Theme: Transforming Middle East Media
The Arab Spring has focused attention on the role of journalism and media in Arab societies. In many Arab countries, journalists are now operating in a different media environment. Some argue that the professionalism of some journalists has fallen far short of normative goals, a phenomenon often attributed to tight governmental control of the press. Journalism educators must help provide a "new culture" of Arab journalism that benefits from newfound freedoms, but also stresses responsible reporting, based on fundamental principles of journalism, such as independence, accuracy, and verification.
The global social media revolution has also significantly impacted and essentially transformed Middle East media. With a plethora of social media outlets, such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and Google Plus, journalists can now take advantage of the unprecedented opportunity to tell stories that would otherwise be ignored. In this new world, satellite channels regularly air YouTube videos shot on bystanders' cell phone cameras. What are the rules that should govern the use of this material by "mainstream" news sites? Does this "citizen journalism" help or hurt the journalism profession? Furthermore, one can only assume that we have only seen little of what the social media revolution has in store. New social media technologies and vehicles seem to arrive every day-which ones are here to stay, which will be institutionalized and which are just passing fads, soon to be forgotten?
The AUSACE 2012 theme aims to address these and other issues related to the unprecedented changes affecting the Arab media. We welcome abstract submissions for papers and panel submissions for public discussions.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: ausace2012@gmail.com
For submissions: submit online here
Website: www.ausace2012.com
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