AMMAN, DEC 5, 2014

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN – A VERY GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU.

LET ME TELL YOU A SHORT STORY .

ALMOST EXACTLY 33 YEARS AGO – LONGER THAN A GOOD MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN ALIVE – I WAS A FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT FOR THE BBC, WORKING IN POLAND.

NOT THE POLAND THAT YOU SEE TODAY – A COUNTRY THAT IS FREE AND PROSPEROUS – BUT A POLAND IN THE MIDST OF A REVOLUTION AGAINST THE COMMUNIST AUTHORITIES.

THIS WAS A SYSTEM THAT FOR DECADES HAD DENIED ITS PEOPLE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS – THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH, THE RIGHT TO FREE ELECTIONS, THE RIGHT TO INDEPENDENT COURTS.

BUT IN 1980 THAT CHANGED. THE GOVERNMENT RAISED THE PRICE OF BASIC FOOD – AND THE PEOPLE – IN THEIR MILLIONS – TOLD THEM – THAT’S ENOUGH.

ILLEGAL STRIKES BROKE OUT RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, A FREE TRADE UNION CALLED SOLIDARITY WAS BORN, WITH ORGANIZING COMMITTEES IN CITIES AND TOWNS AND VILLAGES. THEY THREATENED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE STATE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM UNLESS THE GOVERNMENT AGREED TO THEIR DEMANDS. AND THEY PROVED THEY COULD DO IT.

SO THE STATE WAS FORCED TO NEGOTIATE AND THE TRADE UNION GOT REGISTERED – THE FIRST FREE TRADE UNION IN THE COMMUNIST WORLD – AND IT BEGAN TO UPHOLD AND FIGHT FOR BASIC RIGHTS.

AND THEN 33 YEARS AGO – IN DECEMBER 1981 – AS THE SNOW FELL SILENTLY OVER THE CAPITAL WARSAW, THE GOVERNMENT FOUGHT BACK.

UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS, TANKS MOVED INTO THE CITY AND TOOK UP POSITION ON THE BRIDGES AND BY THE MAIN CENTRES OF POWER. AN ARMY OF SECRET POLICE ARRESTED THE TRADE UNION LEADERS, CLOSED THE COUNTRY’S BORDERS – AND HERE’S THE UNTHINKABLE THING – THEY SHUT DOWN EVERY SINGLE TELEPHONE IN THE COUNTRY.

OF COURSE AT THAT TIME THERE WERE NO MOBILES, NO TWEETS, NO FACEBOOK, NO PERSONAL COMPUTERS.

BUT THEY PULLED THE PLUG ON EVERY SINGLE PUBLIC TELEPHONE, PRIVATE OR BUSINESS IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

IN THREE HOURS THEY PUT POLAND UNDER MARTIAL LAW AND EFFECTIVELY STIFLED THE VOICE OF
TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE – YOU COULDN’T CALL THE NEXT STREET, LET ALONE INTERNATIONALLY.

BY THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 13, 1981 –THE COUNTRY WAS CUT OFF FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD. THE UNION LEADERS WERE IN JAIL OR IN HIDING, THE ARMY WAS ON THE STREETS, POWER HAD BEEN SEIZED BACK BY THE COMMUNIST AUTHORITIES.

AND FULL STATE CENSORSHIP WAS BACK IN FORCE, WITH A NEWS BLACKOUT ON ANY TOPIC THE COMMUNISTS DIDN’T LIKE.

I REMEMBER ARRIVING AT THE MILITARY CENSOR’S OFFICE ASKING IF THEY COULD SEND MY WRITTEN REPORT TO LONDON BECAUSE THEY HAD ONE DATA LINE LEFT OPEN. JUST ONE.

THEY LOOKED AT MY REPORT AND TEN MINUTES LATER I GOT IT BACK. MY ENTIRE TEXT – APART FROM MY NAME AND LOCATION – HAD BEEN BLACKED OUT BY THE CENSOR’S PENCIL.

WHAT’S THIS? I ASKED.

THE MAN SMILED. “YOU CAN SEND YOUR NAME AND YOUR DATELINE.”

THAT’S IT? I ASKED.

THAT’S IT – HE REPLIED. “WELCOME TO POLAND.”

SO WHY AM I TELLING YOU ALL THIS?

BECAUSE, IT DOESN’T MATTER IN WHAT PART OF THE WORLD YOU FIND YOURSELF, OR IN WHAT ERA, THE SINGLE BIGGEST PRIORITY, SHARED BY ALL DICTATORS, IS TO SHUT DOWN THE FREE AND INDEPENDENT VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

BECAUSE THAT VOICE IS THE THING THAT THREATENS THEM MOST OF ALL.

