Media Use in the Middle East: An Eight-Nation Survey

Media Use in the Middle East:An Eight-Nation Survey

Northwestern University in Qatar

Everette E. Dennis, Justin D. Martin & Robb WoodNorthwestern University in Qatar

2013

2

1.0

Introduction & Key Findings

ARAB MEDIA USAGE STUDY | APRIL 2013 3

• Many respondents see improvement news reporting in the Arab World over the past two years. A majority of adults in six of the eight countries surveyed agree that the quality of reporting has improved.

• Perceptions of news media credibility within individual countries vary widely. Saudi Arabia, Jordan and UAE are the most optimistic; Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia less so.

• Internet usage varies widely by country. Strongest usage in the Gulf countries – UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia; lowest usage in Egypt.

• Most respondents believe people should be able to express their opinions online, whatever those opinions may be. However…

• Majorities in Lebanon, KSA, Qatar and Tunisia would like to see tighter regulation of the Internet in their country. Those in Bahrain, Jordan and UAE have mixed opinions about regulation.

Key Findings


• Social networking is near universal among those online and no other site comes close to Facebook. Many also use Twitter and Google+ in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE, less so in other countries.

• Al Jazeera is the most popular information source for news and current events across the region. Mentions of Al Jazeera vary by country, but a portion of people in every country surveyed name it unaided as a top source for news.

• Respondents in Egypt are less connected. While TV usage is strong, respondents show low usage of other media sources.

• In most countries, TV trumps Internet as the most important source for news and current events. In Qatar, the Internet is a considerably more important source than TV.

• In Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon and UAE, respondents are more likely to access the Internet in English than Arabic.

Key Findings


Face-to-face survey conducted December 2012 - April 2013*

General population sample, 18 years and older

Methodology

TOTALResponse

Rate

QUOTAS

NationalArab Expat

Asian Expat Other

Bahrain 1250 83% 751 98 276 125Egypt 1252 92% 1252 - - -Jordan*** 1250 75% 1044 206 - -KSA 1252 81% 848 153 150 101Lebanon 1256 70% 1232 23 - 1Qatar** 919 54% 242 290 284 103Tunisia 1250 21% 1150 - - 100UAE 1264 70% 313 297 441 213TOTAL 9693 6832 1067 1151 643

Method

Audience

* Survey conducted via telephone in Qatar. **Number of interviews to date. The final sample size will be 1250.***197 respondents are Palestinian.

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Media Usage


Average Qatar Bahrain Egypt Jordan KSA Lebanon Tunisia UAE0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100% 9889

99 98 100 99 99 98 99

65

9082

22

46

82

58 60

91

6066

84

24

48

6151

7080

5463

87

25

37

59

34

50

80

32 34

68

310

3631

24

52

34

53

66

714

3529 30

40

Watch TV Use the internet Listen to radio Read newspapers Read magazines Read books

Highest internet penetration is in Gulf countries – UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and KSA – the countries with higher incomes, higher education levels and widest range of ethnic diversity. Highest usage of all media in Bahrain, lowest in Egypt.

Media Use

% Use Medium

BASE: ALL RESPONDENTSQ11. During a typical week, how many hours do you spend on the following activities not online? (Total minus ‘Do not spend time doing this activity/Don’t know/Refused’) Q14. Do you currently use the internet?

ARAB MEDIA USAGE STUDY | APRIL 2013

Languages Used to Access the Internet

8


20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

71

5263

96 98

7766

97

5154

7669

24 25 28

79

38

64

123 1 0 0 0

12

85

1

Arabic English French

BASE: INTERNET USERSQ21. Which languages do you use to access media?: Internet

Those in Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon and UAE are more likely to use the Internet in English than Arabic. In the other countries, at least one in four use the Internet in English. French is popular in Tunisia.

% Language Used

9

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Internet Usage


In most countries, Internet users tend to have wireless access. The greatest disparity between Internet usage and usage of wireless handheld devices is in Tunisia.

