163. Name: Colin Valentine Title: Sectarianism in Arab Media: An Analysis of Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera Narratives in Syria, Iraq, and Arabia Institution: Princeton University Country: United States Date: 2014 Language: English Abstract: This study seeks to explore the conditions in which sectarianism is reported in Arab news media. In particular, the study examines how, when, and why the two largest pan-Arab broadcasters, Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera satellite channels highlight and promote sectarian strife in their coverage of conflicts in the cases of Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, and Yemen. The research shows that the media coverage of both networks appeal to the readers’ sectarian prejudices in news articles as well as in reports and opinion pieces. Sectarianism is promoted in news media through the use of graphic descriptions of violence and by stoking the fears of Iranian expansionist ambitions in the Arab world. The research concludes that the media coverage of the two networks for the sectarian conflicts in the above-mentioned countries is shaped by the foreign policy goals of their respective Saudi and Qatari sponsors. The researcher therefore proposes a new schema for understanding the role that political agendas and objectives and demographic realities in the region play in determining whether or not news networks utilize sectarian tactics in their media coverage of these conflicts.
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