AND THAT VOICE IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON THE PEOPLE POSSESS.

IT’S THE VOICE THAT ENABLES THEM TO DEMAND A NEW GOVERNMENT, TO DEMAND FREE ELECTIONS, INDEPENDENT COURTS, ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE POLICE AND SECURITY SERVICES.

IT’S THE KEY TO ALL THE OTHER RIGHTS.

SO NO WONDER THEY WANT IT SILENCED.

NO WONDER IT’S BEING STRANGLED SYSTEMATICALLY, COUNTRY BY COUNTRY ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA.
HERE IN THIS REGION, SOME OF THE VERY GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE PROMISING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND OPINION – ARE TEARING IT UP IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES.

AND TELLING YOU IT’S FOR YOUR OWN PROTECTION.

JOURNALISTS ARE BEING CRIMINALIZED SIMPLY FOR WRITING REPORTS THAT ARE INCONVENIENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN POWER.

NOT FOR WRITING LIES – BUT FOR WRITING THINGS THAT SOME MINISTER OR PRIME MINISTER OR HEAD OF STATE DOESN’T LIKE.

OFTEN, IT’S NO DEFENCE TO SAY THAT YOU’RE WRITING THE TRUTH.

AS UNESCO POINTED OUT IN ITS REPORT THIS YEAR ON THE ARAB MEDIA , JOURNALISTS ARE BEING HARRASSED THROUGH THESE DEFAMATION CASES – WHICH ARE BEING USED FOR NO OTHER PURPOSE THAN TO RESTRICT MEDIA FREEDOM.

LAST YEAR PROSECUTORS IN MOROCCO WERE REPORTED TO HAVE CHARGED A NEWSPAPER EDITOR WITH CRIMINAL DEFAMATION AFTER HE REVEALED THAT A PUBLIC OFFICIAL HAD BEEN DRINKING CHAMPAGNE AT TAXPAYER’S EXPENSE. THE JOURNALIST EVEN HAD RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT.

IN TUNISIA A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND BLOGGER FACED THE SAME CHARGE FOR CRITICIZING A FORMER MINISTER’S EXPENSES.

THEN THERE IS THE ACCUSATION OF “HARMING TIES WITH AN ARAB STATE” – AGAIN A DEVICE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BLOCK INCONVENIENT REPORTING – REPORTING THAT DOESN’T SUIT THE AUTHORITIES, WHETHER IT’S TRUE OR NOT.

HERE IN JORDAN, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, THE CHIEF EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF THE JAFRA NEWS WEBSITE, WERE HELD ON THAT SAME CHARGE FOR 100 DAYS BY THE STATE SECURITY COURT, BEFORE BEING RELEASED TO AWAIT TRIAL BY A CIVILIAN COURT.

THIS ,DESPITE AN EXPLICIT PROMISE FROM THE KING HIMSELF, MADE SIX YEARS AGO IN NOVEMBER 2008, THAT JOURNALISTS WOULD NOT BE JAILED IN JORDAN.

“Detention of journalists is prohibited,” he said then. “I do not see a reason for detaining a journalist because he/she wrote something, or for expressing a view.”

*

SO, IT SEEMS THE TRUTH DOES NOT, AFTER ALL, SET YOU FREE. NOT IN THIS REGION. ON THE CONTRARY IT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS COMMODITIES YOU CAN OWN.

THE MOMENT YOU PUBLISH IT, TRUTH CAN GET YOU LOCKED UP – IT CAN EVEN GET YOU KILLED.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THIS MUCH BETTER THAN I DO.

TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST, YOU ARE WORKING IN ONE OF THE RISKIEST JOBS IN ONE OF THE RISKIEST AREAS OF THE WORLD.

AS THE LATE KING HUSSEIN OBSERVED ONCE – “THIS IS A VERY ROUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD.”

AND NOW, IT’S ROUGHER THAN EVER.

I’M WELL AWARE THAT AS JOURNALISTS, YOU CONFRONT APPALLING PRESSURES AND DANGERS ON A DAILY BASIS.

YOU WANT TO TELL THE TRUTH– BUT YOU ALSO KNOW THE PRICE OF OFFENDING THE POWERFUL.

PERHAPS YOU HAVE A FAMILY TO FEED – HOW WILL THEY MANAGE IF YOU’RE SACKED FOR SAYING THE WRONG THINGS? WHAT GOOD TO YOUR CHILDREN IS AN UNEMPLOYED PARENT– OR WORSE, A MOTHER OR FATHER IN JAIL?

IN YOUR SOCIETY YOU KNOW THE RED LINES.

YOU KNOW WHAT IS SAFE TO WRITE AND WHAT IS DANGEROUS.

