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Savage and mocking: Attack ads mark US presidential debate

Savage and mocking: Attack ads mark US presidential debate
A truck displays large images of former President Donald Trump in the downtown area on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Updated 28 June 2024
AFP
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Savage and mocking: Attack ads mark US presidential debate

Savage and mocking: Attack ads mark US presidential debate
Updated 28 June 2024
AFP
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ATLANTA: Giant billboards welcome Donald Trump to Atlanta as a “convicted felon,” while television ads show President Joe Biden falling off a bicycle.
Thursday’s debate between the two rivals in the 2024 White House race saw both sides ramp up personal attacks in a campaign already characterized by bitter animosity.
To mark the event in Georgia’s state capital, Biden’s Democratic Party paid for several huge billboards across the city.
“Donald, welcome to Atlanta for the first time since becoming a convicted felon. Congrats — or whatever,” read the sarcastic message under a picture of Trump’s police mugshot.
Trump was recently convicted in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, while the mugshot is from a separate case in Georgia where he has been indicted for trying to overturn the 2020 election results.
Never one to pull its punches, Team Trump had its own attacks ready.
One 30-second television ad to be aired during the debate savagely mocks Biden’s advanced age of 81.
Called “Who’s Laughing Now,” it shows footage of Biden stumbling on the stairs of his Air Force One plane, falling over while clipped into his bike and appearing lost on stage.
The narrator suggests Biden is too frail to complete a second term.
“Do you think the guy who was defeated by the stairs... got taken down by his bike ... lost a fight with his jacket ... and regularly gets lost... makes it four more years in the White House?” the voiceover asks.
Another ad focuses on Biden’s perceived weak points of migration and inflation, saying: “After four years of failure under Joe Biden, it’s time to make America prosperous and strong again.”
The potshots were also fired in social media messages and print ads, with Trump posting hours before the debate that Biden is “a threat to the survival and existence of our country itself.”
Biden’s campaign launched a new drive “laying out Trump’s extreme agenda” if he were to win the November 5 election and then enact a nationwide ban on abortion.
One ad contrasts “Donald Trump’s record as a self-centered criminal to President Biden’s record of fighting for the American people.”

Topics: 2024 US Elections Joe Biden Donald Trump

Jaffa theater appeals to Israeli High Court over Palestinian film ban

Jaffa theater appeals to Israeli High Court over Palestinian film ban
Updated 25 February 2025
Arab News
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Jaffa theater appeals to Israeli High Court over Palestinian film ban

Jaffa theater appeals to Israeli High Court over Palestinian film ban
  • Theater cites abuse of power, infringement of artistic freedom
  • Mahmoud Abu Arisha: ‘We will fight for our creative space’
Updated 25 February 2025
Arab News

LONDON: A theater in Jaffa has appealed to Israel’s High Court of Justice after police banned the screening of Palestinian films.

Jaffa’s Al-Saraya Theater argued that the ban constituted an abuse of power and an infringement of artistic freedom, accusing the authorities of overreach and censorship.

Mahmoud Abu Arisha, the theater’s manager, said: “We will fight for our creative space and not accept any entity with pretensions of being a self-appointed censor of artistic creativity and freedom of speech.

“We must not accept the grim reality that the police are trying to shape, in which artists and cultural institutions live under the direct threat of interference in artistic content.”

The theater is seeking an explanation for the police intervention, assurances against future interference, and clarification on any enforcement action taken against the venue or its management.

The appeal follows multiple disruptions of screenings of two controversial documentaries, “Lyd” and “Jenin, Jenin 2,” since August 2024.

“Jenin, Jenin 2,” a sequel to Palestinian filmmaker Mohammad Bakri’s 2002 documentary on the Battle of Jenin during the Second Intifada, examines Israeli military operations in the West Bank city in 2023.

Its screening was blocked in August after police deemed it incitement, summoning Abu Arisha for questioning on suspicion of “disrupting public order.”

