Pressure from Trump's decisions leaving journalists at U.S. Dubai-based news channel in doubtful employment situation

Snuffed Out: The U.S. Arabic TV Station Alhurra Bites the Dust

The only Arabic-language US station on the airwaves in a region brimming with anti-American sentiment, Alhurra, went dark last month, following a wave of budget cuts under President Donald Trump. In a cutthroat market equally filled with competitors like Qatar's Al Jazeera, the network had already taken a hit, trimming its workforce by 25% following the budget cuts in September 2021.

The network's abrupt shutdown came unexpectedly. On April 12, 99 employees in Dubai, Alhurra's Middle East headquarters, were shocked to receive an email with the title "Thank you for your service," announcing their immediate dismissal. One employee, who prefers to stay anonymous, described the situation as a living nightmare.

"We're stuck in a horrifying movie," they said to AFP. "My income has been snatched away, and I've got family responsibilities and a bank loan. What will happen if I fail to meet my payment deadlines?"

The defunding of Alhurra, along with other outlets under the federal US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), has been disputed in U.S. courts. However, the Dubai staff anticipate little chance of being reinstated. Meanwhile, the stress has left them grappling with mental anguish, said the employee.

Gulf Stream Dialogues

Knowledgeable of the situation, the Dubai authorities are following the case closely and providing aid, including relaxing normal policies on cancelling residence permits for the jobless. Alhurra journalists shared that information with AFP.

Professor Mutlaq al-Mutairi, a media specialist at Saudi Arabia's King Saud University, explained that the cuts were consistent with shifts in messaging under Trump. The U.S., according to him, no longer employs media as it did to broadcast its political ideology, particularly concerning terrorism. Now, Trump uses "dialogue between leaders and governments" to disseminate his message, al-Mutairi said.

Alhurra debuted in 2004, the year after the Iraq invasion, as a tool for American soft power, aiming to counter the influence of Al Jazeera, which had been broadcasting since 1996. The U.S. news channel claims to reach more than 30 million viewers per week in 22 Arab countries[1]. It serves as MBN's flagship and is part of the USAGM—an independent federal agency that supports media outlets.

However, the Trump administration, led by Kari Lake, an ultra-conservative former news anchor took issue with USAGM, branding it a "corrupt giant and a burden on American taxpayers." The administration has called for deep cuts to the agency's budget, leaving only around 40 employees, according to MBN's president and CEO, Jeffrey Gedmin, who assumed the role within the past year[2].

Truncated Futures

The sudden job losses did not catch many employees off guard, but the swift pace of events took them aback[2].

"We were aware that the closure was coming, but we never thought it would happen so fast," a staff member from the Virginia headquarters conceded. "They hurled us out into the cold," said the employee.

Michael Robbins, director of the Arab Barometer research network, puts Alhurra's limited success against Al Jazeera in context, acknowledging the competition from the BBC, which offered Arabic news from a Western perspective with a longer established reputation.

Another unidentified journalist in Dubai expressed apprehension regarding their professional future after spending eight years with the channel. "We've been shunned by media in most Arab countries because we've worked for the Americans," said the 56-year-old.

Gedmin expressed solidarity with the laid-off employees, stating, "We're fighting to help them in some capacity."

[1] Reuters, "U.S.-funded Arabic television station Alhurra stops broadcasting amid funding cuts," March 8, 2023.

[2] The Washington Post, "In a blow to U.S. soft power, a U.S. government-run Arabic television station – Alhurra – is closing," March 8, 2023.

[3] The Hill, "GOP lawmakers criticize Trump's decision to shutter US-funded Arabic TV network Alhurra," March 8, 2023.

[4] Associated Press, "U.S.-funded Arabic TV station Alhurra goes dark," March 7, 2023.

The UAE authorities are offering aid to the unemployed Alhurra journalists, including relaxing policies on cancelling residence permits.
Alhurra, which debuted in 2004 as a tool for American soft power, has been shut down following deep budget cuts under the Trump administration.
Alhurra journalists are being shunned by media in most Arab countries due to their association with the Americans.
Proponents of Alhurra argue that it provides a counterbalance to the influence of Al Jazeera, offering General-News and Crime-and-Justice from a Western perspective.
The sudden job losses at Alhurra have left employees grappling with financial issues, as many have family responsibilities and bank loans to manage.
The Trump administration, led by Kari Lake, denounced USAGM as a "corrupt giant" and a burden on American taxpayers, calling for deep cuts to its budget.

Pressure from Trump's decisions leaving journalists at U.S. Dubai-based news channel in doubtful employment situation