WHO WOULD BLAME YOU FOR GOING SOFT ON A MINISTER OR OTHER STATE OFFICIAL, FOR HOLDING BACK THE TRUTH, SO AS TO KEEP YOUR JOB?

IN 2011 A RARE AND BRAVE ARTICLE IN QATAR’S PENINSULA NEWSPAPER BEMOANED THE LACK OF PRESS FREEDOM IN THE COUNTRY AND CLAIMED JOURNALISTS HAD LITTLE OR NO PROTECTION FROM THE STATE.

“ANYBODY, IT SAID, CAN FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A REPORTER OR HIS PAPER – THE POLICE THEN CALL THE JOURNALIST AND QUESTION HIM IN A HARRASSING WAY.”

‘MANY A TIME PROSECUTORS PHONE A JOURNALIST AT 5AM, WHEN HE’S SLEEPING…..THE WHOLE PROCESS IS SO HARROWING AND HUMILIATING FOR A JOURNALIST THAT HE CHICKENS OUT WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING CRITICALLY ON PARTICULAR SUBJECTS.”

I RAISE THESE ISSUES BECAUSE IN SEVERAL PARTS OF THIS REGION, YOUNG JOURNALISTS HAVE RAISED THEM WITH ME .

THE MOST COMMON QUESTION: HOW CAN I DO A GOOD PROFESSIONAL JOB WHEN THERE IS SUCH STRICT STATE CONTROL?

IN OTHER WORDS, HOW CAN I TELL THE TRUTH AND STAY OUT OF JAIL?

AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, THIS QUESTION IS TEARING MANY ARAB JOURNALISTS APART.
*

THERE IS OF COURSE NO EASY ANSWER. EVERYONE HAS TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES HOW FAR THEY ARE WILLING TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES.

BUT I THINK ONE CRUCIAL FACTOR HAS CHANGED FOR JOURNALISTS.

YOU NOW HAVE TO DECIDE WHO YOU REALLY ARE AND WHAT KIND OF JOB YOU WANT TO DO..

LIKE TRAVELLING ON A MOTORWAY, YOU CAN’T DRIVE IN ALL THE LANES AT ONCE. YOU HAVE TO PICK ONE AND STICK TO IT.

THE OPTION TO CHOOSE A MIDDLE WAY – TO BE FREE ONE DAY AND ACCEPT RESTRICTIONS THE NEXT – APPEARS TO BE CLOSING FAST. ONE BY ONE ARAB STATES WANT TO KNOW IF YOU’RE WITH THEM OR AGAINST THEM. AND THEY WILL LABEL YOU ACCORDINGLY.

SO JOURNALISM HERE HAS REACHED A CRITICAL POINT AND THE STAKES COULD NOT BE HIGHER.

IF THE LIGHTS OF FREE SPEECH KEEP GOING OUT IN THIS REGION, IT MAY BE MANY GENERATIONS BEFORE THEY’LL BE SEEN AGAIN – BEFORE INDEPENDENT VOICES CAN BE HEARD AGAIN IN THE ARAB MEDIA – BEFORE GOVERNMENTS CAN PROPERLY BE HELD TO ACCOUNT.

I ALWAYS REMEMBER TALKING TO A JOURNALIST IN TUNISIA SOON AFTER BEN ALI HAD BEEN FORCED OUT OF THE COUNTRY IN 2011.

SHE SAID SADLY: “WE ALL MADE ACOMMODATIONS WITH THE OLD REGIME. WE ALL WANTED TO EARN MONEY, SEND OUR CHILDREN TO GOOD SCHOOLS, KEEP OUR JOBS.” AND THEN SHE LOOKED ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE AND ADDED, ALMOST IN A WHISPER. “SO NONE OF US HAS ANYTHING TO BE PROUD OF.”

I WOULD ADD ONLY THIS TO WHAT SHE SAID.

THE DECISIONS YOU TAKE – ABOUT WHAT KIND OF JOURNALIST YOU WANT TO BE – AND WHAT KIND OF PRESS YOU WANT THE ARAB WORLD TO HAVE – WILL BE THE DECISIONS THAT YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH.

SO I URGE YOU TO THINK VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT HOW YOU INTEND TO CARRY OUT THIS VITAL JOB OF INFORMING THE PUBLIC – WHAT ARE YOUR RED LINES, WHAT WILL YOU DO OR NOT DO, WHEN THE TIME COMES TO MAKE THAT DECISION?

*

SOME, OF COURSE, HAVE ALREADY DECIDED.

