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User:R at MEMRI/Reception draft

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Reception

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MEMRI's work has generated both strong criticism and praise. Several journalists have been vocal supporters of MEMRI and the value of its translations, including Thomas L. Friedman,[1][2] John Lloyd,[3] and Jay Nordlinger.[4] In 2016, The Washington Times stated the organization had "carved out a reputation as the premier tracker and exposer of jihadi social media".[5] According to Al Jazeera, MEMRI has "become a useful tool for many journalists covering the Middle East with a limited, or in many cases, zero understanding of Arabic", but the reporters' limited understanding also prevents verification.[6]

MEMRI's work has been criticized on three grounds: that it is biased; that translated articles are chosen selectively resulting in an unrepresentative view of the media being reported on; and that some translations are inaccurate or misleading. MEMRI has responded to the criticism, stating that their work is not biased; that they choose representative articles from the Arab media that accurately reflect the opinions expressed, and that their translations are highly accurate.[7]

The accuracy of MEMRI's translations are considered "usually accurate", though occasionally disputed.[8] Naomi Sakr, a professor of Media Policy at the University of Westminster, charged in 2007 that specific MEMRI mistranslations, occurring during times of international tension, have generated hostility towards Arab journalists.[9] The organization defends its translations as being representative of actual Middle East viewpoints, even when the translations themselves are disputed: "MEMRI has never claimed to 'represent the view of the Arabic media', but rather to reflect, through our translations, general trends which are widespread and topical."[7]

MEMRI has also been accused of selectivity. Critics, including Brian Whitaker, Laila Lalami, and Juan Cole, have stated that MEMRI often picks the most extreme views for translation and dissemination, which portray the Arab and Muslim world in a negative light, while ignoring moderate views that are often found in the same media outlets.[10][11][12] In 2006, MEMRI's Yigal Carmon told The New York Times that "Memri has expanded its translations immensely over the years, and now highlights Arab reformist views."[13] In 2007, the Los Angeles Times noted that MEMRI was including more viewpoints, stating "Liberal and rational Arab pundits—once as rare as Halley's Comet in the MEMRIverse—now appear with great regularity".[14]

==References==

  1. ^ Friedman, Thomas L (July 22, 2005), "Giving the Hatemongers No Place to Hide", The New York Times, retrieved March 23, 2009
  2. ^ Friedman, Thomas (September 18, 2012). "Look in Your Mirror". The New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  3. ^ Lloyd, John (3 February 2003), "Pay any price, bear any burden?", New Statesman.
  4. ^ Jay Nordlinger (6 May 2002). "Thanks For The Memri (.Org)". The National Review. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  5. ^ Rowan Scarborough (12 September 2016). "Group exposing the drumbeat of Islamic State's propaganda machine". The Washington Times. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  6. ^ "'The war you don't see'". Aljazeera. 23 Dec 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2016. So in its purpose lies its problem. MEMRI is a source for journalists that do not understand Arabic but because they do not understand Arabic, they cannot validate the source.
  7. ^ a b "Email debate: Yigal Carmon and Brian Whitaker". The Guardian. London. January 28, 2003. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  8. ^ Whitaker, Brian (15 May 2007). "Arabic under fire". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2007-05-16. The curious thing about all this is that Memri's translations are usually accurate (though it is highly selective in what it chooses to translate and often removes things from their original context).
  9. ^ Sadr, Naomi (2007). Arab Television Today. I.B. Tauris. pp. 79–80.
  10. ^ Whitaker, Brian (12 August 2002). "Selective Memri". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  11. ^ McKay, Tom (8 March 2015). "This Lebanese TV Anchor Just Silenced the Misogynist Who Told Her to "Shut Up"". Mic. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  12. ^ Lalami, Laila (19 June 2006), "Missionary Position", The Nation, p. 32.
  13. ^ Robert F Worth (18 June 2006). "Mideast Analysis, Fast and Furious". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  14. ^ "Has the world changed, or just our MEMRIs of it?". The Los Angeles Times. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
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