The Role of New Media in Arab Uprisings: Al-Jazeera focus

by

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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ABSTRACT

This research is focused on analysing the role played by Social media in the Arab Uprisings. During l8-day period, the Egyptian protesters succeeded to a large extent in achieving maximum publicity and attracting the attention of the world by mobilizing news media coverage of their protests. The role of media is to provide information and communicate messages to others. Media played a significant role in ringing political changes to the countries belonging to Arab region. Since a long time, the people of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and other countries were facing problems due to the unequal and biased policies developed in the country by the leaders. These riots turned out to be an outcome of the frustrations and annoyance which were filling up the people of Egypt and Tunisia. With the incident when Mohamed Bouazizi set himself ablaze in Tunisia due to the injustice and unequal behaviour, a wave of frustration, riots and protests ran through the citizen of Arab. This research provides an overview of how media is represented as a medium fo communication. It has described the reasons and factors which led the people to come on streets and bring the regime of their leaders to an end. In all this situation, social media emerged as a significant medium through which people planned organised and discussed the strategies and venues for their non-violent protests. The research, hence, examines and analyses the vital and pivotal role played by social media and how the most popular channel AL-Jazeera played its part in providing the coverage and information to the people.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Introduction1

Research Problem1

Research Background3

Research Aim and Objectives5

Adoption of Communication Technologies5

Introduction to New Media- Social Media7

Media Representation9

Role of Media in Influencing Perceptions11

Introduction -Al-Jazeera13

Arab World and Social Media14

Not Cyber activism Newbie's17

Social Media and Arab Uprising19

CHAPTER 2: ARAB UPRISINGS21

Introduction21

The Arab Uprisings21

Reason for Protests in 201122

CHAPTER 3: ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND AL-JAZEERA (CHANNEL) IN ARAB SPRINGS29

Introduction29

Substantive Role of Aljazeera29

Role of Al-Jazeera in Arab Uprisings30

Attempts to Block Communication in Arab Region33

Role of New Media in Arab Uprisings34

Use of Social Media by Al-Jazeera44

CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION46

REFERENCES51

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Introduction

The introduction chapter provides an overview of what the research is all about. This section provides an idea and background of the research and the perspective of the topic. The next section gives an idea about how media is being repented. The chapter later covers the role media has played in affecting and influencing the perception of its viewers and peoples' perception. Followed by a section covering how social media emerged as ...