NOT LONG AGO, A COLLEAGUE OF MINE WAS TALKING TO A PROMINENT EGYPTIAN JOURNALIST WHO TOLD HIM: I’M NOT GOING TO ROCK THE BOAT BY CRITICISING PRESIDENT SISI – HE’S THE ONLY BOAT WE HAVE, I’M NOT GOING TO WRITE ABOUT MISTAKES OR PROBLEMS, SISI NEEDS OUR SUPPORT.”

I UNDERSTAND THAT VIEW – BUT IF THAT’S WHAT YOU BELIEVE, THEN I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU TO JOIN THE GOVERNMENT AND WRITE THEIR PRESS RELEASES FOR THEM. AND REMOVE ALL DOUBT ABOUT WHO IT IS YOU REALLY WORK FOR.

LET ME BE CLEAR – THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH DOING THAT. GOVERNMENTS CONTAIN MANY TALENTED PEOPLE WHO WORK SELFLESSLY IN WHAT THEY SEE AS THE PUBLIC INTEREST, WHO WANT TO KEEP THINGS QUIET AND STABLE AND NOT UPSET THE PUBLIC.

ALL WELL AND GOOD – BUT THAT’S NOT JOURNALISM.

TO ME A JOURNALIST WHO DOESN’T ROCK THE BOAT SIMPLY ISN’T DOING THE JOB.

IT’S LIKE A SURGEON REFUSING TO OPERATE.

YOU HAVE THE TITLE – BUT YOU’RE NOT GOING TO DO THE WORK.

WHAT USE ARE YOU THEREFORE TO YOUR SOCIETY AND YOUR PROFESSION?

*

THE REASON THAT ALL OF YOU ARE HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT A JOURNALIST IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

HE’S SUPPOSED TO ACT AS THE WATCHDOG IN SOCIETY, TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING WRONG AND PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP TO PUT IT RIGHT.

TO SEARCH OUT INJUSTICE AND HARDSHIP. TO SPEAK FOR THE HELPLESS AND THE HOPELESS.

TO MAKE LIFE BETTER THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

NOT TO ACCEPT AND STAY SILENT ABOUT INJUSTICE, INCOMPETENCE OR WORSE STILL, REPRESSION AND TORTURE AND THE DENIAL OF BASIC RIGHTS.

NOT TO DO THE GOVERNMENT’S JOB FOR IT –

AND YET IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THE EDITORS OF 17 DAILY PAPERS IN EGYPT DECIDED TO DO.

THEY INCLUDED THE STATE-RUN AL AHRAM AS WELL AS THE PRIVATE NEWSPAPERS AL MASRY AL YOUM AND AL SHOROUK

AND WHAT THEY DID IN EFFECT WAS TO SOLEMNLY OFFER THE GOVERNMENT A BLANK CHEQUE AND TO PROMISE, LIKE THE THREE MONKEYS, TO SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL AND SPEAK NO EVIL.

THEY DECLARED TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN ALL STATE INSTITUTIONS – WHAT A GIFT TO A GOVERNMENT! – AND SUPPORTED ALL MEASURES THAT THE STATE MIGHT TAKE TO CONFRONT TERRORISM.

“WE ASSERT OUR COMMITMENT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH” – THEY SAID – “BUT WE REITERATE OUR REJECTION OF ANY ATTEMPTS TO DOUBT STATE INSTITUTIONS OR INSULT THE ARMY, THE POLICE OR JUDICIARY IN ANY WAY THAT WOULD REFLECT NEGATIVELY ON THESE INSTITUTIONS’ PERFORMANCE.”

IN OTHER WORDS, DON’T LOOK TO US FOR ANY CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM OF STATE POLICY, ANY QUESTIONING OF JUDICIAL OR GOVERNMENT DECISIONS, OR THE POLICE OR THE SECURITY SERVICES. THEY’RE ALL PERFECT – AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO TOUCH THEM.

*

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT I THINK OF THAT. WHAT MATTERS IS WHAT MORE THAN 600 EGYPTIAN JOURNALISTS THOUGHT OF THAT. AND THEIR RESPONSE WASN’T SLOW IN COMING.

THEY SIGNED A STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE EDITORS’ MOVE, IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS, CALLING IT “A SETBACK FOR PRESS FREEDOM AND AN INTENTIONAL KILLING OF THE PROFESSION, AND RUINING OF THE DIGNITY OF EVERY EGYPTIAN JOURNALIST.”

MOREOVER, THEY SAID, THE EDITORS HAD VOLUNTARILY RENOUNCED FREEDOM OF OPINION AND SUBMITTED TO AN AUTHORITY THAT STILL WREAKS HAVOC ON FREEDOMS AND PERSECUTES JOURNALISTS.”

