U.S. State Department Suspends Magazine For Arab Youth

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (file photo) (RFE/RL) Washington, 22 December 2005 (RFE/RL) -- The U.S. State Department has suspended publication of an Arabic-language magazine directed at young Arabs amid questions about its usefulness.

The U.S. government began publication of "Hi" magazine two years ago and distributed it to 18 countries, from Morocco to Iraq. Its purpose has been to reach young Arabs with features emphasizing sports, culture and life in the United States.

But the State Department said in a statement today that it was necessary to carry out a review to see if the magazine was reaching the intended audience. The statement said the review is part of a broader effort to evaluate the effectiveness of State Department public diplomacy programs.