Arab Media & Society the biannual journal of the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism in the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the American University in Cairo is publishing its inaugural bilingual Arabic/English issue. Our Spring 2016 edition features scholarship, research articles, columns, conference reports, book excerpts and reviews, and podcasts all addressing the theme of “Media and Terrorism”.  

In today’s digital landscape, media is playing an ever-growing role in the dissemination, communication, and framing of materials related to terrorism, whether it is the propaganda of ISIS (Daesh), or connections made in the news media between migration and extremism. In the collective psyche of much of the world, and the daily lives of many, terrorism is a very real threat. Given the current climate, it is important to study and reflect on how the interaction of terrorism and media impact society at large, particularly in the disproportionately affected Arab region.  

By switching to a bilingual model we are hoping to contribute to improving the status of Arabic language media scholarship both in terms of quantity and quality. Ultimately, we seek to bridge the gap between English and Arabic media research, facilitating collaboration between scholars working in both languages to foster a better understanding of media in the Arab world.  

This marks Arab Media & Society’s 22nd issue, and features contributions by notable experts and young scholars alike. The English edition includes columns by Abdel Monem Said, Philip Seib, and Andrew Hammond who explore various aspects of the development and impact of extremist organizations, as well as scholarship and research addressing multiple aspects of terrorism and media including recruitment, visual propaganda, terrorism and the refugee crisis, among several other topics.  

Founded in 1998 as Transnational Broadcasting Studies, the journal was initiated to address the dramatic influence of satellite broadcasting at the time. The shift to Arab Media & Society in 2006 came in response to the rapidly changing media environment, as digital media increasingly impacted Arab society and the world at large. In addition to two annual themed issues, Arab Media & Society publishes research, columns, and a podcast on a rolling basis.  

We hope you enjoy this edition!  

Sincerely, 

Sarah El-Shaarawi, Managing Editor