Conference in Istanbul examines international media narratives towards Yemen and presents new visions

On Thursday and at the university, the Mokha Center for Strategic Studies organized the conference “Yemen in International Media Policies and Narratives” in the Turkish capital, Istanbul.

The conference aims, according to its organizers, to shed light on the complexities surrounding the Yemeni issue and to reformulate international media narratives in a way that accurately reflects reality and highlights the multiple dimensions of the crisis.

In his opening speech, the head of the Mokha Center, Atiq Jarallah, stressed the importance of building a Yemeni state capable of protecting people and sovereignty, warning of the continued decline in international interest in Yemen due to other global conflicts.

For his part, the Yemeni ambassador to Türkiye, Mohammed Saleh Tariq, called for outcomes that would enhance the efforts of the legitimate government and clarify Yemen's position in the international arena.

The first day’s sessions included extensive media analysis, with researcher Gunter Arth highlighting British, American, Chinese and Russian media coverage of Yemen, noting the impact of these narratives on the humanitarian situation. Italian journalist Simona Fernandez pointed to the importance of relying on diverse sources to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.

French journalist Muller stressed that media coverage reduces the Yemeni conflict to a Saudi-Iranian conflict, calling for facilitating the entry of foreign journalists into Yemen to improve coverage.

Prominent Yemeni journalist Anwar Al-Ansi also stressed the need for journalists to be neutral and objective, pointing to the challenges of funding and independence facing Arab media.

In an intervention on the American strategy in Yemen, former officer Hisham Al-Maqdashi explained that Yemen has become a lesser priority for Washington in light of other conflicts in the region, pointing out that the Houthis are exploiting the escalation in Gaza to re-shed light on the Yemeni crisis.

In a session on social media, researcher Roaa Dakhil Allah stressed the importance of breaking the monopoly of traditional media through direct communication with the international community, calling for highlighting cultural diversity and Yemeni cultural heritage.

The conference concluded with an emphasis on the need to build an influential Yemeni narrative in the Western media, and to prepare media reports that reflect reality in a balanced manner, far from the stereotypical image.

Participants also called for enhancing cooperation between Yemeni and international media professionals to create professional media coverage that enhances stability and development in Yemen.

The two-day conference is an important step towards presenting a new media vision for the Yemeni issue that is in line with current challenges.