The Kamal Adham Centre at American University in Cairo has appointed me as the new managing editor of Arab Media and Society, which intends to retain its role as a primary reference for understanding the role of media in shaping Arab societies and the broader Muslim world.

As the voice of the Hizbullah, you might expect al Manar to present a grim and gritty image, reflecting the Islamic organization that has upended Lebanon’s politics. But that’s not the case and the twist is fascinating, as Anne Marie Baylouny explains.

Like elsewhere, the media revolution is sweeping across Jordan. It’s not as large as a movement as in other countries. But it is occurring in the usual places – blogs – and some unusual places as well. Ramsey Tesdell explains what is happening.

When Emirates officials offered a revised press law, a storm followed. Some journalists and human rights groups did not consider it an improvement. Dana El-Baltaji explains what’s happened there and why it matters for the Gulf and Arab world.

The Middle East is constantly evolving. So, too, Arab Media & Society. With this issue, I am handing over the publisher/co-editor reins to Hafez Mirazi, the new interim director of the Kamal Adham Center for Journalism Training and Research.

Social media had been expanding in waves across Egypt. But then came the April 6th showdown between the Facebook activists and the Egyptian government and Egypt’s electronic revolution may have crossed a critical point. David M. Faris explains.

U.S. President Barack Obama had vowed a new policy for the U.S. toward the Arab world. He vowed a new handshake from the White House. How did his fare in Cairo in his first days in office? Joseph Simons offers an analysis.

Blogging has intensified political trends first triggered by the birth of satellite television and an independent print press but does not mark a new departure for Egyptian politics, argues Tom Isherwood.

Is the Egyptian government using new Salafi stations to counter the more politically active Muslim Brotherhood? Nathan Field and Ahmed Hamam on the growing popularity of ultra-conservative religious programming.

Funded by Saudi investors, the Islamic music video network 4Shbab is the latest project of Ahmed Abu Haiba, former producer for the Amr Khaled series Kalam min al-Qalb. Video segment prepared by Ismail Elmokadem along with three video clips currently on air.