WHATEVER YOU THINK ABOUT THE EDITORS’ POSITION AND THE REACTION TO IT – 600 JOURNALISTS HAVE DRAWN A LINE IN THE SAND AND TOLD THE AUTHORITIES – NO FURTHER.

DOES THAT MEAN THE BATTLE HAS NOW BEGUN IN EARNEST ? I DOUBT IT. BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT MANY ARAB JOURNALISTS ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP TWITHOUT A FIGHT.

AND NOR WILL THE STATE.

LAST MONTH THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS – THE CPJ – WARNED THAT THE EGYPTIAN PRESS WAS IN CRITICAL DANGER, IN THE RUN UP TO PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, DUE BEFORE THE END OF MARCH NEXT YEAR.

“THE GOVERNMENT, “ IT SAID, “CONTINUES TO CRACK DOWN ON THE PRESS, FORCING INDEPENDENT AND CRITICAL VOICES INTO SILENCE, EXILE, OR PRISON.

MUZZLING NEWS MEDIA AND THREATENING CRITICAL VOICES,” IT ADDED, “DIMINISHES ANY CHANCE OF OPEN DEBATE – A PRE-REQUISITE FOR ANY FREE AND FAIR ELECTION.”
*
THOSE COMMENTS FROM THE CPJ HAVE BEEN ECHOED BY MANY OTHER GROUPS.

SO DON’T IMAGINE THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS FORGOTTEN THE DIFFICULTIES YOU’RE PASSING THROUGH. THE TIGHTENING RESTRICTIONS, THE HARSH PENALTIES FOR DOING YOUR JOB.

ARIJ – NOW IN ITS 8TH YEAR – ENJOYS POWERFUL AND DEDICATED SUPPORT FROM A NUMBER OF WESTERN GOVERNMENTS AND FOUNDATIONS.

THEIR CONCERN: TO HELP GIVE YOU THE TOOLS TO DO THAT “GOOD PROFESSIONAL JOB” THAT YOU WANT TO DO – TO HOLD YOUR LEADERS TO ACCOUNT, TO INVESTIGATE THE WAY THEY WIELD POWER, TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW THEY SPEND YOUR MONEY. –

AS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS – AND THE UN AGENICES, THEY AREN’T GOING TO BE TURNING A BLIND EYE EITHER.

THE ISSUE OF PRESS FREEDOM IS ALIVE, IT’S IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE PUBLICLY DEBATED.

LAST MONTH, FOR INSTANCE, EGYPT FACED SEVERE CRITICISM FROM WESTERN COUNTRIES OVER ITS RECORD, WHEN IT ATTENDED THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IN GENEVA FOR THE PROCESS KNOWN AS UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW.

TURKEY AND THE US WERE SHARPLY CRITICAL OF THE LAW RESTRICTING DEMONSTRATIONS.

NORWAY SINGLED OUT THE DETENTION OF JOURNALISTS, AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN THE COUNTRY ,CALLING FOR THEIR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

FOR ITS PART THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT DISMISSED THE CRITICISMS, CLAIMING THEY WERE ALL MISCONCEIVED AND INACCURATE. THERE WERE NO POLITICAL PRISONERS, IT INSISTED, AND NO ONE IN JAIL WITHOUT PROPER CAUSE OR PROCEDURE.

BOTH SAUDI ARABIA AND RUSSIA SUPPORTED CAIRO, PRAISING ITS EFFORTS IN THE RIGHTS ARENA.

AND 7 EGYPTIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS DECIDED NOT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, APPARENTLY FEARFUL OF POSSIBLE REPRISALS IF THEY DID

SO WHAT DOES ALL THAT TELL US?

WELL, IT SHOULD WARN US THAT THE WHOLE ISSUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS – AND THAT INCLUDES PRESS FREEDOM – IS GOING TO BE A BITTERLY CONTESTED BATTLEGROUND IN THIS REGION FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

AND NO ONE – ESPECIALLY JOURNALISTS – SHOULD ENTER THIS CONFLICT ZONE WITHOUT REALIZING THE ENORMOUS PERSONAL RISKS INVOLVED.

*

UNESCO PAINTS AN ESPECIALLY BLEAK PICTURE OF THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE THAT YOU INHABIT, WHERE THE ONGOING TREND, IT SAYS, IS TO VIEW THE PRESS AS A DE-STABILISING FORCE AND A SOURCE OF DISCORD AND DISUNITY.

IT GOES ON: IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE THERE WAS A CHANGE IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, NEW ELITES HAVE SELDOM ACKNOWLEDGED THE INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG ROLE OF THE PRESS. STATE OWNED MEDIA HAVE NOT BEEN VESTED WITH A PUBLIC SERVICE MISSION NOR BEEN ENABLED TO ENGAGE WITH MEDIA FREEDOM.

