Media

With 10 privately owned daily papers in three languages and more than 1,500 weekly and monthly periodicals, Lebanon accounts for about half of the periodicals produced in the Middle East region. In addition, there are nine television stations and about 40 radio stations. Despite this diversity, over 84% of the covered media outlets are politically affiliated. Of them, 27% are directly affiliated to political parties; 5% are affiliated directly with the state, and around 60% to individuals who have been involved in politics or aspire to become politicians. Moreover, around 32% of the most popular media outlets surveyed is in the hands of at least eight of Lebanon’s most prominent families.