Authorities also suspected him of planning to show “Jenin, Jenin,” which was banned in 2021 following a libel suit by an Israeli soldier who appeared briefly in the film.

Abu Arisha argued that the ban on the original film did not apply to its sequel and accused the authorities of exceeding their legal mandate.

Police again summoned Abu Arisha in October, this time ordering him to cancel the screening of “Lyd” — a film exploring an alternate history in which the Nakba never occurred — after Israel’s Culture Minister Miki Zohar raised concerns about its potential impact.

While authorities initially justified blocking “Lyd” by citing an unresolved complaint from Israel’s film rating board, the documentary was eventually shown as part of the Solidarity Film Festival at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque.

Zohar asked Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to review the Cinematheque’s funding following the screening, suggesting that festival films may have violated Israel’s so-called Nakba Law, which authorizes the minister to withdraw state funds from any institution or body that commemorates “Israel’s Independence Day or the day on which the state was established as a day of mourning.”

Topics: Al-Saraya Theater Jaffa Mahmoud Abu Arisha Mohammad Bakri

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Saudi Media Forum president engages with global production experts to shape media’s future

Saudi Media Forum president engages with global production experts to shape media’s future
Updated 25 February 2025
Arab News
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Saudi Media Forum president engages with global production experts to shape media’s future

Saudi Media Forum president engages with global production experts to shape media’s future
  • Riyadh meeting aimed to explore strategic collaborations and innovative content production opportunities
  • Attendees included David Abraham, CEO of Wonderhouse Studios; Amanda Palmer, Founder of ArtCinema; Rob Leighton, SVP of Global Liberty; Jordi Molla, Multi-Award-Winning Director; and Kazuko Ishikawa, President of Nippon Animation
Updated 25 February 2025
Arab News

RIYADH: In a groundbreaking discussion on the future of global media production, the President of the Saudi Media Forum, Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, met with a distinguished group of international experts and industry leaders. The high-profile meeting, held in Riyadh, aimed to explore strategic collaborations and innovative content production opportunities that align with Saudi Arabia’s vision of becoming a global media powerhouse.

Among the attendees were David Abraham, CEO of Wonderhouse Studios; Amanda Palmer, Founder of ArtCinema; Rob Leighton, SVP of Global Liberty; Jordi Molla, Multi-Award-Winning Director; and Kazuko Ishikawa, President of Nippon Animation. The discussions revolved around co-production models, investment in high-quality content, and the integration of advanced technologies in media production.

President Al-Harthi emphasized Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fostering a dynamic media ecosystem, highlighting the country’s investment in accelerators, incubators, and production funds designed to support international partnerships. “The future of media is built on collaboration, innovation, and cross-border content creation. We are excited to work with global leaders to shape a new era of storytelling,” he stated.

The meeting also addressed the importance of AI in content creation, the evolving landscape of streaming platforms, and the role of Saudi Arabia as a hub for global media projects. The experts expressed enthusiasm about potential partnerships, particularly in film, animation, and immersive media experiences.

This dialogue marks a significant step in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position in the global media industry, paving the way for co-productions, content distribution agreements, and knowledge exchange between local and international players.

Topics: Saudi Media Forum

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Journalists have a duty to verify information, British journalist says

Journalists have a duty to verify information, British journalist says
Updated 25 February 2025
Sulafa Alkhunaizi
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Journalists have a duty to verify information, British journalist says

Journalists have a duty to verify information, British journalist says
Updated 25 February 2025
Sulafa Alkhunaizi

RIYADH: Accuracy in disaster reporting is paramount, British journalist Juliette Foster said during a panel discussion on day one of KSrelief’s fourth humanitarian forum in Riyadh.

“Technology has made it possible for journalists to operate efficiently in crisis zones while affected communities have a channel, but accuracy in reporting should always be paramount,” Foster said.

