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Malainine Chbihna – Aljazeera Talk – Agadir
 « Dominated by political considerations, propagandist in its nature, controlled by governments, directed by certain kind of interest an it was never free ». This is in brief the governmental media up to Waddah Khanfar ; Aljazeera Network managing director in an interview with me in 2004. Thus, what is meant by the term govermental media ? What are its drawbacks ? Does it have a real role in our daily life ?
Initially, the governmental media is that kind of journalism which reflects an attitude of a minority in a leadership of one nation or a country. It always represents one side of the story. Yet, this type of media is usually under the control of the ministry of information. However, in Morocco, it was, for decades, a subdivision of the interior ministry. This was , in fact, a complete irony that was covered by a full censorship.
Basically, the role of governmental media is to brodacast and propagandise the political ideas of a political regime. Moreover, it deceives the public opinion by persuading people that everything is perfectly alright. Viewers of the nightly news in Moroccan RTM, for instance, watch the step-by-step daily agenda of the king, and his cabinet as they open new schools, meet foreign delegates, and celebrate national occasions. Still, the issues-oriented coverege on Arab goverments TVs screens can be swept over all Arab countries. This latter wants to form a shallow-minded community which can not analyse serious matters deeply. It is a fair reason for the audience to deal with governmental news to keep up-to-date news of one’s country in trems of social and economic issues.
The relationship between media and government is a controversial one. In its traditional form, the reporting of governmental activities by media places it at the very principle of its properties and responsibilities as a social institution in democracy. Nonetheless, the government claims its successful steps in all standards, while this success is only a face of a coin that hides an enternal failure.
Many Arab satellite channels are true reflection of its leadership either presidency , monarchy or whatever. Most of them set up, purposely, so that the Arab governments could intend and exert influence beyond their national borders. That is why the focus is mainly on news of protocol. That is to say, the empahsis is on items in government news bulletins about officials’ activities, visits, and announcements. However, democratic government may indeed be defined as the government which accepts in fullest sense the responsibilities to explain itself. Actually, this is the case in the Western governmental media which have the courage to bring the truth whatever the expanses are. Since they believe that deeds legitimize words in the West, and the media there is much more mature and responsible. Besides , there is no care about people desires, no respect of programmes scheduled time in The Arab world. In brief, there is chaos in this kind of media which reduces, deliberately, its audience if not to say dismisses it.
Ultimately, the governmental media is an old fashion media. It brings nothing new. It represents no variations on the same thematic line. And of course, such media will perish ahead since the world has become a small village where, there is no place for a meadia which is caring about hopless people and their hopless activities. In a word, the governmental media can be considered a part of the past.
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