This material is one of ten analytical briefs accompanying the full report on the security of Lebanon’s information environment. It forms part of a broader series examining key trends and incidents shaping the informational landscape. We encourage you to read the full report:
https://shafafiyat.com/ar/2025/09/17/%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d8%a3%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%a6%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%88%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%aa%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%86%d8%a7%d9%86/

In Lebanon, the media is divided between those supporting the current government by spreading propaganda and those opposing the government’s narrative. This often relates to the pro- and anti-Hezbollah rivalry in the country. The media in Lebanon are politicised, with only a handful striving to maintain objectivity. Besides television programs or newspapers, media personalities (journalists and influencers) who often oppose the current regime have a significant influence, thereby exposing themselves to reprisals from Hezbollah. Most newspapers and media outlets are headquartered in Beirut.

With ten private daily newspapers in three languages and over 1,500 weeklies and monthlies, Lebanon accounts for about half of the publications issued in the Middle East region. Furthermore, the country has nine television stations and about 40 radio stations. Despite this diversity, over 84% of the examined media are politically affiliated. Of these outlets, 27% are directly linked to political parties; 5% have direct ties to the state, and approximately 60% are connected to individuals who have been involved in politics or aspire to become politicians. Moreover, about 32% of the most popular media surveyed are owned by at least eight of Lebanon’s best-known families. Thus, it is one of the most politicised media landscapes, with nearly two-thirds of the media outlets owned by active political figures or political parties.

The television sector is the most popular (80% interest), followed by radio (50%) and, finally, online content (40%). Crucially, however, online media are gaining more significance.

Apart from public media, all media companies are privately owned. Most of them are registered as joint-stock companies (Société anonyme libanaise) or limited liability companies (Société à responsabilité limitée). There are also media not tied to a media company, as they are individual businesses, such as Bint Jbeil, Lebanon Debate, or El Shark, or belong to an association (in accordance with the 1909 law) like Ya Sour.

Most companies were established as separate legal entities for a specific medium and do not own other media channels. The only exceptions are companies such as Lebanese Communication Group L.C.G. SAL (Al-Manar and Al-Nour), Al Jadeed SAL (Al-Jadeed and Al Jadeed 90.3 FM), and National Broadcasting Network SAL (NBN and Al-Risala Radio), which operate in more than one audiovisual sector. The media in Lebanon illustrate the dominance of private owners and a genuinely great diversity of media platforms.

Over the years, each political group has acquired its own television network, targeted at a specific audience. This trend has gradually shifted to online media sources, such as online newspapers, social media news accounts, and political accounts on these platforms.

In summary, many Lebanese media are highly politicised, and the media landscape of Lebanon can generally be presented as follows:

1. Directly associated with specific political parties, e.g., Hezbollah (Al Manar, Al Nour), Amal (National Broadcasting Network), Kataeb (Voix du Liban), Lebanese Forces (Radio Liban Libre), or the Lebanese Communist Party (Sawy El Shaeb).
2. Associated with politicians, former politicians, or their family members, e.g., media outlets personally sympathetic to former President Michel Aoun and his Free Patriotic Movement include OTV, El Nashra, and Sawt el Mada, while Lebanon 24 belongs to the family of the current Prime Minister Najib Mikati, etc.
3. Associated with foreign capital, e.g., Al Modon (Qatar).

The politicisation of Lebanese media is also influenced by the fact that many of them are owned by prominent political dynasties, e.g., the Hariri family controls The Daily Star, Sawt Beirut International, and Radio Orient, and influences Annahar. In contrast, the Murr family controls MTV, El Nashra, Al Joumhouria, etc. Furthermore, influencers and social media accounts are emerging that, similarly to Europe (and Poland), pursue the interests of a specific party (family) or a foreign power.

Lebanon currently (2025) ranks 140th out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index. Political control over media ownership is a serious problem that contributes to a highly polarized and biased media space. Media ownership has a significant impact on its content and, therefore, plays a key role in shaping public opinion.

In the hands of politicians, the media can be used to advance their own interests through biased reporting, increasing their political reach. With a politically revitalizing Beirut, still feeling the effects of Israeli shelling, the press also remains a key source for communicating with citizens.