Fragile News Media Offered Modest Support

Michael Hedges October 26, 2020 Follow on Twitter

While the coronavirus pandemic and related economic catastrophe have raised, somewhat, levels of media support, other issues long detailed still remain. The biggest, of course, are conflicts, natural and man-made disasters. These continue to devastate independent media, necessary to preserve safe and secure information flow.

The people of Beirut, Lebanon experienced considerable human loss and destruction in early August when stored chemicals exploded at the Port of Beirut facility. More than 200 people were killed in the blast, 6,500 injured and about 300,000 were made homeless. As many as 60 legendary Beirut historic and cultural sites were damaged. Lebanese have been suffering from economic and political collapse for years. The coronavirus pandemic has added more distress. The fragile Lebanese government collapsed once again under the strain.

Media in Lebanon, Beirut in particular, has long been envied for its diversity and professionalism. Print and broadcast outlets were widely distributed throughout the Middle East in Arabic, France and English. Since 2016, that began to shift and most outlets are now aligned - formally or not - with political or religious factions. International news organizations have long gravitated to Beirut for bureaus. The Sky News bureau was destroyed and both the CNN bureau and BBC offices severely damaged.

In March Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad raised eyebrows by suggesting “a plan to regulate news and monitor the fake ones,” citing the need to fight fake news about the coronavirus outbreak. In July a Curbing Fake News Forum was held and a Fact Check Lebanon website launched. Less than a week after the Port of Beirut explosion she resigned, the first in the government of prime minister Hassan Diab, who also resigned shortly thereafter. Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has not yet named a new Information Minister or any others as Lebanon’s many factions vie for favored portfolios. The Beirut explosions in August could not have taken place at a worse time.

A few days after the Port of Beirut explosion television broadcaster LBCi (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) announced it would no longer cover any politicians’ press conferences. “Because after the earthquake is not the same as before, because your neglect and failure is one of the main reasons for what we have come to... because after Aug. 4, we need actions and not words, achievements and not speeches,” said the broadcast statement (August 7). “Let your accomplishments speak for you and don’t distract people with storytelling.” LBCi is privately owned by Lebanese investors.

Media support initiatives post-explosion have largely focused on emergency relief for local Beirut news organizations and media workers in dire financial straits. The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and Facebook Journalism Project bonded for Supporting Beirut: Response and Recovery Fund, intended to get grants-in-aid to local news organizations. The first phase distributes US$150,000 to the most in need. A second phase will ascertain longer-term needs. The ICFJ supports journalists around the world, mostly with skills development. It is based in Washington DC. Facebook is known by nearly everyone, including four out of five Lebanese.

Beirut-based SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom initiated the Lebanon Media Recovery Fund. Its range of goals include medical support for media workers injured in the explosion, replacing media equipment and office space and financial support to affected media workers. Contributors to the Lebanon Media Recovery Fund include UNESCO (part of broader recovery funding), the French government and the International Women’s Media Foundation. The Samir Kassir Foundation, which underwrites the SKeyes Center, was named for Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir who was murdered in 2005.

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