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Extensive Debate Over Interview... Ahmed Al-Shar’: Poor Audio and Dim Lighting
The interview featuring Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shar’ for the first time on Syria News Channel sparked a wave of sharp criticism on social media and across media circles, after many expressed their dissatisfaction with the quality of the filming and sound.
Syrian users and tweeters circulated comments condemning the poor quality of the video and audio in the interview. Some complained about weak sound, unclear visuals, and dim lighting, with notes on the cameras sometimes being uncomfortably far from the subject, which upset many viewers.
Many commentators questioned why the production quality on a channel that is supposed to be official and prominent is so low, wondering about the absence of competent professionals in Syrian media institutions and asking, “Why aren’t specialists working on improving the quality of media work?” This increased the intensity of the criticism.
Others expressed their astonishment at the appearance of the country’s leader in such a manner, asking: "If this is the state of the interview with the President, then how will other interviews look?" Fingers of blame were particularly pointed at Minister of Information Hamza Al-Mustafa, who received many criticisms from followers.
The discussion was not limited to Syrians alone; several Arab and Syrian media figures also entered the debate, attempting to interpret and clarify the situation. Conversely, some defended the radio and media situation, emphasizing that the current circumstances of the country, after a decade of destructive war, have greatly impacted the capabilities of media institutions.
Commentators also pointed out that the necessary expertise exists, but the lack of funding and outdated technology hinder development, which in turn affects the overall quality of media work.
Amid this widespread controversy, Syria News Channel issued an official apology via a tweet on the X platform, explaining that the audio malfunction was caused by a technical fault in the broadcasting device. They stated they would upload a complete version of the interview on YouTube to ensure viewers could better see President Al-Shar’ during the conversation.