Use of Wireless Handheld Devices

Qatar Bahrain Egypt Jordan KSA Lebanon Tunisia UAE0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%90

82

22

46

82

58 60

91

79 78

7

32

69

53

26

75

Use Internet Use Wireless Handheld Devices

BASE: ALL RESPONDENTSQ14. Do you currently use the internet? Q26. Do you use the Internet through wireless handheld devices such as a mobile phone or tablet?

AVG: 65%

AVG: 52%


Smart phones and laptops are popular in most countries; tablets are less prevalent. Qatar reports the highest level of tablet usage.

Wireless Devices Used


20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

71 72

89

25

43

7467

37

82

6558

68

40

58

75

5244

82

2514

28

4754

7

34

52

182234 32

71

1610 6

32

Smart phone Laptop computer Other cell phone Tablet% Use Device

BASE: USE WIRELESS HANDHELD DEVICESQ28. Which wireless handheld device(s) do you use?

khill

with Qatar at 34 and Bahrain and UAE at 32, would prefer to say: Qatar, Bahrain and UAE report the highest level of tablet usage.


Qatar Bahrain Egypt Jordan KSA Lebanon Tunisia UAE0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

74

99

8694 96 98 94 95

Almost everyone online uses social networking sites. Usage of these sites is lowest in Qatar.

Use of Social Networking Sites

3.1 4.1 3.3 2.3 2.9 2.9 4.1 2.7 Hours Per DayAvg: 3.2

% Use Social Networking Sites

BASE: INTERNET USERSQ35. How much time in a typical day do you spend using social networking sites? (Total minus ‘Do not use social networking sites/Don’t know/Refused’)

AVG: 93%


Nearly everyone is on Facebook. More than half in Bahrain, KSA and UAE are also on Twitter and Google+. Fewer use Instagram or LinkedIn.

Social Networking Sites Used

BASE: USE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITESQ36. Which of the following social networking sites do you use?

Sites Used (%)


20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Facebook Twitter Google+ Instagram LinkedIn


Those in Gulf countries – Qatar, Bahrain, KSA and UAE – are more likely to complete transactions online. Fewer manage investments online.

Online Transactions

BASE: INTERNET USERSQ36A. Now I’d like you to think about different transactions people do in their everyday lives like banking or shopping. How frequently do you use the Internet for the following purposes?


20%

40%

60%

80%

Travel reservations/bookings Use bank's online servicesPay bills Buy things onlineInvest in stocks/bonds

% Do Activity at All(Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Less than Monthly)

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Media Importance & Perceived Reliability



20%

40%

60%

80%

100%84

58

84 8496 92 89

7787

6572

85

22

61

7869

51

82

5348

73

23

62 6557

28

72

4837

59

14

6256

49 4655

73

60

81

64

8472 69 68

79

TV Internet Newspapers Radio Interpersonal Sources

TV, Internet and interpersonal sources are most important for news and current events.

Importance of Medium for News & Current Events

BASE: ALL RESPONDENTSQ18. For news and current events, how important is each of the following to you as a source? Use the following scale: 1=Not important at all, 2=Not important, 3=Neutral/Undecided, 4=Important, 5=Very Important.

% Very Important/Important


The majority in UAE find all sources reliable. Those in Egypt and Tunisia are less likely to find the Internet, newspapers and radio reliable. Those in Tunisia also do not find TV reliable.

Perceived Reliability of Information by Medium

BASE: ALL RESPONDENTSQ20. How much of the information from the following sources do you feel is generally reliable? Use a scale of 1 to 5 where “1” means none of it is reliable and “5” means that all of it is reliable.


20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

70

5665

59

93 89

65

42

85

54 52

70

17

55

77

54

25

78

47 4956

17

65 61

41

13

74

4944

54

16

7363

4032

71

TV Internet Newspapers Radio% All or Most Are Reliable


Most respondents believe people should be able to express their opinions online, whatever those opinions may be.

Freedom of Expression on the Internet

BASE: ALL RESPONDENTSQ38.2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use a scale of 1 to 5 where “1” means strongly disagree and “5” means strongly agree. Remember that you can choose any number between 1 and 5.