INSTEAD THEY HAVE LARGELY CONTINUED TO LACK EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE.”

SO THINGS ARE NOT GOING YOUR WAY – THAT IS, IF YOU WANT TO DO A GOOD PROFESSIONAL JOB, TELL THE TRUTH AND STAY OUT OF JAIL

AND IT WOULDN’T BE NEARLY SO DIFFICULT, IF YOU COULD AT LEAST COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC.

BUT THAT TREND THAT UNESCO TALKS ABOUT – THE TREND OF SEEING JOURNALISTS AS TROUBLEMAKERS, DESTABILIZERS, PEOPLE WHO UPSET SOCIETY – HAS SEEPED GRADUALLY INTO THE PUBLIC’S CONSCIOUSNESS.

AN EGYPTIAN JOURNALIST WHO CAME HERE LAST MONTH TOLD ME: “I CAN INVESTIGATE, I CAN POINT OUT WHAT’S WRONG, I CAN CRITICIZE – BUT THE PEOPLE DON’T WANT IT.”

‘WHY ARE YOU MAKING TROUBLE HERE?, THEY ASK. ‘WE NEED SOME PEACE AND QUIET. WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS TRYING TO STIR THINGS UP?’

A JOURNALIST HERE IN JORDAN SAYS THE SAME THING.
“SOCIETY DOESN’T CARE ABOUT MEDIA FREEDOM, “ SHE SAYS. “WHEN THE GOVERNMENT BLOCKED WEBSITES ONLY 50 JOURNALISTS PROTESTED OUTSIDE THE JORDAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.

MORE THAN A THOUSAND MEMBERS DIDN’T SHOW UP, AS IF IT WASN’T EVEN A PROBLEM FOR THEM. BY AND LARGE THE DEPUTIES IN PARLIAMENT GAVE NO SUPPORT AND NOR DID THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T COME TO ANY OF THE RALLIES THAT THE WEBSITES TRIED TO ORGANIZE.”

ANOTHER TOLD ME: “ALL NEWSPAPERS, INCLUDING THE PRIVATELY-OWNED MEDIA ARE FOLLOWING THE OFFICIAL LINE. MOST JORDANIANS DON’T EVEN WANT TO HEAR THE WORDS REFORM OR FREEDOM, AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN SYRIA, YEMEN, LIBYA. TO THEM, REFORMISTS ARE PART OF A FOREIGN PLOT TO DESTABILIZE THE COUNTRY.”

THAT’S HOW THEY SEE IT. MANY PEOPLE. AND THE NUMBERS APPEAR TO BE GROWING.

SO THE CHANCES ARE THAT SOCIETY ISN’T GOING TO GIVE YOU ANY PRIZES FOR DIGGING OUT THE TRUTH – EVEN IF YOU SUCCEED IN GETTING IT PUBLISHED – WHICH IS ANOTHER MATTER ALTOGETHER.

EVEN IN TUNISIA, REGARDED AS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OF THE ARAB UPRISINGS, ONE PRIVATE POLL THIS YEAR, SHOWED AROUND 30 PER CENT WHO’D BE QUITE HAPPY IF THE OLD DICTATOR ZINE EL-ABIDINE BEN ALI CAME BACK.

THE MAN WHO KEPT RIGID CONTROL OVER THE PRESS AND BROADCASTING NETWORKS AND FIRED ANYONE WHO GOT IN HIS WAY.

AND A THIRD OF THE POPULATION WOULDN’T MIND IF HE CAME BACK. AFTER ALL THE MAN WHO JUST CAME TOP IN THE FIRST ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL VOTING – BEJI CAID ESSEBSI – IS ONE OF BEN ALI’S OLD GUARD – AN 88 YEAR OLD MAN – PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT GOT KICKED OUT WITH SO MUCH FANFARE AND CELEBRATION 3 YEARS AGO – SO WHY NOT BRING THE WHOLE LOT BACK?

THAT’S THE VIEW OF SOME PEOPLE.

PRICES HAVE GONE UP, UNEMPLOYMENT HAS GONE UP, LIFE IS HARDER WITH ALL THIS DEMOCRACY NONSENSE.

LOOK AT THE MASS GRAVES IN SYRIA AND LIBYA, THEY SAY – LOOK AT THE MILLIONS OF REFUGEES STREAMING ACROSS OUR BORDERS – WHO NEEDS ANY OF THIS? LOOK WHAT IT’S BROUGHT US.

*

THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE UP AGAINST.

NOT JUST THE GOVERNMENTS THAT WOULD SEEK TO CONTROL YOUR VOICE, BUT SECTIONS OF THE PUBLIC THAT DON’T EVEN TO WANT TO HEAR IT.

