Arab News Exchanges 2017

The first 9 months of 2017 involved important Arab and International events that were broadcast by most of public and private Arab stations; and were provided by International News Agencies, and International Unions like Eurovision, Asiavision and Arab States Broadcasting Union- ASBU.

Summer of this year witnessed Qatari crisis, the consequences of which constituted significant content for tens of news exchanges contributed by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and Egypt from one side, and Qatar from the other side. In addition to Kuwait TV, as this country mediated the crisis.

There was a presence also for political activities; ranging from bilateral visits of leaders and delegations, proceedings of parliament and municipal elections held at several Arab states in this period.

In another aspect regarding the security issues, certain Arab countries witness developments on the ground in confronting terrorism. In the last few months, Iraqi army executed military operations in Mosul to expel ISIS militia. Iraqia Channel has participated with more than 500 security and political items related to these encounters.

Most of Arab members in countries suffering from security and political instabilities offered hundreds of news items through usual and contingency exchange mechanisms in compliance with News Exchanges Charter.

Exchanged news which fulfilled the professional standards stated at the Exchanges Rules; on both platforms in the mentioned period reached a volume of 10542 items, with a monthly average of 1171 items and a daily average of 38 items. we remark that the volume is steadily increasing over the years.

Five Arab members contributed around 1000 items, these are Morocco, Egypt, UAE; Tunis and Algeria; with decreased contributions from Kuwait and Qatar for the second consecutive year. All members contributing news subjects, except Syria, send corresponding dopesheets via different means.

There is a growth in number of members which participate in teh last news exchange, to be 11 members (Morocco, Iraq, Egypt, Oman, KSA, UAE, Algeria, Syria, Jordan, Sudan and Palestine), two years ago this was three members only.

Political news during mentioned period dropped by 6 percent to 38 percent from 44 percent last year. Security news dropped by 9 percent from last year, constituting 15 percent.

As for Cultural news, there is an increase of 4 percent, reaching 12 percent, as a result of diversity of contributions from Morocco, KSA, UAE, Algeria, Tunis and Oman.

Religious news matched the same 5 percentage of last year, due to extensive contributions of Saudi TV, and ASBU coverage of pilgrimage (Hajj) through daily packages of versatile aspects of Hajj proceedings and follow-up on Arab pilgrims at Al-Madina Al-Munawwara and Mecca Al-Mikarramah.