The Early Days of Al Hurra

Al Hurra is the latest US public diplomacy effort, directed to the Middle East. The United States has suffered from negative perceptions of its image since September 11, especially among Arab and Muslim populations. Al Hurra was launched on the 14th of February, 2004, aiming to change this image in Arab countries, making Arabs and Muslims more acceptable of US policies in the region. This research analyzes the news agenda of Al Hurra during the first month of its airing. It also studies the Arab audiences' reactions towards the American channel and their dependency on it as a news source.