Some years ago, the UAE was offering major Western news outlets—including CNN and FT—sweetheart deals on real estate and other incentives to base in Dubai. The tacit and sometimes explicit understanding was that coverage of the Middle East wouldn’t stray too far from their line. When journalists would question the arrangments, they were told by managers, “Yes, but it’s so much money.” As the coverage demands became more and more onerous, some news organizations packed up left. Others didn’t.