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Impact of U.S. Government Funding Suspension on Independent Media in Lebanon

Widad Jarbouh

Beirut: Samir Kassir Foundation (2025), 9 pp.

"The January 23, 2025 suspension of U.S. government funding has placed Lebanon’s independent media outlets under significant strain. Although some organizations were unaffected, many face heightened financial uncertainty, reduced operational capacity, and the potential for layoffs. The Samir Kassi ... r Foundation conducted a survey of 18 outlets to assess the scope of this impact, examining factors such as organizational size, primary funding sources, financial losses, and the specific measures being taken to address budget shortfalls. Key Findings: Mixed impact: Of the 18 organizations surveyed, 6 reported no adverse effects, 8 indicated direct financial and operational challenges, and 4 did not respond. Funding sources: Government grants remain the most common revenue source; however, 4 outlets also rely on advertising, subscription fees, or other production-related streams. The overall decline in available grant opportunities has intensified competition for funding and increased uncertainty. Operational challenges: 7 outlets have scaled back content production and restructured operations (e.g., implementing remote work, reducing salaries or benefits). 4 outlets project potential layoffs, albeit affecting fewer than five employees each. Short-term needs: Participants identified employee salaries and essential operating costs as top priorities. Many emphasized the importance of pursuing new grants, forging partnerships, and exploring revenue-generating activities (e.g., marketing services or AI-based tools). Psychosocial support for employees and enhanced security measures also surfaced as pressing concerns. Conclusion: The abrupt funding cut, compounded by Lebanon’s broader economic and political turbulence, has left smaller outlets especially vulnerable, limiting their ability to diversify revenue and threatening their long-term viability. Without adequate replacement funding, the diversity of Lebanon’s media landscape could shrink, and politically affiliated outlets may gain greater influence. This underscores the need for alternative financial avenues and supportive frameworks to preserve the independent voices essential to media freedom in Lebanon." (https://www.skeyesmedia.org) more

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Public Opinion Perspectives on Governance and Civil Society Organizations in Lebanon

Mirna Ghanem

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2024), 47 pp.

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Perception and consumption of hate speech in the Lebanese media

Nidal Ayoub

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2024), 25 pp.

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Lebanon's Information Environment: Exploring Appropriate Responses

Mirna Ghanem

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation; National Endowment for Democracy (NED) (2023), 32 pp.

"The purpose of this study is twofold: to understand how the Lebanese public consumes news published on traditional and alternative media, with a focus on how they perceive and deal with disinformation campaigns and fake news, and to build a comprehensive view of the organizations and initiatives th ... more

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Journalists' Insurance Coverage in Lebanon

Nadine Moubarak

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 26 pp.

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Consultation on media viability in Lebanon

Beirut: Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD); Maharat Foundation; Samir Kassir Foundation; UNESCO (2023), 15 pp.

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Follow the Money: The Informal Channels of Lebanese Media Funding

Goergia Dagher, Sami Zoughaib, Sami Atallah

Beirut: Samir Kassir Foundation; Policy Initiative (2023), 42 pp.

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Discord or Dialogue: Religious Authorities on Twitter in Iraq, Lebanon, and Sudan

Jad Safwan

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 33 pp.

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Media Coverage of Religious Diversity and Freedoms: Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan

Jaber Baker

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 19 pp.

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Mis- and Disinformation: Media Perception and Consumption of Fake News in Lebanon

Nidal Ayoub

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 20 pp.

"Participants in the study take a snapshot of a variety of news channels and social media platforms to get their news, evaluating their truthfulness and attempting to “figure out the truth.” Across different focus groups, there is a shared lack of trust in news channels, and no media outlet is p ... more

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Lebanon’s Presidential Candidates in the Social Media Debate: No Place for Policy

Karim Safieddine, Jad Safwan, Jad Hani

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 22 pp.

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Human Rights and Freedom of Expression: Identifying Allies and Opponents

Nadine Moubarak

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 60 pp.

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Navigating Freedom: Making Sense of Lebanon's Digital Discourse on Free Expression

Jad Safwan

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 13 pp.

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Hate Speech in Lebanon: The Shortcomings and Responsibilities of Social Media Platforms

Afef Abrougui, Mirna Ghanem, Farah Rasmi

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 49 pp.

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730 Days of Hate: Two-Year Monitoring of Hate Speech in the Lebanese Media and Social Media 2020-2022

Widad Jarbouh, Jad Safwan, Jad Hani

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 45 pp.

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Photojournalists’ Social and Economic Rights in Lebanon

Nadine Moubarak

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 58 pp.

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WhatsApp 360: A Look into the WhatsApp News Ecosystem in Lebanon Focusing on Misinformation and Hate Speech

Ralph Baydoun et al.

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 39 pp.

"1. Expansive reach and influence of WhatsApp groups: The study findings indicate that WhatsApp groups have a remarkably wide reach, potentially connecting with three quarters of WhatsApp users in Lebanon. These groups are part of larger networks, which enhances the dissemination of content. Moreove ... more

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Review of the Funding Landscape for Media Development Actors in Lebanon

Michael Randall

Brussels: Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD); Samir Kassir Foundation; International Media Support (IMS) (2022), 27 pp.

"[...] there has been a growing recognition that traditional approaches to media development are struggling to deliver the anticipated results. This acknowledgement has led some donors to conduct far-ranging needs assessments in order to better understand the priorities of their beneficiaries as wel ... l as the environmental constraints that have blunted the impact of media development initiatives in the past. At the same time, the recipients of donor funding are increasingly asking to have a say in determining the kind of support that is provided by the international community. They say that programmes should be driven by demand rather than by donor assumptions or thematic priorities that do not fully reflect the situation on the ground. The calls for proposals reviewed during this study suggest that donors are responding to these concerns. There is clear evidence of concerted efforts to make funding more accessible to local organisations and to move the centre of gravity away from international partners. Although some programmes remain out of the reach of local players due to the size of their budgets or their regional scope, they often include very significant sub-granting programmes aimed at helping local media to become viable businesses and at supporting the production of public interest content. The themes embraced by the calls also reflect the urgent need within the media sector to build resilience to economic shocks, political bullying and disinformation campaigns. There is a marked insistence on promoting usable skills such as factchecking and mobile journalism, accompanied by provisions for ensuring that training is delivered by “media professionals as opposed to professional trainers with minimal or no experience in the media industry”. These are positive developments which, to a large extent, have been driven by sustained dialogue between stakeholders and far-ranging needs assessments. Of particular note in Lebanon is the unprecedented success of the Media Recovery Fund, initiated by the Samir Kassir Foundation, which marks a dramatic shift in the implementer-donor relationship. There is a strong possibility that this approach could form the focus of future coordination efforts and could, in time, serve as the cornerstone for a national media development strategy. It could also become a blueprint for other countries in the region." (Executive summary) more

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Free Speech: The Crumbling Infrastructure. SKF Annual Report 2021

Beirut: Samir Kassir Foundation (2022), 34 pp.

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Youth and Independent Media in Palestine: Focus Group Findings

Jad Safwan

Beirut: Samir Kassir Foundation (2022), 8 pp.

"1. Social media is a key resource for news. A primary factor is its friendly user interface. It also acts as a “one-stop-shop” where users can shape the types of media they consume. This forms a stark contrast with offline media, which made little notable presence for attendees across all group ... more