← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Sisyfos
Thread ID: 9158 | Posts: 6 | Started: 2003-08-20
2003-08-20 01:14 | User Profile
[img]http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2003/aug/arab_media/hicover.jpg[/img]
*Here is the first issue of the rag that will convince Arabs that Americans are their friends. The choice of light-skinned Arabs for the cover reminds me of the Indian practice of selecting only the palest faces that their race is capable of producing for their posters, videos, and other entertainment and advertising trinkets. The favourably disposed blonde shiksa, presumably included to tempt the male readership with notions of a country stacked with maidens yearning for a taste of something exotic or dark and mysterious, is a nice touch. One hopes that American institutions of higher learning are not so gauche as to include application brochures when conventional advertising will suffice.
The contracting of ââ¬ÅSaatchi and Saatchiââ¬Â to do the peddling is a natural. I understand that the founding zhids, prior to making their way to England, lived in Iraq, so this should be a homecoming of sorts, but one wonders if the locals will be equally pleased. I suppose it depends, in part, on their reasons for leaving. Still, this is the same cabal that produced, sold, and serviced "Maggie" for the benefit of the British people, so obviously they know their business. Not to worry though, no matter what happens government contracts always pay! *
[SIZE=2]U.S. Says 'Hi' to Young Arabs [/SIZE] Government-Funded Magazine Aims to Boost America's Image
A new U.S.-government funded Arabic language magazine recently hit newsstands in the Arab world. Published by the State Department, Hi magazine is targeted at Arabs aged 18 to 35 with articles about social and cultural issues. Government officials say Hi, which was developed after the Sept. 11 attacks, aims to help shape a more positive view of the United States in the Middle East, where anti-American sentiment remains widespread. But some Arab consumers say it misses the mark. NPR's Kate Seelye reports.
At a bustling Virgin Megastore in Beirut, Lara Hawi, a 20-year-old Lebanese design student seems impressed with Hi after leafing through the magazine for the first time. "The name is attractive and we lack Arabic magazines that are not all full of interviews and stupid things."
The State Department is spending more than $4 million on the project, betting that readers like Hawi will be willing to shell out $2 for the magazine. Fifty thousand copies have hit newsstands from Morocco to Kuwait, and U.S. officials say they hope to eventually reach a circulation of 250,000.
Ad agency Saatchi and Saatchi Levant will soon start marketing the magazine, and CEO Elie Khoury says he's confident it will be well received. "It's a quality youth-targeting magazine that opens a door of dialogue... that is without doubt an American effort, but it's certainly not a propaganda thing," Khoury says.
The first two issues included a report on American college life, through the eyes of Arab students, a feature about the growing prominence of Arab music in the West, and a story about Internet matchmaking. The magazine steers clear of politics. A State Department official recently characterized Hi as a vehicle for American values.
In a working class neighborhood of Beirut, several college students perused the magazine outside a local snack shop. Twenty-year-old Hassan Moustafa said the content seemed rather familiar and not terribly challenging. "I would be more interested if the magazine talked about why Americans support Israel or why they did what they did in Iraq."
His friend, 21-year-old Ahmad Jabbouri, adds most Arab youth already admire American culture and people. It's the American government that's the problem, he says.
Rami Khoury, executive editor of the Beirut newspaper, The Daily Star, agrees that Hi magazine is misguided...and in his view, a waste of money. "It's another example of the confusion and I would even say total incompetence of U.S. official organs in dealing with the issue of Arab public opinion. I think they just don't get it."
Moustafa says it's clear to him that Americans know nothing about Arabs. He says what's really needed is not another magazine marketing American culture to Arabs, but rather a publication which informs Americans about the Arab world.
[url=http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/feature_1394868.html]www.npr.org[/url]
2003-08-20 02:01 | User Profile
**Ad agency Saatchi and Saatchi **
The Saatchi brothers are part of an Iraqi Jewish clan currently domiciled in the UK.
This story has a certain appealing symmetry.
2003-08-20 02:29 | User Profile
Ad agency Saatchi and Saatchi Levant will soon start marketing the magazine, and CEO Elie Khoury says he's confident it will be well received. "It's a quality youth-targeting magazine that opens a door of dialogue... that is without doubt an American effort, but it's certainly not a propaganda thing," Khoury says.
Yes, I'm sure this will be well received on arab street, particularly by the mullahs. I wonder if [url=http://forum.originaldissent.com/index.php?showtopic=5653]Netanyahu[/url] had any input on this for I am sure that it will appeal to the worst instincts in people.
** Moustafa says it's clear to him that Americans know nothing about Arabs. He says what's really needed is not another magazine marketing American culture to Arabs, but rather a publication which informs Americans about the Arab world. **
There is.
[url=http://www.wrmea.com/]Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.[/url]
2003-08-20 02:41 | User Profile
I guess they'll try what they've always tried: get the native kids hooked onto MTV and everything will be fine!
I remember during the "war"(since it's now over ;) ) MSNBC showed photage of an American marine singing some stupid MTV song and Iraqi children are following along. Then the words "Let Freedom Ring" or "Long Live Freedom" were shown.
Oh yes, in order to liberate the Iraqis, we must get their youth addicted to MTV. MTV = Freedom!
2003-08-20 08:43 | User Profile
Originally posted by wintermute@Aug 20 2003, 01:39 * Is she herself a Eskimess?*
Eskimo by race but not religion, try a google on Nigel and Dominic Lawson.
2003-08-22 05:26 | User Profile
**What's the skinny on appealing food-preparer Nigella Lawson? I **
Well I hope this won't seem like I'm angling for yet another award, but the gorgeous Nigella's papa (Nigel believe or not) was one of the several members of the Mosaic faith gracing Margaret Thatcher's cabinet. Further research is required concerning the distaff branch please rest assured that Sqdn. Ldr. Dare and Flt.Sgt. Digby will leave no stone unturned.
In the meantime one would respectfully suggest that good home cooking is to be preferred with the ever reliable Mrs. Beaton as the exemplar.