More a polished magazine on a single theme than an actual documentary, "Rise and Influence of Arab Media" deftly and comprehensively looks at how competing interests are vying for the Arab eye with varying degrees of success. This program's strength is its balance, timeliness, excellent technical quality and (almost too slick) professionalism.

However despite a careful journalistic approach, this program's only real flaw is its total reliance on production by Western journalists. While great care was taken to include every conceivable Middle Eastern interviewee, it seems remiss to not have a report from an Arab journalist. As this program shows, there are many capable journalists frrom and working in the Middle East. A potential Arab audience would surely miss this.

Nevertheless, PDs pay attention. This is a solid piece of quality journalism on a hot button issue that is recommended listening and licensing.