The Middle East Media Project is funded by a grant from the Schumann Center for Media and Democracy. This project examines core issues at the intersection of media and public diplomacy in the Middle East. The project aims to answer the following questions: How do the Arab and western media interact and perceive each other? How are US foreign policy goals promoted to and perceived by people in the Middle East? And most importantly, what sort of new initiatives could be effective in deepening mutual understanding between the Arab and western worlds? Specific areas currently under study include the rebuilding of Iraqi television.

The project is directed by USC Annenberg School Senior Fellow Gordon Robison, a journalist based in Amman, Jordan. Mr. Robison also maintains a blog on media developments in the Middle East.

Please continue to monitor this page for white papers and articles relevant to the project.

Project Research Reports

August 23, 2005:
Whither the Arab Street? (PDF)

July 26, 2005:
Education: An American Growth Industry in the Arab World (PDF)

July 6, 2005:
Flying Under the Radar: US Cultural Diplomacy in the Middle East (PDF)

July 1, 2005:
The Promise of New Technologies in the Arab World (PDF)

June 5, 2005:
The Rest of Arab Television (PDF)

May 5, 2005:
Tasting Western Journalism: Media Training in the Middle East (PDF)

April 5, 2005:
Universal Ethics? (PDF)

October 4, 2004:
Rebuilding Iraqi Television: A Personal Account (PDF)