[LCM Articles] Can Lebanon leave Syria's orbit? (blog)

[Fadi P. Kanaan]

Here’s a response to Al mustaqbal’s false, unsubstantiated claim that
Jebran Bassil went to Damascus.



Amateur Journalism and an International Audience 
Re: Mr. Nasser Al Assaad’s article in Almustaqbal newspaper

Tayyar.org informs you that the article below is an independent opinion
expressed by our readers
November 14, 2005
Damon Zarife

It is common practice for many Lebanese who live abroad, that the first
thing they do when they switch their PCs in the morning is to check
Lebanese newspapers or any news related websites to know more about the
situation in Lebanon (since Lebanon may not always be on the main
headlines in their local media). 
Fortunately we have an abundant number of Lebanese newspapers, that are
publishing their content on the internet, but unfortunately some of them
may not be aware of the importance of being available for a worldwide
audience; and this fact is reflected by the quality of the news they
report. Thus, it is good to know that a Lebanese newspaper e.g.
Almustaqbal, can be as easily reached anywhere in the world as any
renowned newspaper; but what should be kept in mind (by their chief
editors) is that it will be easier for the readers to compare the news
they report and the quality of their ‘journalism’ with other sources.
 

Of course journalists sometimes prefer to keep their sources unknown for
the sake of preserving the opportunity for ‘scoops’, especially when it
is Lebanese news and nearly every journalist is trying to back their own
conspiracy theory. 

But of course, like everything, when abused it produces the opposite
effect. So when a journalist is talking about facts, it is common
practise or the minimum to make the news reliable (well, at least for a
respectable newspaper in the ‘west’), is to present proof. News or facts
that are reported without proof are meaningless, useless and thus
worthless. 

When I was reading this morning the article by Mr. Nasser Al Assaad’s in
Almustaqbal newspaper (Monday 14 Nov. 05), the confirmed information
about Mr. Jebran Bassil’s visits to Damascus attracted my attention.
 
My comment on this news, does not relate to its ‘polictical effect’, but
more to its validity. It is ridiculous to believe that a journalist
still reports facts without proof and expects their readers to just
believe them without question. This type of news, which is similar to
the news in papers under a dictatorship, can only be found in the ‘free
world’ in ‘low quality’ and disrespected newspapers. This type of news
reflects the quality of the one who wrote them and also reflects the
potential of the newspaper itself, that published the news. If a
newspaper cannot prove what it is publishing, then all that it is in
there is just claims and thus as worthy as the information that someone
might get from a “sobhiyeh” with a friend. 

So sorry Mr. Nasser Al Assaad, I appreciate the fact that it might be
very dear for you that Mr. Jibran Bassil has been visiting Damascus,
that maybe one of your friends told you so in the sobhiyeh and you
believed them, so you put it in your article. It is hard to believe that
a newspaper like Almustaqbal, cannot afford at least a photographer to
take a picture of Mr. Bassil in Syria or at least near the border. If
you have the proof, please go ahead and show it, otherwise, please
apologize for your chief editor and newspaper for all the damages you
have caused to their news integrity and reputation.