John is reporting on good press in the Arab media post-Iraq elections:

This New York Times article is a surprisingly positive one about both the Iraqi elections and the way in which Arab media covered them.

Of particular interest is the coverage of the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya network,

The daylong reporting of the election process, details on the personalities and almost step-by-step guides to the voting were a significant departure from what the Arab news media has produced in some time.

Perhaps the most ambitious effort came from Al Arabiya, which had eight satellite trucks broadcasting from across Iraq, as well as numerous video phone links from Mosul, Baquba, Ramadi and elsewhere, and live feeds from neighboring countries. To give particular emphasis to elections coverage, Al Arabiya also built a special studio for the event. Al Arabiya executives did not disclose the total outlay for the effort, but said it was significant.

???????We think this is a very important event, not just in Iraq but in the Arab world,??????? Mr. Hage said. ???????It????????s the first real democratic event in the whole region and it deserved the attention.??????? Giving the event such special attention, Mr. Hage said, would help build Al Arabiya????????s brand as a critical news source, if not expand its viewership.

Al-Arabiya is the second-favorite satellite TV channel in Saudi Arabia (after Al-Jazeera TV). It reaches millions of viewers and has an influence. Its positive coverage of the elections is sending a message; that message is being well-received.

If you think the messiness of Iraq is without positive consequence throughout the region, you????????re simply wrong. Read the article to see the direction Arab media went in its coverage of the elections. Very good piece.

Good to hear. Apparently they were much more positive than the German media.