20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

9 6 3

298 3 5 8 3

12 18 18

11

116

14 1210

19 16 16

12

24

15

20 2322

61 60 6348 57

7661 57 65

Strongly Agree/Agree Neither Agree nor DisagreeStrongly Disagree/Disagree Don't Know/Refused

It is okay for people to express their ideas on the Internet, even if they are unpopular (%)


Majorities in Lebanon, KSA, Qatar and Tunisia want tighter regulation of the Internet in their countries; those in Bahrain, Jordan and UAE have mixed opinions about regulation.

Regulation of the Internet

BASE: ALL RESPONDENTSQ38.8. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use a scale of 1 to 5 where “1” means strongly disagree and “5” means strongly agree. Remember that you can choose any number between 1 and 5.


20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

12 7 6

42

11 3 7 10 6

16 21 25

7

21

911

15 19

22 1625

926

26 1823

33

50 5744 42 42

62 6452

42


The Internet in my country should be more tightly regulated than it is now (%)

20

9.0

Perceptions of News Media


Those in Jordan and KSA mostly believe the quality of news reporting in the Arab World has improved over the past two years; those in Lebanon and Tunisia are less likely to agree.

Increase in Perceived Quality of News Reporting

BASE: ALL RESPONDENTSQ39A. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use a scale of 1 to 5 where “1” means strongly disagree and “5” means strongly agree. Remember that you can choose any number between 1 and 5.


20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

5 8 1 10 3 1 6 3 614 11

15

19

4 4

29 293

20 19 27

21

1711

21 21

22

61 62 56 50

76 84

44 4769


The Quality of News Reporting in the Arab World Has Improved Over the Past Two Years (%)



20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

4 6 2 5 4 1 4 1 4

22 16 18

33

7 8

40 44

7

2725 28

35

23 18

32 31

26

48 53 52

27

67 74

25 24

63


Those in Jordan , KSA and UAE mostly feel news media in their country are credible; Respondents in Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia find their news media far less credible.

Credibility of News Media

News Media in Your Country Are Credible (%)

BASE: ALL RESPONDENTSQ39B. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use a scale of 1 to 5 where “1” means strongly disagree and “5” means strongly agree. Remember that you can choose any number between 1 and 5.



20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

7065

80

67

8377

6656

6774 73

8175 78 80

7263 67

5358 54

32

59

78

49

37

55

43

5951

17

37

63

34 32

52

Local News National News Regional News International News

People are most interested in local and national news. Those in the Gulf countries – Qatar, Bahrain, KSA and UAE – favor regional and international more than respondents in the other countries.

Local vs. International News

% Follow Very Closely/Closely

BASE: ALL RESPONDENTSQ40. How closely would you say you follow each type of news and current events? 1=Not at all closely, 2=Somewhat closely, 3=Closely, 4=Very closely.

24

10.0

Top News Outlets


Top News OutletsBased on Top 3 Mentioned

BASE: ALL RESPONDENTSQ41. Please list your top three sources for news and current events (news organizations) and specify the type of media outlet that each source belongs to.

mosaique

MTV

Al Jadeed

JTV Satellite

Google

LBC

MBC

Facebook

Al Arabiya

AL Jazeera

5%

5%

6%

6%

6%

8%

8%

10%

16%

26%

Average of All Countries

Al Jazeera is the top news source in the region overall, but in varying level by country.

Qatar Bahrain Egypt Jordan Al Jazeera 38%Al Arabiya 12%BBC 6%The Times 5%AL Sharq 4%Google 4%Facebook 3%MBC 3%CNN 3%Al Rai 3%Geo news 3%

Google 26%Bangla News 21%Geography 19%Al Bahrain forum

12%Facebook 11%MBC 11%Al Watan 10%Al Wasseet 10%BBC 8%Twitter 8%Al Jazeera 4%

Al Hayat 23%Al Kanat Al Oula 23%CBC 21%Al Jazeera 20%Al Nahar 12%Al Fada'ia Al

Masria 10%Dream 10%Al Mihwar 9%Al Nile Lil Akhbar 8%Al Akhbar 4%

Al Jazeera 62%JTV Satellite 48%Al Arabiya 29%Al Haqiqah/

Al Dewaliah 26%Noor Al Ordon 23%MBC 10%Saraya 7%Jowssat 7%Al Rai 5%BBC 4%

KSA Lebanon Tunisia UAEAl Arabiya 46%Al Jazeera 41%MBC 21%Al Ikhbariah 10%Panorama 6%Al Riyadia 5%Al Sharq Al

