‘Politics of the Middle East and Media Bias’

A panel discussion featuring Beirut Daily Star columnist Rami Khouri ’70, G’98

The misunderstanding of current events in the Middle East created by media coverage that may be biased will be the topic of a panel discussion sponsored by the Maxwell School’s Coalition of Multicultural Public Administration Students (COMPAS), the Middle Eastern Studies Program and the Maxwell Executive Education Program. The discussion will be held on Wednesday, March 27, at 7 p.m. in  Maxwell Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public with parking available in Irving Garage for a $4 charge.

The panel will be led by Rami Khouri ’70, G’98, editor-at-large and columnist for the Beirut-based Daily Star. Panelists will include Professor Mehrzad Boroujerdi, director of the Middle Eastern Studies Program and political science professor at Maxwell, and Sari Dallal, a master of arts in international relations candidate.

Whether it’s the reasons behind the “Arab rage” that resounded across the region in response to a video mocking the prophet Mohammed or Iran’s intentions for developing nuclear weapons, the media often puts a spin on stories coming out of the Middle East. These stories frequently lead to negative stereotypes that perpetuate American misconception of the region as a whole. The panel will re-examine current events from an unbiased perspective, delve into the reasons behind media bias and address common misconceptions.

Along with his work at the Daily Star, Khouri is the director of the Issam Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut. He served for four years on the advisory board for the International Committee of the Red Cross and was awarded the Pax Christi International Peace Award for his efforts in the Middle East. Khouri earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in journalism at Syracuse University.