2012 Volume 80 Pages 113-132
The New International Information and Communication Order (NIICO) is a movement dedicated to bridging the information divide between the northern and southern hemispheres. This movement was led by the non-aligned countries, who stimulated vigorous debates in UNESCO meetings, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s. Arab countries, which have historically imported large amounts of Western media content, also participated these debates and attempted to bridge the information divide between themselves and Western countries. For example, Mustafa Masmoudi, an ex-minister of information of Tunisia and a member of the MacBride committee, contributed immensely to the issuing of the Mass Media Declaration that was finally adopted in the 20th General Meeting of UNESCO in 1978. In this paper, through an analysis of news agencies, of information organizations and of the expansion of national broadcasting capabilities, I reveal how Arab countries collectively attempted to modify the established information structures in accordance with the rise of NIICO. Additionally, I reveal how a series of collaborative attempts made by Arab countries became ineffective when many Arab states prioritized the strengthening of their national informational capabilities over these attempts.
