{{short description|Palestinian wire service}} {{Infobox company | name = Ma'an News Agency (MNA) | logo = Ma'an Logo.jpg | hq_location_country = [[Palestinian territories]] | founded = 2005 | founder = Raed Othman | website = [http://www.maannews.net/eng/Default.aspx www.maannews.net] }} '''Ma'an News Agency''' ('''MNA'''; {{langx|ar|وكالة معا الإخبارية}}) is a large wire service created in 2005 in the [[Palestinian territories]].<ref name="MaanNewsAboutUs">{{cite web |url=http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewContent.aspx?PAGE=AboutUs |title=About us |publisher=Ma'an News Agency |access-date=26 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726064643/http://www.maannews.net/Eng/ViewContent.aspx?PAGE=AboutUs |archive-date=26 July 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>[http://isper.escwa.un.org/Portals/0/National%20Profiles/2009/English/Palestine-09-E.pdf National Profile of the Information Society In Palestine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227080221/http://isper.escwa.un.org/Portals/0/National%20Profiles/2009/English/Palestine-09-E.pdf |date=2013-12-27 }}, [[United Nations]], New York, 2009, p. 13.</ref> It is part of the Ma'an Network, a [[non-governmental organization]] media network created in 2002<ref name="MaanNewsAboutUs" /> in the Palestinian territories among independent journalists throughout the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]]. It has partnerships with eight local television stations and twelve local radio stations. Ma'an News Agency publishes news 24 hours a day in [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[English language|English]], and claims to be one of the largest wire services in the Palestinian territories, with over three million visits per month.<ref name="MaanNewsAboutUs" /> Ma'an News Agency also publishes feature stories, analysis and opinion articles. The agency's headquarters are based in [[Bethlehem]] and it has an office in [[Gaza City|Gaza]].
== History == The Ma'an Network was launched in 2002 as a partnership between Bethlehem TV and local Palestinian media organizations. The name ''Ma'an'' is the Arabic word for "together". The group is run by Raed Othman, the former manager of Bethlehem TV. Ma'an has produced three [[soap opera]]s (one of which, ''Mazih fi Jad'' (''Joking Seriously''), was described as the first television drama series produced in the [[Palestinian territories]]), numerous news and public affairs programs and the [[television film]] ''Kafah''. Ma'an's programs are broadcast by ten independent [[terrestrial television]] stations in the [[West Bank]] and occasionally by the [[Fatah]]-run [[Palestine TV]] satellite broadcaster.<ref name=Hard>{{cite journal |last1=Sienkiewicz|first1= Matt|year=2010|title=Hard Questions: Public Goods and the Political Economy of the New Palestinian Televisual Public Sphere|journal=The Velvet Light Trap|volume= 66|issue=66|pages=3–14|publisher=University of Texas Press |doi=10.1353/vlt.2010.0004|s2cid= 145159543}}</ref><ref name=Kafah>{{cite journal|doi=10.1163/187398610X538696|title=Kafah and the Non-Profit Globalization of Palestinian Media|last1=Sienkiewicz|first1=Matt|year=2010|volume=3|number=3|pages=352–374|publisher=BRILL|journal=Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication}}</ref>
The Ma'an News Agency was launched in 2005 with funding from the [[Denmark|Danish]] and [[Netherlands|Dutch]] Representative Offices to the [[Palestinian National Authority]].<ref name="MaanNewsAboutUs" /> The news agency is the most visible component of the Ma'an Network.<ref name=Kafah />
== Attacks from Israel == Ma'an's offices in Gaza were severely damaged in the [[Gaza war]] by the Israeli bombing of the Al-Watan tower in Gaza City on 8 October 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Photos: Israeli strikes flatten buildings, mosques in Gaza |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/10/8/israeli-strikes-flatten-buildings-mosques-in-gaza |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Journalists speak to the challenges of covering the Israel-Hamas war |url=https://ijnet.org/en/story/journalists-speak-challenges-covering-israel-hamas-war |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=International Journalists' Network |language=en}}</ref>
