Broadcasters of Tomorrow

Iran: One time radical students become establishment

2009-12-28T21:14:00.004+04:00

The Guardian published this excellent commentary on how the students who brought about great political change are now resisting it in order to maintain power.
"The remarkable refusal of Iran's Reformist opposition to give in, and the regime's increasing air of desperation as it attempts, with diminishing legitimacy, to force it to do so, has left many observers, foreign and domestic, wondering whether the second Iranian revolution is finally underway....
The fanatical students who drove an American president to ruin, the faithful warriors who faced down Saddam Hussein and his western backers during eight years of war, the ideologues who uniquely placed their supreme leader, the Vali al-Faqih, on the right hand of God, have now themselves become the establishment they so abhorred – incompetent, corrupt, and reviled."
Read More

VIDEO: UAE Students on CNN discuss the future of the Middle East, the Taliban and Karzai.

2009-12-23T22:09:00.009+04:00

The American University of Sharjah is one of the top universities in the Gulf region. CNN featured an interview with two students from the American University of Sharjah discussing some of the issues in the Middle East.
It must have been an intimidating setting for a couple of students but they did great!.

U.A.E. Removes Sunday London Times From Newsstands

2009-11-30T06:58:00.002+04:00

The Wall Street Journal just reported that the U.A.E. authorities have removed the Sunday London Times from newsstands. There are several schools teaching Media and Communication studies in the UAE, including The American University of Sharjah, The Higher Colleges of Technology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Zayed University, etc . I'd like to hear from media students or professors, what are your thoughts? Here's the text and a link to the full story: By Andrew Critchlow
DUBAI -- The Sunday London Times newspaper was removed by authorities from shelves in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday amid intensive reporting of Dubai's debt problems, an executive at the paper said.
The National Media Council ordered the paper blocked by distributors without providing a reason, an executive at the paper in Dubai told Zawya Dow Jones. The Sunday Times edition available in the U.A.E. on Nov. 29 featured a double-page spread graphic illustrating Dubai's ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum sinking in a sea of debt. The Times wasn't given a reason for the block, or a timeframe when it will be lifted, the executive said.
A government official in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the U.A.E., said that the picture of Sheik Mohammed, which accompanied a story entitled: The sinking of Dubai's dream, was "offensive."
Under the U.A.E.'s media code, publications are prohibited from criticizing the sheikdom's rulers. Local media and government officials have criticized international press coverage of Dubai's debt crisis. Markets around the world fell last week after the government requested a debt standstill for one of its biggest conglomerates.
Earlier this month Dubai's Sheik Mohammed told reporters gathered at an investment conference in the city to "shut up" and stop criticizing the emirate and its crucial relationship with Abu Dhabi.
Dubai is struggling to deal with it debts estimated to exceed $80 billion.
The Sunday Times is part of News International, a unit of News Corp., owner of Dow Jones & Co. The Times and The Sunday Times are published in the U.A.E. through a local partner SAB Media.

Iraqi Journalism Student in Abu Dhabi

2009-01-16T01:58:00.001+04:00

Zahraa Al Khalisi, an Iraqi national studying at The University of Western Ontario's Masters of Arts in Journalism program in Canada, is the program's first student to intern in the Middle East. Zahraa spent 6 weeks as an intern at Abu Dhabi's daily newspaper: The National. The first assignment was a camel "beauty contest," which isn't unusual in the UAE. After the contest, camels were bought and sold with more than Dh25 million (US$6.8m) changing hands.

Zahraa Al Khalisi's full story.

Middle East International Film Festival

2008-10-22T19:05:00.005+04:00

The Abu Dhabi film festival is over, but we're continuing to publish our interviews with student filmmakers who were selected for competition. It's been great to see student filmmakers from a variety of cultures sharing information about their education and inspiration.
Below are interviews with some of the festival's award winners
The Award for Best Emerging Student Filmmaker went to Serena Abi Aad. (interview below)
The Award for Best Narrative, Student Filmmaker, went to Burhan Qurabni. (interview still to come)

Jasmine Kosovic. American Filmmaker Interview

2008-10-21T02:12:00.005+04:00

Name: JASMINE KOSOVIC
Place of Birth: NEW YORK CITY
I Currently Live In: VENICE, CALIFORNIA
Last (or Current) School Attended: AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE’S DIRECTING WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN

My Film: KATE WAKES

Which Family Member Gave You the Most Inspiration: My cousin Daghi, who introduced me to avant garde theatre, and my cousin Velimir, who introduced me to the Beatles!

As a Student, What’s the Most Helpful Class You've Taken?

This may not seem to be connected to filmmaking but for me it is. The class was some sort of survey of modern American politics, but it was the teacher, not the class that made it so important to me. I took the class in college (I went to Barnard College, Columbia University) and in that class I learned how to write properly, even strongly. How to argue my case, be consistent in theme, thesis, etc. This way of thinking came up all the time when I was directing my short; I was always asking myself, “is this way I’m going to place the camera, this way I’m directing the actors/lighting the scene, adding music/etc. “– are these serving my theme?

If I Could Cast One Professional Actor it Would it Be?
Juliette Binoche. I’m writing a script now with her in mind for one of the parts. So she is lodged in my brain at the moment!

My Three Favorite Films: Oh! This is almost impossible! OK, OK… Well, Jim Jarmusch’s STANGER THAN PARADISE made me want to become a director. It was the first time that I saw and understood that film is more than the sum of its parts, that it is a language all its own. Believe it or not, I love Steven Spielberg’s E.T. Federico Fellini’s 8/12 affected me profoundly.

My Three Most Prized Possessions are:
The people in my life are what I prize the most. They’re not possessions, I know, but they are what make my heart whole.

