Editors Weblog quotes a critique of the Arab press by a Saudi writer:
"Arab writers and columnists have a tendency to affirm populist notions, whether they're good, bad, factual or false. They write what people want to hear. They write not to educate or challenge the readers' notions, but rather to affirm the readers' pre-conceived opinions and views. These types of character-driven, pandering scribes care only about elevating themselves and winning the sympathy of their fans.
"For a writer, is there anything easier than serving up paragraphs of emotion-driven rhetoric? Is there anything easier than repeating platitudes and re-hashing clichéd ideas?"