Writing Op-eds in Lebanese Newspapers: The Relative Demise of Public Life of Arab Academics

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12816/0007305

Keywords:

Op-eds, Lebanese Newspapers, Media Environment, Public Sphere

Abstract

This paper questions academics’ contributions to the writing of opinion pieces in the Lebanese press. It asks why academics write opinion for newspapers and what is the extent of their contribution? Do their opinions reinforce the viewpoint of the press or act as a counterbalance? What topics do academics choose to write about? What role do editors play? Methodologically, this study had two phases: the first involved the selection of a systematic random sample to determine the extent of the academics contributions to the opinion pages in comparison to other kinds of writers, and the second entailed qualitative analysis based on a wider sampling. The study shows that only a minority of academics is interested in writing for the press even though it would be a direct means to participate in public debate. The study offers a number of interpretations in trying to explain this reluctance, which alongside the subjective reasons offered by academics, includes factors connected to how the system for promotion within academia does not recognize such forms of public participation.

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