UK Media Conference

The Middle East and the Media

A Conference to be held on: Monday 18th June 2007
Under the auspices of:
The International Communications Forum / The International Media Council of the Next Century Foundation
At the International Communications Forum
The Barn Meeting Hall
24 Greencoat Place - London SW1

The organizers believe that reconciliation develops through change in
individual attitudes. The purpose of this event is to search out
areas of understanding rather than the defence of well-known positions.
We look forward to a penetrating and constructive day.

SCHEDULE

9.00 – 9:45: REGISTRATION AND COFFEE

9.45-10.00: “Replacing fear with hope – the role of the media in areas of conflict”
Opening speech by Mr William Porter
Founder President, The International Communications Forum

Session 1 – The BBC and the NUJ

10.00-11.00 The BBC and the Middle East
Discussants: Deborah Pout, freelance, formerly Reuters Fellow, Oxford and correspondent for Sky News Australia and Channel News Asia in Jerusalem with Jeremy Bowen, Middle East Editor, The BBC
Chair: William Morris, Chairman, The International Media Council

11.00-11.30 The British National Union of Journalists’ boycott of Israel
Discussants: Anne Penketh, Diplomatic Editor, The Independent Newspaper; Talya Lador-Fresher, Deputy Ambassador, The State of Israel; and Abigail Fielding-Smith, Middle East Editor, IB Tauris
Chair: Tim Pendry, TPPR Public Affairs and Communications

11.30-11.45 TEA/COFFEE BREAK

Session 2 – Islamophobia

11.45-13.00 Islamophobia in the UK and in Israel
Discussants: Chris Doyle, Director of the Council for the Advancement of Arab British Understanding with Mr. Adel Darwish, Columnist and Commentator, The Middle East Magazine, The Daily Mail Newspaper; Imam Abduljalil Sajid, Chairman Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony UK (MCRRH), Mr. Ribal Al Assad, Chairman, Arab News Network (ANN) Satellite TV
Chair: Rev George Pitcher, St Brides’ Forum

13.00-13.45 LUNCH BREAK
Over Lunch, Informal discussion with Mr. Adel Darwish, Columnist and Commentator, The Middle East Magazine, The Daily Mail Newspaper on:
Practical Solutions to Reporting Diversity

Session 3.1 – Iranian media issues

13.45-14.30 Xenophobia in Iran and Scaremongering in the West
Discussants: Amir Abbas Fakhravar, Iranian Freedom Institute; Jonathan Paris, Senior Fellow, The Next Century Foundation and Adjunct Fellow, The Hudson Institute, Washimgton; Professor Abbas Edalat, Imperial College, Founder of the Campaign against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran; and Moustafa Sanatnama, Confederation of Iranian Students
Chair: Mr Turi Munthe, Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute

Session 3.2 – Both sinned against and sinning

14.30-15.15 Al Jazeera
Discussants Mrs Baria Alamuddin, Director, Media Services Syndicate, Columnist, Al Hayat; International Media Council Member; Stephen Desmond, Centre for Conflict Resolution Journalism and Felix Posen, Media Campaigner
Chair: Ms June Jacobs, The International Council of Jewish Women; Trustee, The Next Century Foundation

15.15-15.45 Palestine
Discussants: Chris Doyle, Director of the Council for the Advancement of Arab British Understanding; Rabbi Herschel Gluck, The Jewish-Moslem Forum; Walford Road Synagogue; Daud Abdullah, Palestinian Return Centre and Moslem Council of Britain
Chair: Sharif Nashashibi, Chairman, Arab Media Watch

15.45-16.00 TEA BREAK

Session 4 – Arrest, imprisonment and intimidation of Journalists

16.00-17.30 Concerns over free speech
Discussants a panel consisting of: Sharif Nashashibi of Arab Media Watch; Lior Ben Dor, Counsellor for Media Affairs and Spokesman, Embassy of Israel, The State of Israel; Jane Kinninmont, The Economist Intelligence Unit; Ms Mona Al Ghussein, Freelance journalist; Mr William Porter, Founder President, The International Communications Forum
Chair: William Morris, Chairman, International Media Council

17.30 CLOSE