BECAUSE YOU WANT THIS FREEDOM MORE THAN THEY DO.

YOU BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRACY – AND FREE SPEECH AND ALL THE OTHER RIGHTS WILL BRING WINNERS. AND THEY’RE ALREADY COUNTING THE LOSERS. ALL AROUND THEM. THE SHATTERED LIVES, THE GRIEVING FAMILIES, THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE COLLAPSED AND THE ORDINARY HARD WORKING MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAY ONE DAY SOON HAVE TO BEG ON THE STREETS, SIMPLY TO SURVIVE.

I REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO, TALKING ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS WITH A CAIRO LAWYER, WHO BEGAN LAUGHING AT ME.

THIS IS NOT WHAT PEOPLE WANT. AT LEAST THEY WANT OTHER THINGS MUCH MORE.

THEY WANT A JOB, MONEY, MEDICINE FOR THE SICK AND A QUIET LIFE. AND IF A DICTATOR CAN OFFER THEM THAT – THEN TO HELL WITH YOUR FREE SPEECH AND YOUR FREE PRESS.
WHICH DO YOU THINK THEY’RE GOING TO SACRIFICE FIRST?

*

SO IT’S A LONELY JOB, YOU HAVE. OFTEN A THANKLESS JOB.
BUT IT DOESN’T MEAN IT’S NOT WORTH DOING.

FINDING OUT THE TRUTH IS NEVER WRONG. IT MAY BE INCONVENIENT, AWKWARD, EMBARRASING TO SOMEONE.

BUT IT’S NEVER WRONG.

IF GOD WANTED TO HUMILIATE MAN, HE WOULD FIRST DENY HIM THE TRUTH.

THAT WAS THE VIEW OF ABI IBN TALEB, ONE OF THE PROPHET’S COUSINS ,14 CENTURIES AGO, AND IT’S AS TRUE TODAY AS IT WAS THEN.

THOSE WHO ARE DENIED THE TRUTH ARE BEING HUMILIATED EVERY DAY, RIGHT AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT I WOULD URGE YOU NOT TO PLAY THAT GAME.

TO COME BACK TO THE QUESTION I KEEP GETTING ASKED – HOW DO YOU DO A GOOD JOB AND STAY OUT OF JAIL? – WELL HERE’S WHAT YOU DON’T DO.

DON’T LIE

AND DON’T INTENTIONALLY OBSCURE THE TRUTH.

TWO GOLDEN RULES. ABOVE ALL OTHERS.

AFTER THAT, PUSH THE BOUNDARIES WHENEVER YOU CAN. THE SMALL BATTLES ARE WORTH FIGHTING JUST AS MUCH AS THE BIG ONES.

BE FAIR, CONSIDER ALL SIDES OF AN ISSUE OR ARGUMENT, BE ACCURATE AND LIVE UP TO THE STANDARDS YOU KNOW TO BE RIGHT.

EVEN IF MANY PEOPLE DON’T WANT THEM, I PROMISE YOU THAT OUT OF SIGHT AND LIVING IN SILENCE, THERE ARE PLENTY WHO STILL DO.

BESIDES, THERE’S NO SHAME IN WORKING FOR THE FEW – INSTEAD OF THE MANY.
FUTURE GENERATIONS DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED HERE AND NOW. WHAT REALITY LOOKED LIKE, HOW PEOPLE BEHAVED, WHO DID WHAT TO WHOM.

TO PUT IT AT ITS SIMPLEST, IT’S THE WAY SOCIETY LEARNS LESSONS AND YOUR JOURNALISM HELPS TO DEFINE WHAT THOSE LESSONS SHOULD BE.

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE THEREFORE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE STORY OF LIFE ON THIS PLANET – WHAT ONE FAMOUS AMERICAN EDITOR CALLED “HISTORY’S FIRST DRAFT.”

BELIEVE ME, IT’S AN ENORMOUS PRIVELEGE TO HELP WRITE IT.

*

AND THERE’S ANOTHER REASON WHY JOURNALISTS NEED TO RETAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE.

SOCIETY NEEDS TO HEAR ABOUT DIFFERENT BELIEFS AND DIFFERENT VIEWS – ESPECIALLY ONES THAT THE MAJORITY MIGHT NOT LIKE.

FREE SPEECH MEANS DEFENDING THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE YOU DON’T LIKE – JUST AS MUCH AS THOSE YOU DO.

BECAUSE IF ONE INDIVIDUAL ISN’T FREE TO SPEAK – THEN NO ONE IS.

WHY DID HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN EGYPT WORK WITH THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD ALL THOSE YEARS WHEN THEY WERE BEING JAILED AND HARRASSED BY MUBARAK’S SECRET POLICE.

