History of Media
Historicizing Arab blogs: Reflections on the transmission of ideas and information in Middle Eastern history
As a social space that enables new rituals of engagement, blogging may be most analogous to the rise of the coffeehouse during the Ottoman period, argues historian Brian Ulrich.
BBC Persian television launches
The newest Persian language satellite network made a splash in the Iranian blogosphere when it began broadcasting in January. But just how far can the BBC go in the face of hostility from Tehran and without local bureaus, asks Contributing Editor Paul Cochrane.
Egypt's audiovisual translation scene
Muhammad Gamal argues for more academic and professional attention to the audiovisual translation industry, which is proliferating everywhere from mobile phone screens to stadium megatrons.
English newspapers in the United Arab Emirates: Navigating the crowded market
In such a crowded market, how can newspapers possibly resist advertisers’ demands to produce business-friendly coverage? Peyman Pejman puts the tough questions to editors of the UAE’s six English language dailies.
Book Review: Masters and Masterpieces of Iranian Cinema
Hamid Dabashi gives “blood and bone” to the lives and predicaments of Iran’s filmmakers. Yet his conceptions of “realism” seem to be surrogates for aesthetic judgments, argues Farouk Mitha.
Core to Commonplace: The evolution of Egypt's blogosphere
A vanguard of techies and activists used blogs to change the face of politics and journalism in Egypt. But once a small town, Egypt’s blogosphere now resembles a sprawling metropolis with a less clearly defined center, argues Courtney C. Radsch.
Censorship and social realism at the Cairo Book Fair
Is the Egyptian literary scene enjoying a social realist renaissance? Ingrid Wassmann explores new trends in Cairo’s publishing industry.
Interview: Sue Phillips on Al Jazeera International's First Year
October 2007. Speaking to Arab Media & Societys George Weyman in July 2007, Sue Phillips, London bureau chief for Al Jazeera International, reflects on the networks first year and the changes and challenges that lie ahead.
Media and Religion in the Arab-Islamic World
In this edited version of the 11th Templeton Lecture on Religion and World Affairs, Abdallah Schleifer looks at the development of journalism in the Arab-Islamic World, attempting to explain factors shaping journalism practice in the region.
The long march of Pan-Arab media: a personal view
In all previous Arab-Israeli wars Israel had dominated on all counts. But in the 2006 war, the influence of the Israeli media on global opinion seemed to have been tempered by the greater range of Arab voices, argues Jihad Fakhreddine.