Thanks so much for participating in and writing about this session at the We Media conference. Your contributions made it a much richer experience for all involved. And I say this despite some disagreements I have with how you characterized the events of Thursday afternoon.

First let me apologize about a serious gap between the printed name of the session and the content of the session. My work on the public radio documentary "24/7" and the Stanley Foundation's work in this area has all been about "Arab media" (http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/initiatives/oam/) ….. not Middle East media. And "Arab media" is the panel discussion I planned and organized. Therefore, the panel was full of Arabs.

You may not agree with my choice, but I simply want to be clear about what did NOT happen...I did not organize a panel on the “Middle East” and deliberately leave out Israel and Iran. (A future panel discussion on Iranian media could be great. I have traveled in Iran, and I know many people using new media in Iran and in the diaspora.)

The printed name of the session was no doubt the result of miscommunication between the overall organizers of the event and myself. I take full responsibility for being careless about this…..and I apologize.

A couple more points. First on this passage from your post:

{"Oh!" said the panelist, with a bright American smile and uncomprehending eyes, "Interesting! But, well, it might be a bit off topic. We'll try to get to you during the Q & A session."}

Well, my mother will be pleased to read that I was polite. But your take on my reaction was surprising. I fully understood what you were asking. I wrote down in my notes, "From audience, go first to Lisa Goldman for story on Israeli and Arab bloggers." And that is exactly what I did.

It adds some drama to the story to say you had to track down the conference organizers, take up a post in the front row, and keep your eyes locked on me. But none of that was necessary. You had me at "hello."

Also, on the encounter you recall with Rami Khouri after the session....Rami is such a gentle soul, I can’t imagine anyone fearing that he would refuse a handshake.

Finally, and more important than anything I written here thus far: I admire you and what you stand for. I just read the story about you here (http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001131.html) and the post here (http://inlebanon.blogspot.com/2006/04/comments-on-israellebanon-and-israeli.html). And I know without a doubt that our worldviews have a great deal in common. I only wish I had the chance to know these things before the conference.....and I hope we have a chance to talk more and perhaps even work together in the future.

Sincerely,
Keith Porter