Foreign Policy’s Qatar Funding Sparks Questions Over Its Middle East Coverage
A review finds that Foreign Policy receives financial support from Qatar and partners with the Doha Forum, coinciding with a surge of articles critical of Israel and U.S. policy toward Iran.
According to a recent review, Foreign Policy’s relationship with Qatar includes official partnership with the Doha Forum, an annual conference organized by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs and sponsored by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The magazine has produced podcasts and helped stage a high-level panel in Davos that served as a precursor to the Doha Forum scheduled for December. In parallel, the outlet has published a noticeable number of pieces that echo Qatar’s harsh criticism of Israel and its opposition to U.S. policy on Iran, including accusations of genocide in Gaza and condemnation of President Donald Trump’s approach.
Some of these stories were boosted on X via paid promotions, featuring a detailed interview with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and warnings about Trump’s Iran strategy. The Doha Debates series, part of the partnership, is financed by the Qatar Foundation, which is known to influence how partners address topics like Hamas. Graham Holdings, the owner of Foreign Policy, also controls Slate and a diverse portfolio of businesses. Foreign Policy declined to comment on the findings.
Why it matters
Understanding foreign funding of media helps readers assess potential bias in coverage of contentious Middle-East issues.
In this story