THEY DID SO – NOT BECAUSE THEY LIKED THEIR VIEWS – BUT BECAUSE THEY REALIZED THAT IF ONE PERSON IS DEPRIVED OF BASIC RIGHTS – THEN THE WHOLE SOCIETY IS AT RISK.

IF THE STATE COULD SILENCE A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL WITH IMPUNITY , THEN IT COULD DO THE SAME TO ANYONE.

I REPEAT : EITHER ONE PERSON IS SAFE – OR NO ONE IS.

SO YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT PROTECTS THE RIGHT OF EVERYONE ELSE TO DO THE SAME.

*

AND IF WE DON’T HAVE A FREE PRESS, HOW WILL WE EVER HAVE TOLERANT SOCIETIES?

HAVE YOU NOTICED HOW TOLERANCE HAS BEEN DYING BOTH IN THIS REGION AND IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD?

BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN – SLOWLY BUT INEXORABLY – OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

HOW OFTEN IS IT THAT WE SEE GROUPS OF THUGS OR MILITIA OR DICTATORS DECIDING WHAT WE GET TO SEE AND READ AND HEAR, SNUFFING OUT ALTERNATIVE VIEWPOINTS, TELLING US THAT THEY ALONE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE HOW WE LIVE.

THAT’S WHAT YOU GET WHEN THERE’S NO FREE PRESS.

ONE GOVERNMENT,
ONE JUDGE,
ONE PROPAGANDA MACHINE,

AND MANY, MANY JAILS.

A FREE PRESS LETS IN DIFFERENT IDEAS AND VIEWPOINTS, LETS YOU MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT AND DON’T WANT.

A FREE PRESS DOESN’T TREAT YOU LIKE A CHILD, REPEATING AFTER THE TEACHER THE LESSON OF THE DAY.

THE WORLD IS FULL OF THINGS YOU WON’T LIKE – BUT YOU MAKE THE DECISION FOR YOURSELVES WHAT THEY ARE. AND YOU RESPECT THE RIGHT OF OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.

SO THERE IS PLENTY AT STAKE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF THE PRESS IN THE ARAB WORLD.

*

ONE FINAL THOUGHT.

I STARTED BY TELLING YOU ABOUT POLAND IN 1981 – HOW THE COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP FOUGHT BACK AND IMPOSED MARTIAL LAW ON THE COUNTRY AND BANNED THE FREE PRESS.

BUT IT DIDN’T LAST.

FOR ONE SIMPLE REASON: THE PEOPLE NEVER GAVE UP.

OVER SEVERAL YEARS, THE POLISH GOVERNMENT WAS FORCED TO LISTEN TO THE DEMANDS FOR FREEDOM, FORCED TO OPEN UP TO FREE ELECTIONS, AND FINALLY FORCED TO DISAPPEAR FROM THE POLITICAL SCENE ALTOGETHER.

NOT ONLY DID COMMUNISM COLLAPSE IN POLAND – BUT 1O YEARS AFTER THE POLES WENT ON STRIKE – THE SYSTEM WAS FINISHED THROUGHOUT EUROPE AND IN RUSSIA AS WELL.

CHANGE HAPPENED.
BOLD, RADICAL UNIMAGINABLE, LASTING CHANGE.

AND IT HAPPENED BECAUSE ENOUGH PEOPLE WANTED IT.

AND BECAUSE THEY FELT INSPIRED.

AND BECAUSE THEY KNEW THERE WAS A BETTER WAY TO LIVE.

*

AS JOURNALISTS YOU ARE AGENTS OF CHANGE. YOU REPORT ON WHAT IS SAID AND DONE – BUT PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY YOU REPORT ON WHAT IS SAID – AND NOT DONE.

YOU CAN ALSO HELP CREATE A SOCIETY THAT TALKS TO ITSELF – THAT DEBATES AND ARGUES OPENLY AND HONESTLY WITH ITSELF – AND THAT IS A STRONG SOCIETY.

A SOCIETY THAT KNOWS MORE – AND THEREFORE CARES MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN IT.

WITHOUT YOUR EFFORTS AS JOURNALISTS, THERE’S A RISK THAT MANY MIGHT SIMPLY SLEEPWALK INTO THEIR FUTURE – INTO THEIR FUTURE GOVERNMENT, THEIR FUTURE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THEIR FUTURE RESTRICTIONS – WITHOUT EVER HAVING THE CHANCE TO EXAMINE THEM, QUESTION THEM AND DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHETHER THEY WANT THEM OR NOT.

IT WOULD BE AN ETERNAL, CRYING SHAME IF THAT WAS TO HAPPEN.

THANK YOU.