Following is the translation of an article about Arab Media Watch by Hussam el Din Mohammad, published in Al Quds Al Arabi newspaper on 24 October 2008:

Muna and Sharif Nashashibi: "Merely complaining about media bias can never effect change."

"Foreign journalists are not innately biased by instinct."

Without exaggeration, establishing Arab Media Watch can be viewed as a turning point in relations between Arabs and British media outlets.

This organization, which started with an idea of a passionate young MA-holder in International Journalism, has evolved with time into an important media edifice that makes its presence felt and is impossible to ignore by other media institutions.

If dialogue with Muna and Sharif Nashashibi can describe the story of their achievement, it certainly falls short of describing the volume of its parameters. This stays beyond readers' imaginations until they go through the contents of AMW's website. Only then can they really fathom the mammoth amount of work that goes on.

Starting with factsheets on the political and economic backgrounds of each Arab country; to information about Arab embassies and who to contact; to media institutions, who owns them or presides over them, who to approach and what is the best method to do so; to action alerts, news and analyses; to listings of TV and radio programmes that would interest Arabs or those interested in Arab affairs; to special discounts on important books; and the constant liaising and cooperation with the British media to facilitate their work. On top of that, AMW has been organizing important cultural events, the last of which was with Jordanian sculptor Mona Saudi.

This is a great, huge effort which bears witness to an excellent ability to organize and synchronize with many different parties. It also depicts the strong leadership of a group which, though small in number, is very powerful in its ultimate effectiveness and importance.

Sharif started AMW in 2000 while studying for an MA in International Journalism. He had studied how the British media covered the Arab world, and upon graduation wanted to work for an organization or an Arab lobby group that monitored the media, but found none. So he started AMW, and only through monitoring the British media did he discover the depth of bias and the negative way it deals with Arabs and their causes. Since the media is the most important medium for spreading news among people, bias and negativity has a very dangerous role to play. AMW started as a hobby. However, owing to the amount of work, Sharif had to quite his job and pour all his efforts into this project.

Sharif explained that it enjoys a very respectable acknowledgement and important presence within the British media, and its work has achieved excellent results. He said many people were sceptical of his work because they believed the bias to be too great to shift or change, so they just sit back and watch, refusing to do anything about it

Sharif said he found out that journalists welcome people who show interest in what they write. He is keen to present his point of view based on professionalism, with proper data and thorough research. He requests AMW members to approach the media in a professional, polite way. AMW interacts with Western journalists by liaising with and interviewing them. It also draws their attention to any errors that need correcting in their articles. Western journalists have acquired the habit of seeking AMW's assistance on any issue that concerns the Arab world. Sharif explained that many journalists are simply not well informed about Arab issues. He strongly believes that it is his duty to make this knowledge available to them. He emphatically declares that journalists are not bad by instinct, and that they do not hate Arabs by nature.

Muna confirms that AMW is keen to supply journalists with any assistance possible. During the 2006 war in Lebanon, AMW arranged for a journalist with one of the largest British newspapers to visit the country, and supplied him with a driver and interpreter. It does the same for journalists visiting Palestine, and facilitates their interaction with people who assist them in carrying on their missions, which inevitably leads to mutual respect and greater understanding.

Very well known journalists attend AMW's annual fundraising dinners, and participate as speakers and award-receivers. Requests for assistance are frequent and immediately addressed. Sharif declared that not every person is an enemy of the Arabs, even within newspapers that are perceived as negative towards Arab issues.

Muna elaborated on the statistics, media reports and factsheets that are prepared, and commented that when H.E. the Syrian Ambassador Dr Sami Khiyami tried to find an English document on the Golan Heights, AMW was the only organization with a detailed, comprehensive document.

Both Nashashibis said AMW enjoys good relations with Arab non-governmental organizations in Britain, and support and publicize their activities, a trait that is, regrettably, not always reciprocated, owing to a closed mentality and competitive fears.

AMW enjoys the confidence of all its supporters, and has excellent relations with all the Arab Embassies and Arab media institutions and journalists in Britain.