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Huffington Post chief vows to protect contributors to new Arabic offshoot Huffington Post chief vows to protect contributors to new Arabic offshoot
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Huffington Post editor-in-chief Arianna Huffington has pledged to defend contributors to its new Arabic-language offshoot if they are persecuted by governments in the region for what they write on the site.Huffington Post editor-in-chief Arianna Huffington has pledged to defend contributors to its new Arabic-language offshoot if they are persecuted by governments in the region for what they write on the site.
Speaking on Monday following the launch of HuffPost Arabi, Huffington said the organisation would offer help, including legal funding and extensive coverage across Huffington Post, for anyone persecuted for opinions published on the site.Speaking on Monday following the launch of HuffPost Arabi, Huffington said the organisation would offer help, including legal funding and extensive coverage across Huffington Post, for anyone persecuted for opinions published on the site.
“One of the reasons why we are going to be based in London and Istanbul is to make it clear avoiding any kind of censorship and control is absolutely key to our coverage,” said Huffington. “We will support [contributors] in every way.”“One of the reasons why we are going to be based in London and Istanbul is to make it clear avoiding any kind of censorship and control is absolutely key to our coverage,” said Huffington. “We will support [contributors] in every way.”
“We would stay on the story relentlessly. Very often somebody is arrested and there is a flurry of articles and they disappear from the picture. I think our goal is to stay on the story and work with our friends in the media.”“We would stay on the story relentlessly. Very often somebody is arrested and there is a flurry of articles and they disappear from the picture. I think our goal is to stay on the story and work with our friends in the media.”
As well as employing professional journalists, Huffington Post takes contributions from unpaid bloggers, and is aiming to recruit 1 million contributors globally.As well as employing professional journalists, Huffington Post takes contributions from unpaid bloggers, and is aiming to recruit 1 million contributors globally.
Huffington Post Arabi is the 14th localised version of the site, and is run in partnership with Integral Media Strategies, which is based in London but draws on a network of journalists in the Middle East.Huffington Post Arabi is the 14th localised version of the site, and is run in partnership with Integral Media Strategies, which is based in London but draws on a network of journalists in the Middle East.
The Middle East is one of the most dangerous areas for journalists and governments regularly persecute people for airing anti-establishment opinions. Australian al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste spent 400 days in an Egyptian jail after being accused of supporting terrorism before being deported. Two of his colleagues still face an uncertain future following a retrial which is due to deliver its verdict at the end of this month.The Middle East is one of the most dangerous areas for journalists and governments regularly persecute people for airing anti-establishment opinions. Australian al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste spent 400 days in an Egyptian jail after being accused of supporting terrorism before being deported. Two of his colleagues still face an uncertain future following a retrial which is due to deliver its verdict at the end of this month.
Integral chief executive Wadah Khanfa, a former director general of Qatari-owned news network al-Jazeera who is editorial director of Huffington Post Arabi, said the site would not be able to retain or keep contributors if it did not offer support. Integral chief executive Wadah Khanfar, a former director general of Qatari-owned news network al-Jazeera who is editorial director of Huffington Post Arabi, said the site would not be able to retain or keep contributors if it did not offer support.
He said: “If they have published something on the platform, the platform itself has published it, if he is fought against because of his opinion, of course we have an obligation to support him, otherwise we will scare people out.”He said: “If they have published something on the platform, the platform itself has published it, if he is fought against because of his opinion, of course we have an obligation to support him, otherwise we will scare people out.”
“I know we are navigating a territory that is very complicated. Without assuring people, and continuing to assure them we might find people not being able to express their opinion and that is a disaster for everyone.”“I know we are navigating a territory that is very complicated. Without assuring people, and continuing to assure them we might find people not being able to express their opinion and that is a disaster for everyone.”
Huffington said the site would be unique in offering an alternative to the polarised media that dominates in most of the region.Huffington said the site would be unique in offering an alternative to the polarised media that dominates in most of the region.
She said: “By providing in the Arab language a place where you can see those many opinions with which you can disagree, without immediately wanting to shoot them, that fact in itself is going to make a difference.”She said: “By providing in the Arab language a place where you can see those many opinions with which you can disagree, without immediately wanting to shoot them, that fact in itself is going to make a difference.”
Khanfa added: “The most difficult situation the media has found itself in in the Arab world is polarisation and utilisation. It has become a political tool in the hands of governments and the hands of certain people who own it. The space for objective, or at least balanced reporting has shrunk too much.” Khanfar added: “The most difficult situation the media has found itself in in the Arab world is polarisation and utilisation. It has become a political tool in the hands of governments and the hands of certain people who own it. The space for objective, or at least balanced reporting has shrunk too much.”
As well as covering stories about the troubles facing the region, Huff Post Arabi intends to focus on more positive events in the region with a section called “Huloul” which means solutions in Arabic.As well as covering stories about the troubles facing the region, Huff Post Arabi intends to focus on more positive events in the region with a section called “Huloul” which means solutions in Arabic.
“I don’t think right now we are getting a full picture. We are getting a very distorted picture, because most of what we are seeing is the violence. We want to give an accurate picture. We don’t want to give a rose-coloured picture, but an accurate picture is not 99% violence, which is what we are getting,” Huffington said.“I don’t think right now we are getting a full picture. We are getting a very distorted picture, because most of what we are seeing is the violence. We want to give an accurate picture. We don’t want to give a rose-coloured picture, but an accurate picture is not 99% violence, which is what we are getting,” Huffington said.