Abstract On November 3, 2016, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced the free flotation of the Egyptian pound in an attempt to stabilize the economy. Following this announcement, the CBE issued a series of press releases addressing the matter, and the flotation was widely covered by local media. This …
Read More »Al-Jazeera’s relationship with Qatar before and after Arab Spring: Effective public diplomacy or blatant propaganda?
Abstract Since its foundation in 1996 until the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011, the Qatar-based and funded channel, Al-Jazeera, was considered by many media and politics scholars as a major element of a “pan-Arab public diplomacy” and even a “virtual state.” The main reasons behind Al-Jazeera’s success as an effective …
Read More »Lost in Discourse: The Mass Media’s Role in Creating Trump and Right-Wing Populism
This article is based on a talk given at the London School of Economics and Political Science on November 18, 2016. Europe is currently facing severe political challenges, some of which seem to be connected. Take for example, the refugee crisis and the rise of right wing populism in countries …
Read More »Middle Eastern Minorities in Global Media and the Politics of National Belonging
Abstract Since the Arab uprisings began in 2010, some communities have experienced increased levels of violence or insecurity on the basis of their ethnic, religious, or linguistic identity. This article examines how such communities have mobilized and developed their media strategies in order to protect themselves and adapt to their changing …
Read More »Libya’s UN-Installed Government Cracks Down on Media as Opposition Protests Rage
July 30, 2016—Angry protestors marched in Martyrs’ Square yesterday, defying government measures to ban such gatherings. Outraged by the passivity of the new UN-installed government, protestors denounced al-Sarraj and demanded that he leave office.
Read More »CONFERENCE REPORT | IPI World Congress: How to Cover Violent Extremism and Survive
Under the banner “Journalism at Risk: Safety and Professionalism in a Dangerous World,” the 2016 World Congress of the International Press Institute (IPI) convened in Doha, Qatar in March to tackle the dangers of covering terrorism and other forms of political violence.
Read More »BOOK EXCERPT | Sinai: Egypt’s Linchpin, Gaza’s Lifeline, Israel’s Nightmare
In his most recent book, Mohannad Sabry examines a region that remains a mystery to people around the world. His thorough research and extensive field experience yield profound insight into the complex claims in the territory that have influenced Sinai's history and its present.
Read More »BOOK EXCERPT | Media Power and Global Television News: The Role of Al Jazeera English
In her recent book, Seba Bebawi assesses the veracity of Al Jazeera English's self-proclaimed role as a radical "counter-balance" to mainstream global media. She demonstrates a nuanced understanding of modern media through direct narrative comparisons of the same events covered by Al Jazeera English and by other media outlets.
Read More »Media Barred from Trial of Egyptian Press Syndicate Leaders
June 4, 2016—The Qasr el-Nil Court prohibited journalists from entering the trial of Press Syndicate head Yehia Qallash and senior board members Khaled al-Balshy and Gamal Abd al-Reheem.
Read More »PODCAST | Media Ethics & Migration: From Beirut to American Bombast
Veteran journalist Magda Abu-Fadil speaks with us about how the migration crisis has been covered in Lebanese media and beyond, and issues of media ethics in the Arab world. Magda Abu-Fadil brings years of experience as a foreign correspondent and editor with international news organizations such as Agence France-Presse and United Press International. She is director of Media Unlimited.
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