Best International Newspapers Online from the Middle East
The best international newspapers online from the Middle East will not necessarily have a pro-Western slant, even if they are published in English. Accordingly, readers will want to combine conventional American news coverage with these international newspapers to get a more robust outlook on world affairs. Middle Eastern newspapers and American print media both have their intrinsic biases, so no one truth will emerge from any singular source.
Here are my picks for the best international newspapers online from the Middle East:
Gulf News
http://www.gulf-news.com/
Loaded into cyberspace from Dubai in the UAE, Gulf news gets nearly half a million hits everyday. The site provides brief, broad-based regional and national coverage, though it is not overly detailed in its regular news stories. As one of the best international online newspapers from the Middle East, however, it does run a pretty diplomatic editorial page with a critical eye on the West but a similarly critical eye on the rest of the region. Coverage of the Danish cartoon incident and subsequent discussion of press freedoms illuminated their ability to tackle these matters. It’s not the best website for news about the Middle East, but it’s worth visiting as a gateway.
Al Jazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net
Al Jazeera is a household name for most Americans because it is so frequently referenced by the US media as “the” Arab media outlet. The company is best known for its television coverage of post 9-11 events and the Iraq War. It was also the subject of a sharp documentary, Control Room, which followed some Al Jazeera journalists in their pursuit of Iraq invasion news from Qatar. However, the online presence for Al Jazeera is equally mighty: it attracts millions of people to its website on a daily basis from all over the world. For Americans who want a different angle on the US – one that is critical yet understanding of the East-West cultural rift, Al Jazeera is a great place to turn for news in complement to something like CNN.
Iran News Daily
http://irannewsdaily.com/
With Iran under much international scrutiny, it’s worth stopping by the Iran News Daily website to enrich understanding of US relations with the Middle East. Readers will find more details about Iran’s side of the recent debate over nuclear activity and poignantly worded editorials about US involvement in the Muslim world. For example, I read a great piece on the failed Dubai company port operation deal. Although more bluntly critical of the West, this online newspaper is not without some degree of journalistic integrity, as it is clearly more than a propaganda outlet for the government. Unfortunately, though, Iran News Daily provides very little information about their company or the journalists themselves (compared to nearly all the other sites I am profiling here). So, my praise for this international newspaper online is more limited.
Dubai Photo Media
http://www.dubaiphotomedia.com/
I mention this site because they provide very detailed business updates on oil, gas, real estate, aviation, banking, and other industries, as well as currency information and financial indices. Their stated objective is to “provide value-based information service to the communityâÂ?¦” and they talk about their role in the “knowledge economy,” leading me to wonder what their orientation ultimately is. That said, they’re one of the best international newspapers online from the Middle East for practical, well-organized business information.
Jordan Times
http://www.jordantimes.com
With basic news, opinion and commentary, this online newspaper hails from one of the more West-leaning states of the Middle East region. They seem to cover domestic issues best, but their handling of regional matters is also worth a look. And to my surprise, when I was combing through editorials and opinion pieces, I found an article by diplomat and former US President Jimmy Carter! The other reason I recommend Jordan Times is that it’s based geographically closer to Israel and Palestine than the gulf-centered sites, so coverage of Arab-Israeli conflict is a bit deeper.
7Days
http://www.7days.ae/
This flashy site from the United Arab Emirates is much more lifestyle-oriented than all the other sites I have described. 7 Days gives shorter shrift to weighty, contentious issues, instead favouring “Metro Life” in Dubai, sporting news, global entertainment, and sensationalized but (generally) low-impact human interest bits. Also, it’s worth noting that their business news is myopic: it focuses more on investments and markets and less on political and economic discourse. Overall, I’d call 7Days “lite news” – yet I feel it’s culturally relevant enough to include among the best international newspapers online from the Middle East because it showcases the indulgent, consumer-driven side of the UAE.
