Al-Jazeera reports that it is organizing a mass homecoming celebration in Doha for its Sudanese cameraman, Sami El-Haj, who had been held in Guantanamo Bay since 2002. The Qatari-based network has issued an open invitiation to the citizens and residents of the Gulf state to attend a celebration to be held Saturday night in the […]
While both European and American media continue to devote heavy coverage to the Democratic presidential primary race, there has been hardly reporting on the campaigns' activities in Puerto Rico, the semi-autonomous American territory – partly because Obama is now seen as the almost inevitable Democratic candidate and Puerto Ricans cannot vote in the actual presidential […]
A recent report published on the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt's website takes a look at some of the perceived causes behind Egypt's declining role as a regional player in the Arab world. It features commentary made by political scientists and journalists at an annual conference held by the Egyptian-based think tank the International Center for […]
At a meeting in Aberdeen, Scotland, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged oil industry leaders to find ways of increasing output as Britain's North Sea oil reserves decline. With the government struggling to combat rising fuel costs, Business Secretary John Hutton announced two new licenses for North Sea production, together with plans for further exploitation […]
The British and some other European media reported a pledge by Barack Obama to strengthen U.S. links with Britain in a telephone address to a group of influential American expatriates gathered at the London home of Elisabeth Murdoch (daughter of Rupert Murdoch) for a supposedly private fundraising event. Guests and other co-hosts included Kay Saatchi, […]
Will Hamas-Syrian relations be affected by the Arab state's recent Turkish-mediated talks with Israel? According to a report on AlJazeera.net, Syria's dependency on groups like Hamas and Hezbollah for power, and the shifting of the strategic landscape in its favor, may dissuade the Arab state from distancing itself from these militant groups. The report features […]
May 25th this year marks the eighth anniversary of Israel's military withdrawal from south Lebanon in 2000. While most of the country was preoccupied with the election of Lebanon's new president, the anniversary was celebrated this weekend at all levels of Hezbollah's media and popular culture – from the towns of south Lebanon, to television […]
The Syrian Al-Ba’ath daily, the official paper of the country's ruling Ba’ath party, featured an article Thursday addressing concerns over a shortage in drinking water in the province of Damascus. The article indicates low rainfall has caused a steady drop in water levels in the Damascus basin, which could pose a problem during the hotter […]
The pro-opposition Lebanese daily As-Safir featured an article yesterday illustrating how Hezbollah is dealing with the political fallout of its recent “small war” against the country's ruling majority. Despite the potential political risks involved with this move, the author states that the group apparently saw its actions as worth taking in order to safeguard its […]
On May 8, the EU Observer published an article about EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson's (UK) remarks during a BBC interview describing the ‘protectionist’ trade policies of U.S. Democratic Presidential candidates as ‘mirages.’ His exact quote ‘It is irresponsible to be pretending to people you can erect new protection, new tariff barriers around your economy […]
Europeans are watching the U.S. presidential campaign more closely than ever before, and Obama is stealing the spotlight. The New York Times details ‘Obama Fever’ in Europe. ‘Obama Fever in Europe’ New York Times, March 21, 2008
Methods of covering presidential elections have changed dramatically in recent years, and many believe that the 2008 campaign is the first in which the ‘new media’ have come fully into their own. The Transatlantic Media Network and the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs hosted a discussion on 'the Challenge of Covering […]
On May 11, the British Sunday newspaper, the Observer, published this hopeful article by Will Hutton about European perceptions of the United States. The view of America in the European media is often more critical and more negative. ‘Forget the Naysayers: American Remains an Inspiration to Us All’ May 11, 2008, The Guardian
While most American reporting on economic downturns focuses on American domestic issues or world business reports, this New York Times article takes a look at the way stagnant wages are hurting the European middle classes. Interesting to note the ‘luxuries’ which many Europeans are being forced to abandon. ‘For Europe's Middle Classes Stagnant Wages Stunt […]
Here's an interesting report featured on the Beirut-based, and Dutch-funded, Menassat.com. It touches upon the double-edged sword of new media in conflict zones. Some argue that while this technology might contribute to transparency by enabling “citizen journalism”, it may also stir sectarian strife by enabling individuals to publicize incidents of political violence. Alexandra Sandels takes […]