In a panel discussion titled “The Evolution of Media and Communication Strategies in Emergency Situations,” Foster, along with other panel members, highlighted
the challenges and opportunities for journalists covering emergency situations, such as the optimization of technology use in reporting.

The panel also discussed the balance between information dissemination and the protection of vulnerable populations.

Foster highlighted concerns over perpetrators using sensitive information to target any vector of a person’s identity, to disgrace and degrade either them or their communities.

“I will even go so far as to say that when you have unsafe information circulating posing as a truth, you potentially put at risk the lives, not just in communities, but also of the people who are trying to help them. Misinformation and rumors complicate emergency response efforts and can create panic,” she said.

Journalists have a duty to verify information, be it from social media platforms or other sources, before making it public, Foster added.

“So, please remember to any reporters who are out there, if you are covering disasters, yes, we want you to find the story and to tell it, but please respect the people who are there at the center of action … there are guidelines on navigating these ethical minefields, and in fairness, most journalists follow them. But in the final analysis, preserving the dignity of disaster victims should be at the heart of your coverage,” she said.

There are significant opportunities for enhancing emergency communications, including collaborative journalism, where media organizations, NGOs and local communities work together or embed, which can amplify both the reach and the impact of crisis reporting, Foster added.

“Reporting partnerships can also facilitate access to on-the-ground information, provide logistical support and ensure comprehensive coverage of complex emergencies,” she said.

The panel discussion also included guest speakers Shalhoub Al-Shalhoub, director of public relations and media, and acting director of international communication and the media center at KSrelief; senior humanitarian adviser Maryann Horne; and Nadine Sanders, editor-in-chief of International Voice News. The panel was moderated by Arab News journalist Lama Alhamawi.

Topics: Saudi Arabia

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Pakistani minister meets SRMG CEO, discusses media collaboration, digital innovation opportunities

Pakistani minister meets SRMG CEO, discusses media collaboration, digital innovation opportunities
Updated 25 February 2025
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Pakistani minister meets SRMG CEO, discusses media collaboration, digital innovation opportunities

Pakistani minister meets SRMG CEO, discusses media collaboration, digital innovation opportunities
  • Meeting took place as Tarar was in Riyadh last week to attend Saudi Media Forum 2025 from Feb. 19-21
  • Saudi Research and Media Group is the largest integrated media house in the Middle East and North Africa
Updated 25 February 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Saudi Research and Media Group, the largest integrated media house in the Middle East and North Africa, hosted Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar at its headquarters in Riyadh “to explore opportunities for media collaboration, content development and digital innovation,” the group said in a statement on Tuesday. 
The meeting took place as Tarar was in Riyadh last week to attend the Saudi Media Forum 2025 from Feb. 19-21, which brought together over 200 global media professionals, innovators and thought leaders.
“The meeting focused on strengthening partnerships and expanding content offerings to better serve audiences across both markets,” SRMG said in a statement after Tarar met the group’s CEO, Jomana R. Alrashid.

Saudi Research and Media Group CEO Jomana R. Alrashid (left) welcomes Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar as he visits the SRMG Headquarters in Riyadh on February 21, 2025. (Handout/SRMG)

The two leaders discussed the “positive impact of SRMG’s Pakistan based platforms, including Independent Urdu and Urdu News, as well as the English-language publication Arab News Pakistan, in delivering high quality content that informs and connects.”
“By providing accurate, credible reporting and raising awareness of key social issues, these publications foster meaningful connections between people, promote cross-cultural understanding, and strengthen ties with audiences in Pakistan and beyond,” the statement added. 
While speaking at the Saudi Media Forum, Tarar had acknowledged SRMG’s “positive impact” in Pakistan.

