This week`s Jadaliyya "Media on Media" roundup covers topics ranging from government-sponsored Facebook censorship to the relationship between language and national identity.
Facebook’s recent cooperation with the Israeli government to censor content deemed violent has stirred controversy when it was uncovered that Facebook has complied with 95% of the Israeli government`s demands for removal of “inciting content,” bringing into question how free speech is affected when private corporations collaborate with governments.
In Algeria, a teacher is being criticized by the country`s Education Minister for using an Arabic-only approach in the classroom, highlighting Algeria’s ongoing national identity crisis and its impact on education.
Meanwhile, a teenage girl from Saudi Arabia designs a Hijab-wearing smiley and a new study warns from the dangers of “the secret world” of online pornography in Egypt.
In more news, a new report has recently been published that aims to highlight the risks taken by regional journalists who work in the midst of conflict and endure constant attacks in war zones.
All of these stories, and more, are available below in further detail.
Media and Politics
Facebook is collaborating with the Israeli government to determine what should be censored
Source: The Intercept
This article investigates recent announcements of cooperation between Facebook and Israel, bringing into question how for-profit interests converge with government censorship.
Sisi, spies and video tape
Source: Middle East Eye
A video of an Egyptian security official telling US Secretary of State John Kerry that cell phones and cameras are forbidden when meeting Sisi has gone viral in Egyptian social media circles, with ironic implications.
How Egypt`s state TV is trying to soothe popular anger
Source: Al-Monitor
This article questions the efficiency of the efforts made by the Egyptian state TV in influencing public opinion in the context of the recent campaign to ease the impact of the economic crisis on Egypt
Former Tunisian president blocked from appearing on TV
Source: Middle East Monitor
Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki on Thursday accused the government of pressuring a local TV channel to stop an interview of him from airing, saying it was a case of state restrictions on media freedom.
Culture
Hijab emoji proposed by Saudi teenage girl
Source: The Independent
Emojis have long been the subject of commentary regarding their racialized and gendered representation. This article discusses a teenage girl from Saudi Arabia who has designed a hijab-wearing smiley face.
Saudi TV to air love story on Shia-Sunni couple to be shown in Ramadan
Source: Samaa
A brief synopsis of three TV serials to be aired throughout next Ramadan, one that tells a Shia-Sunni love story.
Media Industries
Saudi Press Agency to boost translation into other languages
Source: Gulf News
This article outlines a number of changes in the Saudi Press Agency, which aims to reach a larger audience by providing the news in ten languages, and to provide further training to its staff on the use of modern reporting technologies.
Ministry to have a new center for Haj coverage
Source: Saudi Gazette
The Saudi ministry of culture is setting up a new media center, for the purpose of giving foreign journalists easier access to "report accurately" on the pilgrimage.
Freedom of Journalists/Expression
Sudanese cartoonist reminds Colby audience of value of free speech
Source: CentralMaine
A profile of Khalid Albaih, a Sudanese political cartoonist known for his controversial approach to contemporary issues, highlights the role of cartoons in shedding light on topics that are considered taboo.
Israeli forces shoot Palestinian journalist in head with tear gas canister
Source: +972
Journalists like Nidal Eshtayeh continue to be directly targeted while covering clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli military forces. This article provides additional context to the recent attack against Eshtayeh, who is still recovering from a head injury caused by a helmet-wrecking projectile.
Journalists at risk in Bahrain, Iraq, Syria and Yemen for their human rights reporting
Source: Gulf Center for Human Rights
“Risking Their Lives: Ongoing Attacks Against Journalists in Bahrain, Iraq, Syria and Yemen” is a new report that aims to highlight the risks taken by regional journalists, who work in the midst of conflict and endure constant attacks in war zones.
Watchdog: Violations against Palestinian journalists in occupied territory hit peak in August
Source: Ma’an News Agency
This is a brief roundup of the increasing number of violations against Palestinian media, which have peaked during the month of August according to Palestinian press freedom watchdog MADA. Violations varied between closure of outlets, attacks on journalists, and detention of media employees.
Social Media
A classroom video has sparked a debate about language and identity in Algeria
Source: Quartz
In a recent Facebook live-stream from an Algerian classroom, the teacher used Arabic as the students’ main language of instruction. The video soon spread across social media, garnering criticism from Algeria`s Minister of Education and underscoring the country’s post-colonial national identity crisis in relation to language.
Media Practices
Why does the media insist on using the term ‘Islamism’?
Source: Middle East Monitor
This article criticizes the media’s reckless categorizing of Islam as an ‘ism’, claiming that it demonizes an entire religion and equates it to terrorism. It raises the question: When does being a Muslim end and when does being an ‘Islamist’ begin?
Terrorism’s history lesson for political reporters
Source: Columbia Journalism Review
An analysis of the convergence of media coverage in relation to terrorism, and how that in turn influences public opinion in the formation of public/foreign policies. The article cites a number of incidents in recent history where such media practices directly affected how the public reacted to acts of terrorism.
Kurdish `Angelina Jolie` devalued by media hype
Source: BBC News
This article discusses media attention paid to Asia Ramazan Antar, a fighter with the YPJ who was recently, and cites Kurdish sources who say that she was into a glorified poster girl by Western media
متى نتحرر.. من سوق الجواري!
المصدر: البوابة نيوز
تناقش هذه المقالة التحديات المستدامة التي تواجه المرأة العربية وتعيق تقدمها، وبالأخص الانتهاكات التي تمارس في الطريقة التي يتم تمثيلها في وسائل الإعلام.
BBC Persian anchor accused of anti-Kurd bias
Source: Middle East Monitor
A BBC host accused of turning a TV interview into a hostile interrogation, proving that previously-made assumptions made by journalists can affect their reporting.
Others
Video surveillance market analysis by types, application, software, hardware and forecast 2016 to 2022
Source: MENAFN
This report segments the world video surveillance market on the basis of system type, hardware, software, services offered, application, and geography.
العالم السري ل"المواقع الإباحية" في مصر
المصدر: البوابة نيوز
تبحث هذه المقالة في مخاطر الادمان على المواقع الإباحية في المجتمع المصري على مختلف الأصعدة، طارحة بضع الخطوات العملية للحد من هذه الظاهرة.
From Jadaliyya Media Roundups
اتفاق بين "فيسبوك" واسرائيل
المصدر: Palestine Media Roundup
قالت وسائل اعلام اسرائيلية إن اتفاقا جرى بين "وزيري الامن الداخلي والعدل غلعاد إردان وأييلت شاكيد" مع مسؤولين كبار من شبكة "فيسبوك" لتوطيد التعاون بين سلطات الاحتلال وشبكة فيسبوك من اجل شطب ما اسمته "المضامين التحريضية" من صفحات الشبكة.
إتهامات لناشط حقوقي بارز بسبب رسالة نشرتها صحيفة نيويورك تايمز
المصدر: Arabian Peninsula Media Roundup
نبيل رجب هو رهن الإعتقال بتهم تتعلق بحرية التعبير عن الرأي على الإنترنت منذ 13 يونيو حزيران ويواجه أحكام بالسجن تصل إلى 15 عاما.
[The "Media On Media Roundup" is an initiative to survey published material in the news and broadcast media that deals with journalism, coverage, or mass communication practices about the region. These roundups are produced and curated in collaboration with the American University of Beirut`s Media Studies Program. The items collected here do not reflect the views of Jadaliyya or the editors of the Media Page]