They allow Western news reporters like Tom Hundley to come to their countries and write what they want. Instead of cracking down on Arab writers, the Arab countries should encourage real journalism and allow open discussions. And, they should also put their foot down on foreign journalists who try to come into their countries. Because for all the so-called good the Western Media is supposed to bring to protecting the civil rights movement there, the Middle East continues to take a beating from Western Journalists whose stories may address real issues, but that are also filled with negative and often hateful images, such as the false story included in Kup's column. Well, for starters, it might force the Western media to hire Arab reporters.
Ethnicity is important to the way a story is covered.
It would be wrong to think that as Arabs, we can influence Western Media like the Chicago Tribune or Sun-Times in the same manner that we did the Internet provider, America OnLine. You have to look upon America OnLine as a multinational corporation, with buisness interests all over the world. Complaints from Arabs certainly might influence their bottom-line, so they will respond. But complaints from Arabs to the Tribune and the Sun-Times usually go unanswered and are ignored. The Sun-Times is owned by the same company that also owns the Jerusalem Post.