Arab Media as Contra-flow

Star Academy on LBC

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Demographics

• “Arab world” extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Persian Gulf.

• Comprises 22 countries (Arab League).

• Population of +200 million.

• Economic diversity:

• Qatar’s per capita GDP = $87,600

• Morocco’s per capita GDP = $3,700

• Yemen’s per capita GDP = $2,500

Arab Media Market

• Media markets are highly dynamic (fastest growth/world)

• Brain drain to the west

• Need to correct distorted images of the region

• Limited personal freedom (due mostly to gov.)

• Very young population (2/3 under 30)

Broadcast Technologies

• Until 1990s, only govs. were responsible for decisions regarding new technologies and media policies.

• Often, these policies relied more on political views than marketplace considerations.

• Creation of ARABSAT (Arab Satellite Communication Organization) in 1976.

ARABSAT

•Goal: provide Arab space segment for all members of Arab League.

•22 members of ARABSAT.

•Arab satellite channels have mushroomed in the last decade. (+500)

Television• In 1999, there were 6 private Arab satellite TV

channels broadcasting to Middle Eastern audiences

• MBC: 1st Arabic-language satellite tv; based in London; established itself as the premier channel for Arabs abroad (1991)

• FUTURE TV: “eccentric funky look, extensive family programming, Oriental-Western promotional blend”; based in Lebanon.(1993)

• AL-JAZEERA (1996)

• Al-Arabiya based in Dubai; presented itself as less sensational; 2nd 24/7 news channel; less a ‘street fighter’ than Al-Jazeera(2003); part of MBC.

TelevisionLBC: Lebanese network launched in 1985. LBCsat in 1996. Leader in transnational Arab television

Rotana: t Arab world's largest entertainment company. Pan-Arab media conglomerate: film production company, a magazine, a television (Rotana TV), and seven music channels, a record label Rotana Records

4Shbab: 24-hour Islamic channel-a reaction to corrupt cultural influence Arab Media Mogul:

Waleed bin Talal

Double reaction

• “Our people are in need of heroes, resistance fighters, and contributors to building the country and are not in need of singers, corruption mongers, and advocates of immorality” Hamas

• There are people who want to cancel the contract with the producing companies, but this is opposed by the businessmen who fear that such a decision would hurt Bahrain’s reputation and undermine potential investment agreements. Parliament member from Bahrein

•Democracy of participation

•Democracy of governance

Marwan Kraidy

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Social Media and Diffusion

•Hierarchical and Proximal Diffusion

•Different from the modernization model of diffusion from above.

•Social media played a facilitating role in the Arab uprisings of 2011

Aliaa Elmahdy Amina Sboui

Mohamed Bouazizi

Khaled Said

“Women’s corporeal visibility and citizenship rights constitute the political stakes around

which the public is defined.” Nilufer Gole,

1997