Media - bridging the east-west divide

Once again, the conflict in Iraq and the "War on Terror" dominated a session designed to explore how Islam is covered by the media in the West and to look at ways to bridge the divide. Ignorance and misunderstandings are major factors in the equation, which for many people helps to forge anti-American sentiment.

The session's chairman, John Mroz, President of the East-West Institute in the United States, clearly stung by anti-US sentiment during the debate, said in concluding - and revealing - remarks: "Let us have a common struggle to ensure that you understand us and we understand you. Everyday we (the United States) battle for democracy and freedom."

Javed Jabber, a leading Pakistani political and former Information Minster, said in prepared remarks: "The lop-sided imbalance in global media and one-way information flow is one of the major reasons for the distorted perceptions that constitute Western/US/UK policy on Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir and other similar issues."

He said the invasion of Iraq had increased a "knowledge and comprehension gap" between East and West because it had intensified existing perceptions. "Alienation has been reinforced, not reduced."
Mr Jabber believed that the West's open and transparent media system had resulted in a contradiction - a compulsive desire to export information from the West to the rest of the world but an unwillingness to absorb and accept information from non-West sources, except in what he called freak instances.
Panelist Riz Khan said the problem came down to information and perception. "It is the focus that has been lost in getting out a better image of Islam. They (Moslems) talk about 'targeting the enemy', which immediately causes problems. It really comes down to an agenda that counters the stereotypes… Imagery has been hijacked by the Western media.

"The Moslem media has to reach out in Spanish, French, German and so on and to speak freely to the foundry worker in Pennsylvania. We must think in terms of global ideals," Mr Khan said, noting that Al-Jazeera Television broadcast only in Arabic, which made it solely a Moslem station.