A photographer from the agency, Abdel Nasser al-Laham, was arrested by Israeli forces on 16 October 2023, and was held without charge in the military's [[Ofer Prison]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abdel Nasser Al-Laham |url=https://cpj.org/data/people/abdel-nasser-al-laham-2/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Committee to Protect Journalists |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Independence == Ma'an News Agency says that it "scrupulously maintains its editorial independence and aims to promote [[access to information]], [[Freedom of speech|freedom of expression]], press freedom, and media pluralism in Palestine."<ref name="MaanNewsAboutUs" /> In an interview with media scholar Matt Sienkiewicz, former Ma'an [[Chief financial officer]] Wisam Kutom stated that he told potential Ma'an funders that: "Palestinian television is factional television right now we [Palestinians] cannot tell the stories we want to, only the stories the factions will let us. There is no independent television".<ref name=Kafah />
== Funding == Funding for Ma'an Network comes from advertising revenue and from foreign donors.<ref name="MaanNewsAboutUs" /><ref name=Hard /><ref name=Kafah />
== Hamas pressure == In July 2007, at the time the [[Governance of the Gaza Strip|de facto Gaza Strip government]], MNA alleged that MNA's chief editor had received "direct threats" from [[Hamas]] to carry out a "defamation campaign" against MNA, and to cease its criticism of "the Hamas movement".<ref name="chief_editor_threatened">{{cite news |title=Hamas spokesperson threatens Ma'an News Agency |date=7 July 2007 |publisher=Ma'an News Agency |url=http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=23728 |access-date=30 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427011412/http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=23728 |archive-date=27 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In July 2013, Hamas closed the Gaza City bureaus of Ma'an and [[Al-Arabiya]] after the outlets reported that Hamas was sheltering Muslim Brotherhood figures who had fled Egypt. Hamas officials also questioned Ma’an News bureau chief Emad Eid for several hours on 30 July. According to Ma’an News director-general Raed Othman, Hamas objected to Ma'an using sources from Israeli media. The bureau reopened in November.<ref name="RWB">{{cite news |title=Palestinian news agency allowed to reopen Gaza City bureau |url=https://rsf.org/en/palestinian-news-agency-allowed-reopen-gaza-city-bureau |access-date=3 October 2023 |publisher=[[Reporters without Borders]] |date=2013-11-18}}</ref>
== Reach == Ma'an News Agency describes itself as "the main source of independent news from Palestine" and "the premier source of independent Palestinian news on the internet".<ref name="MaanNewsAboutUs" /> According to a 2007 survey, 95.6% of Palestinians with internet access "frequently visit" the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missionramallah.um.dk/en/servicemenu/News/PalestinianMaanNewsAmong1000MostPopular.htm |title=Palestinian Ma'an News among 1000 most popular |publisher=Representative Office of Denmark, Ramallah |date=19 October 2007 |access-date=26 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115221338/http://www.missionramallah.um.dk/en/servicemenu/News/PalestinianMaanNewsAmong1000MostPopular.htm |archive-date=November 15, 2007 }}</ref> As of December 2013, Ma'an News receives the fourth most site visitors in the Palestinian territories.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/PS |title=Top Sites in Ps |publisher=[[Alexa Internet]] |access-date=26 December 2013 |archive-date=11 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811025652/http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/Ps |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Reality TV == In 2013, Ma'an TV (Ma'an Network's satellite channel) broadcast the hit reality show ''[[The President (Palestinian TV series)|The President]]'' in collaboration with [[Search for Common Ground]]. Described as "a cross between ''[[American Idol]]'' and ''[[The Apprentice (franchise)|The Apprentice]]''", audience members would vote through SMS to elect the show's young contestants who competed in mock press conferences, political campaigns, and debates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfcg.org/programmes/jerusalem |title=Strengthening Palestinian Citizen Participation and Democracy: The President |work=Jerusalem | publisher=Search for Common Ground |access-date=4 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140304220827/http://www.sfcg.org/programmes/jerusalem/ |archive-date=4 March 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/palestinians-chose-new-president-reality-tv |title=Palestinians chose a new president _ on reality TV | publisher = Associated Press |first1=Mohammed |last1=Daraghmeh |date=May 10, 2013 | access-date=4 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625192423/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/palestinians-chose-new-president-reality-tv |archive-date= Jun 25, 2013 }}</ref>
