The View From Fez

Phew! Morocco Avoids Formula One ‘Catastrophe’

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: I’ve watched as Bernie Ecclestone’s F1 ‘circus’ has brought Valencia to its knees. Morocco can count its lucky stars that it will avoid the same fate

 The View From Fez

‘Major Boost’ for Moroccan English Language Media

‘Major Boost’ for Moroccan English Language Media

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The story of English language media in Morocco is not a happy one. The arrival of a new title though is cause for hope

 Matt J. Duffy

On Press Freedom: Jordan’s ‘Misalignment’

On Press Freedom: Jordan’s ‘Misalignment’

Any Arab country serious about supporting a free and independent press must first revise its laws to give journalists the freedom to report news without fear…

 Rob L. Wagner

The ‘Educational Revolution’ That Is Transforming Saudi Arabia

ROB L. WAGNER: Free education overseas for Saudi nationals is having a massive effect on Saudi society.

 Rob L. Wagner

The Malala Backlash: Conspiracy Theorists Go To Town

The Malala Backlash: Conspiracy Theorists Go To Town

ROB L. WAGNER: It didn’t take long for the moral relativists and conspiracy theorists to get to work on Malala Yousufzai. Inevitable but depressing.

 Naseem Tarawnah

New Regulation: Goodbye Free Speech in Jordan

New Regulation: Goodbye Free Speech in Jordan

NASEEM TARAWNAH: Internet censorship is coming soon to Jordan and coming in a big way. What can any of us do?

 Mich Cafe

Traffic Offenders: A Shortcut to Wipe Out Dubai Debt

Traffic Offenders: A Shortcut to Wipe Out Dubai Debt

MICH CAFE: While reading a recent article on traffic offences a brainwave hit me – the offenders could play a key role in wiping out Dubai debt

 Rob L. Wagner

Romney’s Middle East Team: Same Old, Same Old

Romney’s Middle East Team: Same Old, Same Old

ROB L. WAGNER: If Mitt Romney wins the U.S. presidential election it looks like we’ll be taking a trip back in time to the reign of George W. Bush.

 Rob L. Wagner

Valuable Lessons: School Dress Codes in Saudi

Valuable Lessons: School Dress Codes in Saudi

ROB L. WAGNER: Enforcing dress codes is not only entirely normal, it sets up kids for life in the values and disciplines doing so instills.

 Common Ground News Service

Cyber Campaigns ‘Limited to Elite’ in Arab World

Cyber Campaigns ‘Limited to Elite’ in Arab World

NADA AKL, CGNEWS: Despite being the fifth most spoken language in the world, just over 1% of content on the web is in Arabic

 Crossroads Arabia

Kashghari and Diminishing Free Speech

Kashghari and Diminishing Free Speech

CROSSROADS ARABIA: The case of Hamza Kashghari, the Saudi journalist that expressed doubts about religion, is energizing free-speech advocates

 Steve Royston

2012 and Beyond: The Many Reasons to be Both Fearful – and Cheerful

2012 and Beyond: The Many Reasons to be Both Fearful – and Cheerful

STEVE ROYSTON looks at the arts, society, education, politics, business, technology and the environment as we move into 2012, the Year of Fear’.

 Rob L. Wagner

Saudi Arabia: “The Female Body is a Battleground in the War to Stem Reform”

Saudi Arabia: “The Female Body is a Battleground in the War to Stem Reform”

ROB L. WAGNER: An online battle between conservatives and reformers following the Saudi Intellectual Forum illuminates their diverging opinions…

 Common Ground News Service

Internet ‘Enables Open Debate Between Religions’

Internet ‘Enables Open Debate Between Religions’

MATTHEW SKINNER, JOSHUA STANTON, CGNEWS: People will disagree vehemently over religion but the internet provides a perfect environment for robust, honest discussion.

 Common Ground News Service

Egyptian divorcées: The Challenges they Face

Egyptian divorcées: The Challenges they Face

RASHA DEWEDAR, CGNEWS: Marginalised and often rejected by their communities divorced women have waited a long time to see the issues they face portrayed fairly in the media.

 Alexander McNabb

Internet Privacy? No Chance – You’re Being Tracked…

Internet Privacy? No Chance – You’re Being Tracked…

ALEXANDER MCNABB: It would do as well to be aware that you’re now essentially a public figure. And you’re leaving footprints behind all the time…

 Crossroads Arabia

New Saudi Media Law Bans… Almost Anything

New Saudi Media Law Bans… Almost Anything

CROSSROADS ARABIA: The newly unveiled Saudi media law represents a huge step backward for free speech. Maybe we’ll just talk about the weather. Hold on, though, that could be controversial too.

 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.

 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.

 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.