerations
The Palestinian media works without any firm legal basis. The Palestinian Basic Law, which guarantees freedom of expression and the freedom of the press, was never signed by President Arafat. Neither do a press law nor a law regulating the legal status of journalists exist.
Furthermore, the licensing process for press or audiovisual products is not regulated. Independent TV and Radio stations regularly receive only temporary licenses, therefore running the risk of being shut down. It is also not unusual for journalists to be threatened or even jailed.
All this combined with an inefficient legal system does not allow for legal remedies against the violation of press rights