Arabisc: Are the Americans Bribing Arab Journalists? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Are the Americans bribing Arab journalists? And how should Arab journalists react?
These are the sensitive questions posed by Jordanian blogger and writer Batir Wardam in his blog, Jordan Watch, this week as he discusses the merits of familiarisation trips for Arab journalists, paid for by the US State Department.
Wardam is careful in bringing up the issue for discussion and apologises in advance to his colleagues in the media, who may have benefited from such trips in the past. He also invites them to debate the matter in mainstream media and see what works best for them.
While the US is a friend of Jordan, Wardam is quick to point out some of its policies, which aren't being viewed with ease by the general public in Arab countries where people after question the world's superpower's motives.
Journalists, challenges Wardam, should be wary of the US’ policy since it was directly responsible for the killing of journalists and bombing of television stations in Iraq.
Instead of enlightening the Arabs and preaching to them the American democratic model, Wardam says it is the Americans who need reschooling.
Wardam also suggests ways to teach the American public more about what Arabs think.
الحوار والانفتاح مطلوبان بكل تأكيد، ولكن حسب أولويات عربية ومنها تنوير الرأي العام الأميركي لأنه هو الذي يحتاج للمعرفة، وهذا ما يجعل مهمة الإعلاميين الذين يتقنون الكتابة باللغة الإنجليزية بالأخص مهمة جدا لنشر مقالات في صحف أميركية توضح الرأي العربي، وربما بالتنسيق مع مؤسسات أميركية- عربية، أو مراكز أبحاث مستقلة، ولكن بالتأكيد ليس وزارة الخارجية الأميركية ولا السفار