1. Media Consumption in the Middle East ─ Examining the Data Presentation Excerpts Department of Public Information, United Nations New York 2 September 2003

2. About InterMedia  A non-profit firm based in Washington, DC and the United Kingdom, we provide global research, evaluation, and consulting in support of the international media and development community.  Specializing in media research, we help clients understand their audiences, gauge their effectiveness and target their communications.  Focusing on transitional and developing countries, we work in Africa, the Balkans, Central & Eastern Europe, the NIS, Asia, Latin America & Caribbean, and the Middle East & North Africa.  We have decades of accumulated research and consulting experience and vast geographic expertise spanning over 120 countries.  We have done over 50 quantitative and qualitative studies in the Middle East/North Africa in the last two years.

3. Our Task With Data Hot Off the Presses  We will highlight how Middle Eastern media markets broadly reflect global patterns yet are also distinctive.  We will review InterMedia’s survey research in the Arab world, concentrating on those societies from which we have data hot off the presses.  We will look at various aspects of media behavior ─ namely, daily media usage for information, usage by demographic categories, identification of the most important sources, and evaluation of the most reliable sources.  We will underscore the utility of conducting further research in the UN’s efforts to convey information to particularly target audiences.

4. Middle Eastern Media Markets Reflect Global Patterns  Sources of information and entertainment are proliferating.  The more well educated, the more media consumption and the greater variety of mediums used.  Television is the most popular entertainment and information medium.  FM radio is dominant over AM and Shortwave.  Newspaper consumption is highest among the most educated.  Internet use is typically limited to young, well educated, urban dwellers.  News consumers tend to be skeptics.

5. Middle Eastern Media Markets Are Also Distinctive  Media markets are highly dynamic.  Satellite television is surging in popularity.  Regional stations are perceived as local, dominating over international ones.  Internet as a source of information is in its infancy.  Media consumers are increasingly sophisticated as their choices multiply.  Youth audiences are prominent.

6. InterMedia Research in the Arab World  In July 2003, InterMedia completed work on six urban/rural surveys in the Arab world:  Egypt (n=2,000)  Jordan (n=1,500)  Kuwait (n=1,500)  Morocco (n=2,000)  Qatar (n=1,000)  UAE (Abu Dhabi & Dubai, n=1,200)  We will be surveying in these countries again in December 2003- January 2004 and in June 2004, adding Bahrain and Palestine to this list.  We have also conducted surveys in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Turkey.

7. Daily Use of Media for Information ─ Television Prevails Source: InterMedia Surveys, July 2003

8. Daily Use of TV ─ Age, Gender, Education Source: InterMedia Surveys, July 2003 Age

9. Daily Use of Radio ─ Age, Gender, Education Source: InterMedia Surveys, July 2003

10. Daily Use of Newspapers ─ Age, Gender, Education Source: InterMedia Surveys, July 2003

11. Household Access to Satellite TV ─ On the Rise Sources: InterMedia Surveys, July 2003; IBB Research, May 2002

12. Most Important Information Sources in Egypt Source: InterMedia Surveys, July 2003

13. Most Important Information Sources in Jordan Source: InterMedia Surveys, July 2003

14. Most Important Information Sources in the UAE Source: InterMedia Surveys, July 2003

15. Reliability of News on TV Stations in Egypt Source: InterMedia Surveys, July 2003

16. Reliability of News on TV Stations in Jordan

17. Reliability of News on TV Stations in UAE Source: InterMedia Surveys, July 2003

18. A Look at Jordan ─ Demographic Groups in this Market A complex and vibrant media market... An active UN presence with various constituents receiving services...

19. A Look at Jordan’s Market ─ Most Important Sources of Information, Urban & Rural Dwellers

20. A Look at Jordan’s Market ─ Most Important Sources of Information, Gender as a Factor

21. A Look at Jordan’s Market ─ Most Important Sources of Information, Age as a Factor

22. A Look at Jordan’s Market ─ Most Important Sources of Information, Education as a Factor

23. A Look at Jordan’s Market ─ Television Viewing Which television stations do you watch…? Most OftenFor EntertainmentFor News