Arab Citizen Journalism in Action Challenging

Arab Citizen Journalism in Action:

Challenging Mainstream Media, Authorities and Media Laws

Arab Citizen Journalism in Action:

Challenging Mainstream Media, Authorities and Media Laws

Table Of Contents

ABSTRACT2

CHAPTER 13

Introduction3

CHAPTER 24

Literature Review4

Chapter 340

Methodology40

CHAPTER 454

Results and Findings54

CHAPTER 565

Conclusion65

Abstract

Arab citizens have adopted the blogging technology of the internet to create a venue for alternate viewpoints in a manner similar to their global counterparts. Initially a handful of bloggers, writing mostly in English and reflecting a Western flavour in their content, initiated the Arab blogosphere. They have since been joined by thousands of Arabic blogs. Their impact has been noted, whether directly on politics and media or in their ability to enable civil society by providing instant networking and expanding the space for freedom of expression. They have also created an unexpected challenge to their governments, causing inconsistent reactions. This research analyzes the region's laws, regulations and the methods used to govern those nationals who choose to join the growing number of global citizen journalists, and how they often learn to defy those rules. The primary focus has been the case of Egypt's blogs due to their influential role in the regional blogosphere.

Chapter 1

Introduction

Citizens of the Arab world have harnessed blogging technologies to produce and disseminate their journalism and opinions faster than governments can control, censor or regulate it. Similar to their global counterparts, Arab bloggers are not necessarily journalists, nor do they feel that they should be following guidelines, press laws or ethical codes set for journalists. They are instead masters of producing raw, uncensored flows of communication and are thus often referred to as citizen journalists.

Benefiting from the use of personalized digital technologies and powerful innovative content, these citizen journalists are disrupting old media monopolies with the discourse on their blogs. In fact, they are often acknowledged members of the 'news media' as they are citizens who monitor events and create news content in both conventional journalistic forms and in novel forms such as blogs and social networks (Tilley and Cokley, 2008).

Chapter 2

Literature Review

Adopting the internet-based technology of blogs and embracing its potential, early Arab bloggers preferred to write in English (Sifry, 2006). The 2003 war in Iraq caused several bloggers to describe the situation at hand. The most prominent of these pioneers is Salam Pax, the Iraqi architect who reported the day-to-day tri bulations of the war, paving the way for those who followed (Hamdy and Mobarak, 2004 Pp 34).

These early bloggers inspired an explosion of writers who openly expressed their opinions on topics that were often considered taboo in the region, attracting and holding the attention of those who could read those blogs. Blogging in the English-language, their blogs mostly consisted of content that reflected the concerns of the Westernized, liberal-minded elites in the region (Lynch, 2007). Many observers also believe that these bloggers chose to blog in a foreign language as it allowed them greater liberty (Radsch, 2008; Tarawnah, 2008). Sandmonkey, Baheyya, Sabah's Blog, Black Iris, the Arabist and Ghalia's Cocktail Blog are ...