The consensus reached by the Arab Ministers of Information on a document regulating the New Arab Satellite content is considered one step towards enabling Arab media build independent and accountable broadcasting systems. The time has certainly come for this move, which, though late, is better late than never.
Many commentators/ presenters of satellite television programs as well as media critics sparked a wave of criticism towards these regulations alleging that they are designed mainly to suppress dissenting opinion and limit media freedom.
In my last article “New Approach to Media Content Regulation, I wrote that banning or censoring content or ideologies is impossible because in this high-tech/ multi-channel media environment there are hundreds of different media outlets and millions of gateways where one can gain access to uncensored content.
I totally disagree with this critique of the satellite media regulation. Regulations are guidelines for content provision and good practice targeting different clusters of audience by broadcasters. They are the rules the broadcasters have to abide by within the context of Arab social values.
If regulations are modeled on the rules upon which of advertisements must adhere, guidelines will be concerned with issues such as legality, decency, honesty, truthfulness and safety. These advertisement regulations are set to protect the audience from being exposed to false information, thus forcing the broadcaster to practice self regulation by being accountable for the kind of information it gives to the public through abiding by these rules of best practice.
In more contentious areas such as religion, regulations do not mean banning certain beliefs or censoring programs that talk about religions other than Islam as the official religion of Arab countries. On the contrary, these regulations will include codes that encourage the promotion of spiritual harmony, catering to all religions in society, and avoiding any wrong, fanatical or offensive content about any religion. This will avoid the spread of hate speech or incitement against certain religious groups which may lead to public disorder.
Content regulation means setting an independent content framework. Yet, this cannot be achieved without an independent regulatory body responsible for licensing broadcasters and monitoring the performance of satellite channels and to make sure they abide by the rules. For such regulations to be applied efficiently, this pan Arab regulator has to be completely independent of government control, and this is directly related and integrated with economic, organizational and legal independence issues which will be discussed in more depth later.
Regulation has become the cornerstone of all European countries. Even the US, which is characterized by its liberal media system has revisited the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), which sets the guidelines for TV content in the US, stating the importance of regulation to ensure the provision of content of public value and programs serving the welfare of the audience.
I think that these regulations should have been set a long time ago and it is an excellent step towards joining the knowledge age and the information society.
Rasha Allam, Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication specialized in Media Management.
