In The Press in the Arab Middle East, Ami Ayalon draws on a broad array of primary sources - a century of Arabic newspapers, biographies and memoirs of Arab journalists and politicians, and archival material - as well as a large body of published studies, to portray the remarkable vitality of Arab journalism. He explores the press as a Middle Eastern institution during its formative century before World War II and the circumstances that shaped its growth, tracing its impact, in turn, on local historical developments. After treating the major phases in chronological sequence, he looks closely at more specific aspects: the relations between press and state; newspapers and their audience; the press and traditional cultural norms; economic aspects of the trade; and journalism as a new profession in Arab society. . An insightful analysis of a pivotal aspect of Arab history, this book will appeal to scholars and students of Middle East history and politics and to all those interested in the interaction of media and history.