Syria News Wire

#iheartsyria: A New Hashtag That Has Hit A Nerve

#iheartsyria: A New Hashtag That Has Hit A Nerve

SYRIA NEWS WIRE: Tweeting positive stuff about Syria is a depressing business – I seem to hit a reflexive ‘kick me’. That’s why the success of this new hashtag came as a bit of a surprise…

 Common Ground News Service

Women With Men Directing Winds of Change

Women With Men Directing Winds of Change

CARLA KOPPELL: Women’s role must be honoured in the struggle and protect against the fundamentalist push. Most importantly, their involvement will be key to enabling thriving societies

 Andrew Mackay

Rebuilding Business Confidence the Next Battleground

Rebuilding Business Confidence the Next Battleground

ANDREW MACKAY: Countries across the Middle East and Africa need to examine the damage done to their reputations, and rebuild vital revenue streams from inward investment and tourism.

 David

Comment on Title Irony: Why Journalists like to do PR on PRs by David

I think Alex may sort of have a point here. Journalists, and I claim to be one (but who does not nowadays!) are not letting the readers or viewers the chance to filter the information, to take on board it is a PR person who is speaking. We hide that information to give more credibility to the story.

That said, if it is a story about social media, for example, what matters most is the credentials in that space. It is perfectly legitimate therefore to ignore the PR bit and focus on a person’s blogger credentials. If it was a wider story on the IT industry where that person may have clients, then to hide the title would be misleading.

So I think the bit that is missing in the article is the context angle.

 Alexander McNabb

Title Irony: Why Journalists like to do PR on PRs

Title Irony: Why Journalists like to do PR on PRs

ALEXANDER MCNABB: It infuriates me because I know how very dishonest the practice is – from a media that insists on telling us that it is the only trustworthy source.

 Steve Royston

What’s Needed for Democracy in the GCC

What’s Needed for Democracy in the GCC

STEVE ROYSTON: This post is more than a five-minute read. I apologise, but I don’t apologise: Sometimes you need more than a few hundred words.

 Natasha Tynes

#Egypt Wakes up Global Media Outlets to Arabic

#Egypt Wakes up Global Media Outlets to Arabic

NATASHA TYNES: Events in Egypt have woken up global media to the importance of Arabic, especially in social media and communications with their audiences.

 Rob L. Wagner

Saudi Electronic Media Law Sparks Blogger Fears

Saudi Electronic Media Law Sparks Blogger Fears

ROB L. WAGNER: The Kingdom doesn’t yet require blogging licenses, but vague language in a new licensing law may hold surprises for Saudi bloggers.

 Steve Royston

Watching Egypt – The View From The Other Side of the Arab World

Watching Egypt – The View From The Other Side of the Arab World

STEVE ROYSTON: I have had a few conversations whether Egypt will impact Saudi. My answer would be no – at least not in the current conditions.

 Eman-Al-Nafjan

How are the Saudis Reacting to the Regional Turmoil?

How are the Saudis Reacting to the Regional Turmoil?

EMAN AL NAFJAN: Shocked as they are by the events in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Jordan there are strong historical reasons why Saudis remain viewers, not participants.

 Mondoweiss

Egypt to Usher in Brave New World the U.S. will find harder to Control

Egypt to Usher in Brave New World the U.S. will find harder to Control

PHYLLIS BENNIS, MONDOWEISS: Do the principles on which the U.S. was founded apply to more than 300 million Arabs?

 Alexander McNabb

Egypt’s Uncontrolled and Uncontainable Tweets of Rage

Egypt’s Uncontrolled and Uncontainable Tweets of Rage

ALEXANDER MCNABB: Blocking Twitter won’t stop word getting out. You’re as well to try and stop grains of sand falling through marbles.

 Common Ground News Service

Social Media: The Glue That Binds Us

Social Media: The Glue That Binds Us

HANI NAIM: The conclusion is no one is immune to social media. Activists, Governments, journalists are all now trying to harness its power in the Arab world.

 Eman-Al-Nafjan

Social Media is Catalysing Arab World Change

Social Media is Catalysing Arab World Change

EMAN AL-NAFJAN: Leaders throughout the Arab World are suspicious of new media. Their citizens are using tools not simply to communicate concerns, but campaign for change.

 Bassam Sebti

Al Jazeera Delivers Lesson in Journalism to U.S.

Al Jazeera Delivers Lesson in Journalism to U.S.

BASSAM SEBTI: Shame on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News for intentionally ignoring a gripping event that could directly affect U.S. foreign policy.

 Ahmed-Al-Omran

Daunting: The Many Challenges Facing Arab Youth

Daunting: The Many Challenges Facing Arab Youth

AHMED AL OMRAN: Identity, lack of economic opportunity, freedom of expression – these are just some of the issues facing young people throughout the Arab World.

 Crossroads Arabia

Conspiracies and Prejudice: Getting A Grip

Conspiracies and Prejudice: Getting A Grip

CROSSROADS ARABIA: People owe it to themselves and their fellow men to not feed the animals that inhabit all our inner beings.

 Carrington Malin

Ten 10 Predictions for Digital in the MidEast, 2011

Ten 10 Predictions for Digital in the MidEast, 2011

CARRINGTON MALIN: Some of our predictions may seem a little obvious and some may seem a little extreme, but all should provide food for thought.

 Steve Royston

Is it Time to give Saudi Arabian Youth its Voice?

Is it Time to give Saudi Arabian Youth its Voice?

STEVE ROYSTON: Respect for the elderly is deeply ingrained in Arab society. Saudi Arabia, however, faces a major demographic challenge – a hugely youthful population.

 Sultan Al Qassemi

Edward Said – A Threat or an Asset?

Edward Said – A Threat or an Asset?

SULTAN AL QASSEMI: Public intellectuals reflect the conscience of society and should not be regarded as a threat, but as part and parcel of the community.