Awsat 4%

mbc fm 4%BBC 4%Twitter 3%

LBC 55%Al Jadeed 44%MTV 38%OTV 13%Al Manar 11%Future TV 10%Al Jazeera 7%Al Nahar 5%assafir 3%Al Arabiya 3%

Facebook 52%shams fm 37%hanabel 33%jsc 30%al sareh 16%Sayidaty 14%nesma 12%rtci radio 9%Al Jazeera 9%Al Arabiya 9%

Al Jazeera 28%Gulf news 21%Al Arabiya 19%Google 17%MBC 11%Facebook 10% Al Khaleej 9%Al Itihad

Newspaper 8%

ZEE NEWS 8%Abu Dhabi 8%

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10.0

Drilling Down: Exploring Qatar Data with an Interactive Site

Media Use in the Middle East:An Eight-Nation Survey

Northwestern University in Qatar

24 April 2013


Internet and interpersonal sources are of particular importance for news and current events among those from outside the region. Newspapers and radio tend not to be used for entertainment.

Importance of Media Sources for News & Entertainment - Qatar Only

News & Current Events Entertainment

BASE: ALL QATAR RESPONDENTSQ18. For news and current events, how important is each of the following to you as a source? Q19. For entertainment, how important is each of the following to you as a source? Use the following scale: 1=Not important at all, 2=Not important, 3=Neutral/Undecided, 4=Important, 5=Very Important.

TV Internet Newspapers Radio Interpersonal Sources% Very Important/Important

QatariNationals

Arab/AsianExpats

OtherExpats

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

56 6149

6572

81

4349 51

39 3929

58 5869

QatariNationals

Arab/AsianExpats

OtherExpats

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

5462 6871 76 77

27 293832 35 38

74 7279


Qatari Nationals Arab/Asian Expats Other Expats0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%87 90 8986 91 92

68 665964 61

67

33 31

4649 5264

Watch TV Use the internet Listen to radio Read newspapers Read magazines Read books

Media usage is fairly similar across ethnic groups in Qatar.– More expats from outside the region read newspapers and books.

Use of Media Sources – Qatar Only

BASE: ALL QATAR RESPONDENTSQ11. During a typical week, how many hours do you spend on the following activities not online? (Total minus ‘Do not spend time doing this activity/Don’t know/Refused’) Q14. Do you currently use the internet?

% Use Media Source


While Qatari Nationals access all media in Arabic, about half also watch TV and access the Internet in English.

Languages Used to Access Media - Qatar Only

% Language Used

Qatari National

Arab/Asian

Other0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100% 97

56

7

45 51

91

TV Internet

BASE: QATAR RESPONDENTS WHO USE MEDIA SOURCEQ21. Which languages do you use to access media?

Qatari National

Arab/Asian

Other

92

48

2

56

79

100

Qatari National

Arab/Asian

Other

97

53

311

50

92

Newspaper

Arabic English


Internet usage is higher among men and those who are younger (<45), more educated and employed.

Who Is Online in Qatar?

BASE: ALL QATAR RESPONDENTSQ14. Do you currently use the internet?

MenWomen

18-2425-3435-44

45+

Primary or lowerIntermediate

SecondaryUniversity or higher

94%83%

94%93%92%

74%

67%61%

88%93%

Qatari NationalArab/Asian Expat

Other Expat

ArabicEnglish

Top 50%Bottom 50%

EmployedNot Employed

StudentNon-Student

86%91%92%

92%89%

89%93%

94%78%

92%90%

Gender

Age

IncomeEducation

Nationality

Language

Work

Student

Media Use in the Middle East: An Eight-Nation Survey

Documents

internet usage

country arab usage

tv usage

highest usage

low usage

strongest usage

media sources

saudi arabia lowest