Saudi Research and Media Group CEO Jomana R. Alrashid (left) gestures for a photo with Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar at the SRMG Headquarters in Riyadh on February 21, 2025. (Handout/SRMG)

“With regard to SRMG, we have Urdu News, we have Arab News and we have Independent Urdu, which are doing a great job,” he said during a panel discussion last Thursday. 
“And [this is] not only [as] digital platforms, but overall, they have a very positive impact on our society with regard to raising awareness on social issues, with regard to bringing news to the people.”
During the Riyadh visit, Tarar and his Saudi counterpart Salman Al-Dossary also announced a joint committee to co-produce songs, films and documentaries.
In recent years, Pakistani dramas and films, including TV classics like “Dhoop Kinare” and the highly acclaimed “Humsafar,” have been dubbed in Arabic and broadcast in Saudi Arabia. 
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are close regional partners and economic and security allies. In October last year, the two countries signed 34 agreements worth $2.8 billion for investment projects in various sectors.

Topics: Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG) Attaullah Tarar Jomana Alrashid

Judge rejects immediately restoring AP’s access to White House but urges government to reconsider

Judge rejects immediately restoring AP’s access to White House but urges government to reconsider
Updated 25 February 2025
AP
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Judge rejects immediately restoring AP’s access to White House but urges government to reconsider

Judge rejects immediately restoring AP’s access to White House but urges government to reconsider
  • The AP says it is adhering to the “Gulf of Mexico” terminology because its audience is global and the waters are not only in US territory, but it is acknowledging Trump’s rechristening as well
Updated 25 February 2025
AP

WASHINGTON: A federal judge on Monday refused to immediately order the White House to restore The Associated Press’ access to presidential events, saying the news organization had not demonstrated it had suffered any irreparable harm. But he urged the Trump administration to reconsider its two-week-old ban, saying that case law “is uniformly unhelpful to the White House.”
US District Judge Trevor N. McFadden’s decision was only for the moment, however. He told attorneys for the Trump administration and the AP that the issue required more exploration before ruling.
McFadden peppered both sides with questions during arguments over a lawsuit the AP filed Friday saying that its First Amendment rights were being violated by the ban, which began gradually two weeks ago. President Donald Trump said it was punishment for the agency’s decision not to entirely follow his executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
McFadden, discussing the composition of the “press pool” that is chosen by the White House Correspondents’ Association, questioned why the government was obligated to follow those choices. “It feels a little odd that the White House is somehow bound by the decisions this private organization is making,” the judge told AP attorneys.
He also questioned AP’s noting of its longtime membership in the White House press pool. “Is this administration somehow bound by what happened with President McKinley?” the judge asked. But he noted that the correspondents’ group had been tasked by the White House to choose the members of its pool.
“The White House has accepted the correspondents’ association to be the referee here, and has just discriminated against one organization. That does seem problematic,” McFadden said in an exchange with government attorney Brian Hudak.
Later, McFadden warned the government’s attorney to reconsider its position, saying “case law in this circuit is uniformly unhelpful to the White House.”
The AP says it is adhering to the “Gulf of Mexico” terminology because its audience is global and the waters are not only in US territory, but it is acknowledging Trump’s rechristening as well.
AP says the issue strikes at the very core of the US Constitution’s First Amendment, which bars the government from punishing speech. The White House says access to the president is a privilege, not a right.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration began barring the AP from the Oval Office, Air Force One and other areas that have been open to the agency for a century as part of the White House press pool. The dispute stems from AP’s refusal to change its style in referring to the Gulf of Mexico, which Trump decreed the “Gulf of America” via an executive order.
The AP named three Trump officials – White House chief of staff Susan Wiles, deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich and press secretary Karoline Leavitt – as defendants. The agency, a nonprofit news outlet in operation since 1846, called the White House’s move a “targeted attack” of the sort barred by the First Amendment.
“The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government,” the AP said in its lawsuit.
The White House says its move to restrict AP is not an infringement of free-speech rights. “The only person who has the absolute right to occupy those spaces is the president of the United States,” Wiles wrote to Julie Pace, AP’s executive editor, in an email included in the agency’s lawsuit. “For the rest of us, it’s a privilege, and to suggest otherwise is wrong.”

 

Topics: Trump Returns

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