US Network Falters in Mideast Mission

A look at al-Hurra, an Arabic-language television network financed by the US government. Al-Hurra -- "The Free One" in Arabic -- is the centerpiece of a US government campaign to spread democracy in the Middle East. Taxpayers have spent $350 million on the project. But more than four years after it began broadcasting, the station is widely regarded as a flop in the Arab world, where it has struggled to attract viewers and overcome skepticism about its mission. Propaganda has become a primary front in the war against terrorism, with the United States and al-Qaeda each investing heavily to win over hearts and minds. This article examines one aspect of the U.S. effort to influence people through the airwaves. Tomorrow, another will look at al-Qaeda's online propaganda campaign. Since its inception, al-Hurra has been plagued by mediocre programming, congressional interference and a succession of executives who either had little experience in television or could not speak Arabic, according to interviews with former staffers, other Arab journalists and viewers in the Middle East. It has also been embarrassed by journalistic blunders.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/22/AR200806...
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