Asharq Al-Awsat
ISSN 0265-5772 | | |
Website | aawsat.com(Arabic) / english.aawsat.com(English) |
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Asharq Al-Awsat (
Although published under the name of a private company,
Asharq Al-Awsat covers events through a network of bureaus and correspondents throughout the Arab world, Europe, the United States, and Asia. The paper also has copyright syndications with The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and Global Viewpoint, permitting it to publish Arabic translations of columnists like Thomas Friedman and David Ignatius.[5]
History
Founding
Launched in London in 1978, and printed on four continents in 14 cities,[5] the paper is often billed as "the leading Arab daily newspaper,"[6] and calls itself "the premier pan-Arab daily newspaper"[5] based on the fact that past estimates of its circulation have given it the largest circulation of the off-shore pan-Arab dailies, a category including its chief competitor Al-Hayat.[7] However, reliable estimates are available only from the early 2000s, before rival Al-Hayat launched a massive effort to increase circulation in Saudi Arabia.[8]
The paper's first editor-in-chief Jihad Khazen,[9] now a columnist and editor emeritus for the rival pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat, gave credit to Hisham Hafiz, with the subsequent support of his brother Mohammed Ali Hafez, for the initial idea of establishing an Arabic-language newspaper in London.[10] Then the daily was launched in 1978.[11] Former editor-in-chief Othman Al Omeir has likewise given credit to the brothers, Hisham and Mohammad Hafiz, for founding and then overseeing the paper.[12] Together with El Khazen, the brothers set out to prove the value of the idea through a number of trial issues to the then-Crown Prince and later king Fahd, who had initially warmed to the thought but then lost his enthusiasm.[10] Khazen also gave credit to the then-Saudi ambassador to London and then-deputy minister of information in helping gain Fahd's verbal approval for issuing the newspaper while the prince was on an official visit to England.[10]
Controversy over the Camp David Accords
After the news of the paper's first big scoop (regarding the formation of the
In the face of widespread criticism from contributors and staff toward the Camp David Accords and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Cairo bureau chief Salah al Din Hafez resigned. Then, Sadat held a press conference with the new Asharq Al Awsat bureau chief by his side in which the Egyptian president attacked the newspaper and its stance toward the peace process in general, citing his suspicions of the bureau chief's "high" salary, and accusing Prince Fahd of using the newspaper as a weapon against Egypt and the Egyptian president personally.[10]
Khazen later reminisced about the events, saying: "I think that this press conference was worth a million dollars (in its value at the time) of free publicity for the newspaper, which since became the subject of interest for many foreign governments and the foreign media."[10]
Debated reporting 2004-08
Ex-editor Alhomayed is widely criticised[
However, in July 2008, Alhomayed stated that the allegations were untrue and apologized at the
However, on another occasion Asharq Al Awsat was accused[
Prominent editors
In addition to Jihad Khazen, other well-known past editors include Erfan Nizameddine, Othman Al Omeir (founder of Elaph),[12] and Abdul Rahman Al Rashed (general manager of Al Arabiya between April 2004 and November 2014).[15]
Former editor was Tariq Alhomayed whose leadership earned mixed reviews as it was associated with much criticism of Asharq Al-Awsat. In July 2012, Adel Al Toraifi, chief editor of The Majalla, was appointed deputy chief editor of Asharq Al Awsat.[16] On 1 January 2013, Al Toraifi replaced Alhomayed as editor of the paper.[17] Al Toraifi's term ended in July 2014.[18]
Notable columns
In 2016, Asharq al-Awsat published a report accusing Iranian pilgrims taking part in the
In April 2019, Saudi journalist businessman Hussein Shobakshi published a column in Asharq Al-Awsat in which he condemned the prevalence of
Reputation and competition
Though the newspaper is owned by
The New York Times in 2005 called Asharq Al-Awsat "one of the oldest and most influential in the region."[3]
The paper's chief competitors in Saudi Arabia are Al Hayat and Okaz; globally, its chief competitor is Al Hayat, though it is often paired with Al-Quds Al-Arabi which is considered to be its polar opposite.[25] According to this dichotomy, Asharq Al Awsat represents the "moderate camp" when compared to the "rejection camp" of Al-Quds Al-Arabi.[25]
Editorial stances
Alleged banning of critical writers 2006-2010
One example is Mona Eltahawy, who wrote for the paper from January 2004 to early 2006, focusing on protests against the Mubarak government in Egypt. She wrote that its new English-language website, designed to present a liberal face to the world, was far more critical of Arab governments than its Arabic editions:
