Journalists at Trump-Cut US Channel in Dubai Face Uncertain Future

Sara, a Dubai-based journalist, joined the US-funded Alhurra TV news channel hoping for job security. But after it abruptly stopped broadcasting and fired most staff, she's wondering how to make ends meet.

Last month, Alhurra, the sole Arabic-speaking U.S. channel in an area where hostility toward America frequently occurs, ceased broadcasting due to extensive budget reductions implemented during President Donald Trump’s tenure.

The station, which has found it difficult to compete in a saturated market alongside networks such as Qatar's Al Jazeera, had previously laid off 25 percent of its staff following budget reductions in September.

This situation is at odds with Trump, a consistent critic of conventional media outlets, as he plans to tour the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf monarchies later this month.

However, Alhurra’s abrupt shutdown was unexpected. On April 12, all 99 staff members based at its regional hub in Dubai were informed via an email named “Thank You for Your Service,” which notified them of their instant termination.

Sara requested to be referred to by a false name so she could discuss the matter openly. She mentioned that her current struggle involves securing the end-of-service benefits required under UAE law.

She said to AFP, 'We are living through a nightmare.'

I lost my source of income unexpectedly, and now I face family responsibilities along with a bank loan. What occurs if I am unable to make the payments?

The move to cut funding for Alhurra, alongside other entities like Voice of America and Radio Free Asia which fall under the federal U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), is currently facing legal challenges in U.S. courts.

But the Dubai staff hold out little hope of being reinstated. Meanwhile, the stress has "driven us into psychological ruin", said Sara, who is in her thirties.

'Dialogue between leaders'

The Dubai government is closely following up on this situation and offering support, even opting not to swiftly revoke residency permits as they typically would for individuals who have lost their jobs, according to information provided by Alhurra reporters to AFP.

As stated by Mutlaq al-Mutairi, a media analyst from Saudi Arabia’s King Saud University, these reductions align with changes in communication strategies introduced during the Trump administration.

The United States no longer uses media as "they used to do in the past to communicate their political vision, especially on the question of terrorism", Mutairi said.

Instead, Trump now directly "relies on dialogue between leaders and governments" to get his message across, he told AFP.

Washington established Alhurra in 2004, the year after the invasion of Iraq, as a soft power tool to counterbalance the influence of Al Jazeera, which had been broadcasting since 1996.

The American news network asserts a viewership of over 30 million individuals across 22 Arab nations each week.

It serves as the main platform for Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), which is operated under the auspices of USAGM — an independent federal body responsible for funding various media organizations.

However, the Trump administration -- which placed USAGM under the leadership of Kari Lake, an ultra-conservative former TV news anchor -- condemned it as a "corrupt giant and a burden on American taxpayers".

In fiscal year 2023, USAGM employed 3,384 individuals and has sought $950 million in funding for the present fiscal year.

'Kill strategy'

Jeffrey Gedmin, who has been the president and CEO of MBN for slightly more than a year, mentioned that the firm’s workforce had shrunk from approximately 500 employees down to “around 40.”

In my opinion, the Trump administration does not have much affection for this type of independent media," he stated to AFP, referring to the reductions as a "strategy aimed at elimination.

What the Trump administration is undertaking seems highly imprudent to me. It has the potential to damage America’s standing reputably.

Following the recent layoffs, numerous employees at Alhurra weren’t shocked about the closure. However, they were caught off guard by how quickly everything unfolded.

"The closure (was anticipated), however, we did not think it would occur so rapidly," stated an employee based at MBN's Virginia office.

"The employees were thrown onto the streets," he further stated.

Michael Robbins, who leads the Arab Barometer research network, noted that Alhurra struggled to compete with both Al Jazeera and the BBC. He highlighted that the BBC was already offering news in Arabic from a Western viewpoint and enjoyed a far more established credibility.

He noted that few people in the area rely on Alhurra as their main news source.

A different Alhurra correspondent based in Dubai, who similarly chose to remain anonymous, mentioned that they were confronting an "ambiguous career prospect" following eight years with the network.

"I am ostracized (by the media) in most Arab nations due to our work with the Americans," stated the individual aged 56.

Gedmin stated that he stood "fully in solidarity" with the workers who were let go. He added, "We are striving to determine whether we can offer them some assistance."

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