By Thalia Kattoura | Staff Writer
Following the October 17th revolution, the Lebanese media has been at the forefront of political discourse, becoming part of the opposition and posing itself as the resistance. As the protests gained momentum, they co-opted the movement by claiming to support its demands and adopting the thawra’s slogans, sayings, and symbols.
However, recent concerns have risen regarding the Lebanese media’s contribution to “thawra-washing” (which is inspired by the term “pink-washing”). Similar to the idea of pink-washing, thawra-washing refers to the practice of co-opting or exploiting the symbols, slogans, and demands of a popular protest or revolution for political gain or personal interest.
Many activists and protesters have denounced thawra-washing as a cynical effort to sabotage a popular movement for one’s benefit. They contend that rather than merely vocalizing their support, real change can only be brought about by tackling the underlying issues that led to the protests in the first place through accountability and diligence.
Marcel Ghanem, a well-known Lebanese journalist and talk show host of “الوقت صار“, has been accused of contributing to the problem of thawra-washing in Lebanon through his coverage of the 2019 protests and his broader role in the country’s media landscape.
One of the main criticisms of Ghanem is that he has given a voice to politicians and other individuals who are widely regarded as part of the corrupt political system that the demonstrations were meant to challenge. He has been accused of legitimizing their viewpoints by inviting them to appear on his talk show and allowing them to portray themselves as advocates for change.
Furthermore, Ghanem has been accused of framing the series of activist movements in the nation in a way that minimizes their potential for a drastic change of the current status quo. For instance, in one of his recent episodes, he expressed hostility towards one of the school teachers for discussing the roots of their strike. Despite his outspoken advocacy for the people’s demands, he has shut down the rising concerns of the Lebanese academic sector and what that would imply for teachers and students.
Marcel Ghanem’s show had become one of the pillars of the Lebanese revolution, becoming the voice of the people all across the country. However, his demonstration of actions that are inconsistent with public demand has significantly reduced his credibility with the broader audience.
Essentially, thawra-washing is viewed as a symptom of a larger issue in Lebanon, namely entrenched power structures and corruption, both of which the mainstream Lebanese media is accused of reinforcing instead of dismantling.