Media, COVID 19 and the Arab World
Dr Dina Matar, Centre for Global Media and Communications, explores political reactions to the COVID-19 in the Middle Eastern media in an Insight Briefing for School of Interdisciplinary Studies, SOAS.
2905, 2020
2505, 2020
Can communicative practices help ‘vulnerable’ communities in times of change?
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum once wrote that playful storytelling “teaches people to be capable of living with others without control; [and] connects experiences of vulnerability and surprise to curiosity and wonder, rather than to crippling anxiety” (2010, p. 101). Her work on vulnerability has helped critical communication scholars shift their focus away from the structural power of media, which has been overstudied, to organic and informal communication practices that can enable
1503, 2020
Nine Years After the Toppling of Hosny Mubarak
By Hossam Fazalla and Dounia Mahlouly Nine years after the toppling of Hosny Mubarak, the 91-year-old ousted Egyptian president passed away. The news was met with emotional confusion and mixed feelings by Egyptians. It is the death of the man whose face was in every Egyptian classroom, who was considered a war hero, and yet, it is also the death of the dictator who ruled for 30 years, and whose hands
2402, 2020
CNN theory and the humanitarian crisis in Syria? unanswered questions
Dina Matar, Centre for Global Media and Communication, School of Interdisciplinary Studies The war in Syria that has now been going on for nine years has produced ‘the biggest humanitarian horror story of the 21st Century’ according to the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock. However, it is not a horror story, but a terrifying actuality, the latest chapter played out since December 2019 in Idlib, the last stronghold
2002, 2020
A dip in popularity forces Iranian leaders to readjust rhetoric
Dr Massoumeh Torfeh explores the upcoming parliametary elections in Iran on TRT: Link Dr Massoumeh Torfeh, Research Associate LSE and SOAS focusing on Iran & AFG. Ex-UN Director of Communication AFG, BBC journalist. Book: BBC & Iran-UK relations. PhD Pol Science LSE. Image credit: “Iran reportage MO*” by MO* is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
2101, 2020
Hichkas: the fearless Iranian rapper singing for ‘all the nobodies’
Dr Massoumeh Torfeh discusses Iranian rapper who articulates citizens’ discontent over the killing of protesters in a post on TRT World. See link
0401, 2020
Donald Trump miscalculated the fallout of Soleimani’s assassination
Dr Massoumeh Torfeh discusses the aftermath of Ghasem Suleimani’s assassination. Dr Torfeh is a Research Associate at Centre for Global Media and Communications, SOAS. Link to article Image credit
1111, 2019
Dr. Zahera Harb discusses fake news and the Lebanese protests
Lebanon Protests and ‘fake news’ By Zahera Harb On October 17 a wave of protests erupted in Lebanon against corruption. Almost half of the Lebanese population took to the streets demanding an end to corruption, transparent economic policies, social justice and protection of the environment. Slogans, such as ‘down with the sectarian confessional regime,’ mingled with calls for the resignation of all state officials whose practices were regarded as corrupt
1410, 2019
Centre for Global Media and Communications scholar on Al Jazeera
The Listening Post on Al Jazeera English is a weekly programme that examines and dissects the world’s media, how they operate and the stories they cover. This week it takes a look at the recent protests in Iraq which resulted in the loss of over 150 lives, a shutdown by the government of the internet and attacks on media outlets by unknown forces. Aida Al-Kaisy joins this weeks programme to
1609, 2019
The promise of Chinese investment brings Iran in from the cold
Dr Massoumeh Torfeh, Research Associate at Centre for Global Media and Communications, explores a major new development in Iran-China relationship in a new article. She writes, “A Chinese investment pledge to the tune of a whopping $400 billion puts a wrench in American plans to isolate Iran – but what will it cost Iran? While the United States Administration wrestles with exerting “maximum pressure” on Iran, and the European signatories