Deadline: 15 May 2011
Spring-Summer 2011
Global Media Journal — Arabian Edition
Theme: Ethics of Arab Mass Media
Editors: Drs. Mahboub Hashem, Ralph Berenger and Ilhem Allagui
Mass media in the Middle East are among the least “free” information dissemination systems in the world, according to annual Freedom House reports. Most newspapers and television stations are under direct government control, or are operated by management loyal to governments. While often formally unstated, print journalists, broadcasters, commentators and bloggers know there are “red lines” around certain topics for their stories: criticism of the regimes in power, certain minority groups within countries, the military, religion, the families of national leaders, are off-limits. Disseminating information that cross the line of what is and what is not “allowed” can be a dangerous venture. Authoritarian governments and extremist groups are quick to respond with intimidation, jailing, publication closures, fines, expulsion, loss of licenses to practice journalism, and worse: torture and death.
In addition to governmental threats and interference, media practitioners have developed several strategies to be true to their profession of seeking information that is current, relevant, interesting, and factual within accepted cultural and political frameworks. On the one hand, some journalists and broadcasters are “super-star voices” in their countries, a few achieving legendary status; on the other, some journalists engage in near-criminal betrayal of the journalistic values of fairness, accuracy, truthfulness and unbiased reporting. Some journalists are paid by sources to write favorable stories; some self-censor themselves to avoid bumping into the informal “red lines”; and others are thinly disguised shills for the political parties and leaders in power; and others might work concurrently for competing publications under assumed names. Often, advertising is solicited from businesses for the wrong reason: to pay off political debts or prevent negative news stories rather than promote products and seek customers. Some publications, published “off shore”, exchange taxes and license fees for prior restraint and censorship in countries that encourage it.
Yet, thousands of young men and women enroll in journalism training programs across the 22-country Arab World, hoping to join the exploding mass communications industry in the region, fueled by international satellite channels and transnational broadcasting.
The spring-summer edition of the Global Media Journal-Arabian Edition is seeking papers that explore the practice of media ethics in the Middle East in a special section.
Contributions of traditional essay-style discussions, commentary or analysis are welcome. We also welcome the use of additional media to support contributions to the journal, where appropriate. Please describe any supporting materials that could be used to illustrate the proposed contribution, such as any images, videos and audios.
Articles could explore, but are not limited to, the following:
• The contrast and comparison of media ethics as practiced in the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and/or Africa.
• The ethical principles of advertising and public relations as currently and historically practiced in the Middle East.
• The impact of new communications and information technologies of ethical transferable of news and commentary.
• How popular culture impacts ethical treatment of news stories in the Middle East.
• The influence of Western media products on Middle East media products, and how they might shape perceptions of morality.
• To what extent do traditional values conflict with modern values of what is true, fair, balanced and unbiased reporting of print and broadcast news and commentary?
• How much do cultural perceptions shape the definition of what is or is not ethical?
• What is the status of Codes of Ethics and Standards and Practices in the Middle East? How rigidly are they self-policed by media agencies?
• Are ethical standards of professionalism in public relations, advertising, public relations, and media management taught in professional training programs?
• What models or theories could help explain how media ethics might differ between cultures?
Articles and book reviews on all topics of mass communication in the Arab World are accepted for this edition.
Queries about potential articles can be made to the editors before May 15, 2011
Complete Article Submissions: May 30, 2011 for this particular issue, scheduled for publication in June.
Submission Guidelines: Click Here
Address queries to Dr. Mahboub Hashem, managing editor, mhashem@aus.edu; Dr. Ralph Berenger, English edition editor, rberenger@aus.edu; Dr. Ilhem Allagui, Arabic Edition Editor, iallagui@aus.edu or Dr. Hania Nashef, Book Review Editor, hnashef@aus.edu
More information here.
Spring-Summer 2011
Global Media Journal — Arabian Edition
Theme: Ethics of Arab Mass Media
Editors: Drs. Mahboub Hashem, Ralph Berenger and Ilhem Allagui
Mass media in the Middle East are among the least “free” information dissemination systems in the world, according to annual Freedom House reports. Most newspapers and television stations are under direct government control, or are operated by management loyal to governments. While often formally unstated, print journalists, broadcasters, commentators and bloggers know there are “red lines” around certain topics for their stories: criticism of the regimes in power, certain minority groups within countries, the military, religion, the families of national leaders, are off-limits. Disseminating information that cross the line of what is and what is not “allowed” can be a dangerous venture. Authoritarian governments and extremist groups are quick to respond with intimidation, jailing, publication closures, fines, expulsion, loss of licenses to practice journalism, and worse: torture and death.
In addition to governmental threats and interference, media practitioners have developed several strategies to be true to their profession of seeking information that is current, relevant, interesting, and factual within accepted cultural and political frameworks. On the one hand, some journalists and broadcasters are “super-star voices” in their countries, a few achieving legendary status; on the other, some journalists engage in near-criminal betrayal of the journalistic values of fairness, accuracy, truthfulness and unbiased reporting. Some journalists are paid by sources to write favorable stories; some self-censor themselves to avoid bumping into the informal “red lines”; and others are thinly disguised shills for the political parties and leaders in power; and others might work concurrently for competing publications under assumed names. Often, advertising is solicited from businesses for the wrong reason: to pay off political debts or prevent negative news stories rather than promote products and seek customers. Some publications, published “off shore”, exchange taxes and license fees for prior restraint and censorship in countries that encourage it.
Yet, thousands of young men and women enroll in journalism training programs across the 22-country Arab World, hoping to join the exploding mass communications industry in the region, fueled by international satellite channels and transnational broadcasting.
The spring-summer edition of the Global Media Journal-Arabian Edition is seeking papers that explore the practice of media ethics in the Middle East in a special section.
Contributions of traditional essay-style discussions, commentary or analysis are welcome. We also welcome the use of additional media to support contributions to the journal, where appropriate. Please describe any supporting materials that could be used to illustrate the proposed contribution, such as any images, videos and audios.
Articles could explore, but are not limited to, the following:
• The contrast and comparison of media ethics as practiced in the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and/or Africa.
• The ethical principles of advertising and public relations as currently and historically practiced in the Middle East.
• The impact of new communications and information technologies of ethical transferable of news and commentary.
• How popular culture impacts ethical treatment of news stories in the Middle East.
• The influence of Western media products on Middle East media products, and how they might shape perceptions of morality.
• To what extent do traditional values conflict with modern values of what is true, fair, balanced and unbiased reporting of print and broadcast news and commentary?
• How much do cultural perceptions shape the definition of what is or is not ethical?
• What is the status of Codes of Ethics and Standards and Practices in the Middle East? How rigidly are they self-policed by media agencies?
• Are ethical standards of professionalism in public relations, advertising, public relations, and media management taught in professional training programs?
• What models or theories could help explain how media ethics might differ between cultures?
Articles and book reviews on all topics of mass communication in the Arab World are accepted for this edition.
Queries about potential articles can be made to the editors before May 15, 2011
Complete Article Submissions: May 30, 2011 for this particular issue, scheduled for publication in June.
Submission Guidelines: Click Here
Address queries to Dr. Mahboub Hashem, managing editor, mhashem@aus.edu; Dr. Ralph Berenger, English edition editor, rberenger@aus.edu; Dr. Ilhem Allagui, Arabic Edition Editor, iallagui@aus.edu or Dr. Hania Nashef, Book Review Editor, hnashef@aus.edu
More information here.