== Reliability == [[Palestinian Media Watch]] (PMW), a right-wing NGO that claims to reveal bias in Palestinian media,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eye |first=The Seventh |date=2013-09-15 |title=Judge dismisses credibility of Palestinian Media Watch testimony |url=https://www.972mag.com/judge-dismisses-credibility-of-palestinian-media-watch-testimony/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=+972 Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel Outsources Monitoring of Palestinian Media After IDF Lapse |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2012-01-31/ty-article/officials-israel-outsources-monitoring-of-palestinian-media-after-idf-lapse/0000017f-f6fe-d887-a7ff-fefeb7c00000 |last1=Ravid |first1=Barak }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Winstanley |first=Asa |date=2013-09-13 |title=Palestinian Media Watch's "biased" director no expert, rules Israeli court |url=https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/palestinian-media-watchs-biased-director-no-expert-rules-israeli-court |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=The Electronic Intifada |language=en}}</ref>{{bsn|date=January 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-17 |title=The Workings of the Palestinian Propaganda Machine |url=https://www.commentary.org/articles/ruthie-blum/shireen-abu-akleh-palestinian-propaganda/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Commentary Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop the rhetoric and let's start talking now |work=The Hill |date=11 May 2010 |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/69317-stop-the-rhetoric-and-lets-start-talking-now/ |last1=Ashrawi |first1=Hanan }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Caplan-Bricker |first=Nora |date=2010-09-02 |title=Palestinian representative calls Yale conference 'anti-Arab' |url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2010/09/02/palestinian-representative-calls-yale-conference-anti-arab/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Yale Daily News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Salama |first=Vivian |date=2006-06-01 |title=Hamas TV: Palestinian Media in Transition |url=https://www.arabmediasociety.com/hamas-tv-palestinian-media-in-transition/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Arab Media & Society |language=en-US}}</ref> criticized Ma'an for "sanitizing" its English-language reporting while publishing in Arabic reports that "include the hate ideology espoused by the terror organizations that deny Israel's right to exist [and] express reverence for suicide terrorists."<ref name="radical">{{cite web |date=March 13, 2007 |title=The Maan Network: Promoting Understanding or a Radical Palestinian Agenda? |url=http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/the_ma_an_network_promoting_understanding_or_a_radical_palestinian_agenda_ |access-date=25 November 2014 |website=NGO Monitor}}</ref>
According to ''[[The New York Times]]'' during the spate of Palestinian stabbing attacks against Israelis in 2015, Ma'an inaccurately reported that a young knife attacker had been "murdered" by Israeli police, (he was wounded and taken for treatment at [[Hadassah Hospital]]), "In a video report accusing Israel of faking evidence of other knife attacks, a reporter for the Palestinian news agency Ma'an described the clip as evidence of "murder" and claimed in her narration that the video showed the boy lying on the ground when "an Israeli occupation soldier shoots him in the head," which it does not."<ref name=Kershner>{{cite news|last1=Kershner|first1=Isabel |first2=Robert |last2=Mackey |title=Conflicting Accounts of Jerusalem Strife Surround a Wounded Arab Boy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/16/world/middleeast/conflicting-accounts-of-jerusalem-strife-surround-a-wounded-arab-boy.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=18 October 2015|work=New York Times|date=15 October 2015}}</ref>
== See also == * [[Wafa]] * [[Palestinian Information Center]]
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.maannews.net/eng/Default.aspx Ma'an News Agency] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090116143720/http://maannews.net/arb/Default.aspx Ma'an News Agency] {{in lang|ar}} {{Palestinian media}}{{Palestine topics}} [[Category:News agencies based in Palestine]] [[Category:Mass media in Bethlehem]] [[Category:Arabic-language websites]] [[Category:English-language websites]] [[Category:Multilingual websites]] [[Category:Palestinian news websites]] [[Category:2005 establishments in Palestine]] [[Category:Internet properties established in 2005]]