The trouble with Asharq al-Awsat, beyond its disturbing acquiescence to Arab regimes, is that it claimed a liberalism that was patently false... the newspaper in Arabic would abide by the red lines that govern criticism of Arab leaders while in English it ran roughshod over those very same lines. A column I wrote tearing into the Egyptian regime for allowing its security forces to beat peaceful protesters and to sexually assault female journalists and demonstrators was spiked from the Arabic newspaper and web site but appeared in its entirety on the English web site... The major red lines at Asharq al-Awsat could be quite simple —in descending order they were the Saudi royal family, Saudi Arabia's allies in the Gulf (Qatar, a rival, was considered fair game) and then Saudi Arabia's other Arab allies. Within such a hierarchy of red lines, the Egyptian regime can indeed pull rank and demand that Asharq al- Awsat silence a critic.[26]
Alhomayed responded to Eltahawy in both the English and Arabic version of Asharq Al Awsat.[27] Eltahawy noted that in the majority of cases the writer was left to discover on their own that he or she was banned rather than receiving a reason or justification from Alhomayed.[28]
Nothing official was reported about the matter until 16 September 2010 when the paper quoted Al Rashed saying that he voluntarily stopped writing for them.[29] On 18 September 2010, Al Rashed returned to writing in Asharq Al Awsat.[citation needed] As of 2021, he remains a regular contributor.[30]
References
- ^ "Statistics on the Arab Media" (PDF). Arab Reform Bulletin.
- ^ Fattah, Hassan, M., "Spreading the Word: Who's Who in the Arab Media", 6 February 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2008
- ^ a b Hassan M. Fattah. (6 February 2005). "Spreading the Word: Who's Who in the Arab Media". Retrieved 26 March 2008
- ^ "Saudi Research & Marketing Group: Media and Publishing Sector". Mubasher. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ a b c d "About Us". Asharq Al-Awsat. Archived from the original on 22 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ^ "al Sharq al Awsat". Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ^ "Statistics on the Arab Media" (PDF). Arab Reform Bulletin. Carnegie Endowment. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ^ "Al-Hayat readership & circulation of local Saudi edition". Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ^ Alterman, Jon B. (1998). "New Media New Politics?" (PDF). The Washington Institute. 48. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Jihad Khazen (9 January 2011). "Ayoon Wa Azan: The First "Scoop"". Al Hayat. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-275-98212-6.
- ^ a b Paula Mejia (21 May 2010). "The Murdoch of the Middle East". The Majalla. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ^ a b Dysch, Marcus (24 July 2008). "Apology to Qatar PM for 'Israel visit' claims". The Jewish Chronicle Online, accessed 16 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Qatari premier and Asharq Al Awsat reach amicable settlement" Archived 1 July 2012 at archive.today. Arab News (4 August 2008), Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ Greg Barker (27 March 2007). "Interview With Abdul Rahman al-Rashed, General Manager, Al Arabiya". PBS Frontline. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ^ "Adel Al-Toraifi appointed Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al Awsat". The Majalla. 4 July 2012. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ "Appointment of Dr. Adel Al-Toraifi editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat". The Majalla. 10 December 2012. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ "Adel Al Toraifi". Arabian Business. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ^ a b c "Saudi paper sacks Iraq correspondent over 'fake' report". NST Online. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ "Are scores of Iraqi women being impregnated by Iranian pilgrims?". Al Bawaba. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ "بيان إعلامي: منظمة الصحة العالمية تنفي خبراً كاذباً عن العراق". WHOofficial website. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ "WHO: Saudi Media Claims on Iraq Report "Unfounded"". Al manar. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ Zack Evans (13 April 2019). "Saudi Journalist Condemns Arab Anti-Semitism". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
- ^ Hassan, M. Fattah. (6 February 2005). "Spreading the Word: Who's Who in the Arab Media". Retrieved 26 March 2008
- ^ a b c Marc Lynch (10 February 2009). "Arabs watching the Israeli elections". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 8 May 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
- ^ Mona Eltahawy. (19 June 2006). "A perilous dance with the Arab press". The New York Times, Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ "بين الطحاوي و"الهيرالد تريبيون".. الإعلام أيضا ضحية – طارق الحميد". Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ Eltahawy, Mona (21 June 2006). "A perilous dance with the Arab Press". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
- ^ "عبد الرحمن الراشد يعتبر ما قيل في حق "العربية" و"الشرق الأوسط" ملفقا جملة وتفصيلا". Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ "Abdulrahman Al-Rashed". Asharq AL-awsat. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
External links
- Official website (in Arabic)
- Official website (in English)