The role of the media in shaping American perceptions of Arabs is explored in interviews conducted by Dr. Ghareeb with prominent journalists and in essays written by media specialists. This book is an important contribution to the ongoing discussion of how the media influence U.S. policy in the Middle East.

Includes bibliographical references.

Part I : 1975-77 -- Imbalance in the American media / Edmund Ghareeb -- Bias on American editorial pages / Hrold A. Piety -- A survey of political cartoons dealing with the Middle East / George H. Damon, Jr., with the assistance of Laurence D. Michalak -- Part II : 1979-82 -- A renewed look at American coverage of the Arabs : towards a better understanding? / Edmund Ghareeb -- In the middle of the Middle East : the media and U.S. foreign policy / Patricia A. Karl -- Media myths of the Middle East : the U.S. press on the war in Lebanon / Mary C. McDavid -- Images of the Middle East in contemporary fiction / Janice Terry -- The image of the Arab on American television / Jack G. Shaheen -- The effect of American perceptions of Arabs on Middle East issues / Michael W. Suleiman -- Arab stereotyping in contemporary American political cartoons / G. Neal Lendenmann -- The American image in the Arab mass media / Adnan Abu Odeh -- Image formation and textbooks / Ayad Al-Qazzaz -- The treatment of Arabs in U.S. social studies textbooks / Samir Ahmad Jarrar -- Canadian mass media and the Middle East / Christopher Naylor.