Philipp Yuryev. Russian Filmmaker Interview

2008-10-17T00:36:00.004+04:00

Name: Philipp Yuryev
Place of Birth: Russia, Moscow
I Currently Live In: Moscow
Last (or Current) School Attended: I graduated from The Moscow Gymnasium and now I am studing in The State Institute of cinematography (VGIK)

My Film: “ The Morning in Other eyes”

As a Student, What's the Most Helpful Class You've Taken? The classes of masterpieces of filming by our professor, the famous russian director Aleksey Ychitel. He is the director of many brilliant fiction and documentaries films.
Which Family Member Gave You the Most Inspiration? My uncle Michael Yuryev, the businessman. Now he is going to produce a very interesting film project, it is his first experience. And one more member is my mother, a great fan of cinema. She works on Russian TV as an editor.

If I Could Cast One Professional Actor It Would be? It is very difficult question. I like Jenifer Lopes in films of Almodovar, I should like to try Scarlet Johanson (I like her play very much in Woody Allen's films). And?... of course, Nicole Kidman

My Three Favorite Films: "The Mystery Train” and “ Broken Flowers” by Jim Jarmusch “Everything About My Mother” by Almodovar “The Sky Above Berlin” by Vim Venders.

My 3 Most Prized Possessions Are: 1. I think that my most valuable prize was the prize of audience’s sympathies in the festival of my institute, VGIK. 2. The diploma for the most unexpectable decision of the plot in my second film “ The changed landscape”. 3. The invitation to present my film in child oncological hospital.

Serena Abi Aad. Arab Filmmaker Interview

2008-10-14T00:31:00.010+04:00

This is our first in a series of interviews from the Arab students presenting at the Middle East International Film Festival. Filmmaking in the region has improved at an amazing rate and these filmmakers are the people to watch. They are the stars of the future!

Name: Serena Abi Aad
Place of Birth: Beirut
I Currently Live In: Dubai
Last (or Current) School Attended: IESAV - (USJ)

My Film: The Lullaby
As a Student, What's the Most Helpful Class You've Taken?
Sound editing and mixing (using protools), and Film directing I and II

If I Could Cast One Professional Actor It Would be?
Julia Roberts

My Three Favorite Films:
Requiem For a Dream, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, L'Auberge Espagnole.

My Three Most Prized Possessions are: My interior design books. i can not live without them. if i get any excess luggage when I'm traveling it's because of those books. The films i've made...because...well there isn't much to explain here :) and my sunglasses. i have a collection of those :)

An interview from Copenhagen, Denmark, where Serena was completing post production on her latest documentary film 'Life Under Construction'.

Interviews From Film Festival in Abu Dhabi

2008-10-09T23:50:00.007+04:00

In celebration of the Abu Dhabi based Middle East International Film Festival, and its recognition of student films, we're publishing interviews from great young film makers. We're also publishing articles (below) from the archives where students wrote about Arabic films, and even one critical article from 2006 about the Dubai film festival.
The festival runs until Oct. 19 and features an international competition for Student Films.

Below is a short video clip of two Arabic student filmmakers from the American University of Sharjah, talking about their first films.

VIDEO: Arab Film Students' Movie Clips

2008-10-09T16:00:00.000+04:00

Two Arab students discuss their first films. The music and film clips are all directly from their films.

UAE Filmmakers Tackle Sensitive Issues?

2008-10-01T13:44:00.000+04:00

This story was originally published two years ago. Of course many advances have been made since then. Nevertheless, it's critical of the Dubai film festival and indicative of how blogs can be used to say things mainstream media, who sponsor such festivals, can't.
IndieWire reported on emerging Emirati filmmakers being celebrated at the Dubai International Film Festival. My favourite line in the story comes from Waleed Al Shehhi, whose film "Ahmad Sulaiman" offers a glimpse into the life of a one-legged, mute Emirati. He said "We have no problem discussing sensitive issues in the UAE, " adding, "our films try to reflect aspects of our society."
Hmm..."aspects of our society"....has anyone seen a film about exploiting construction workers or a story about Dubai's inability to regulate traffic violators which results in one of the highest death tolls in the world? It's great local filmmakers are getting exposure. Hopefully this will inspire more Emiratis to make films about local sensitive issues.
After all, it took an Australian, using hidden cameras, to tell the story of 7 year old camel jockeys who were abused by their local keepers. While the prized camels were taken for daily dips in their custom built swimming pools and received the best medical care that money could buy the filmmakers shot images of the child jockeys, sleeping on floors in ramshackle huts. Their film tackled a "sensitive issue" and camel jockeys are now banned, but I didn't see that footage being celebrated here in the UAE.

Saudi Film Keif Al Hal

2008-09-30T04:04:00.000+04:00

In 2006 on of the producers of the Saudi film Keif Al Hal spoke to film students.
The American University of Sharjah has some of the best film students in the Middle East. They've won awards and traveled to the U.S. to screen their films at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Today in class we watched a CNN story about a film made by producers from Saudi Arabia. The film is called ‘Keif Al-Hal’ (Arab News Link). It's set in Saudi Arabia but won't be seen in cinemas in Saudi because there are no public film screenings there. Note, in Saudi you can attend a public stoning but not a film. Students got into a debate about the film and the CNN coverage. The film shows women driving, which is still forbidden in Saudi. The film also features a very aggressive, fundamentalist, brother character who meddles in his sister’s romantic life. The piece included an interview with the Saudi actress who spoke about her personal decision not to wear a veil or any traditional head covering both on and off screen. I've invited students to comment. ‘Keif Al-Hal’ has already played elsewhere in the gulf and at International festivals.

VIDEO: Arab Sex Education and Islam

2008-09-14T23:36:00.000+04:00

Sex education is a hot topic in the Middle East. In some regions sex education is available on Television programs. In other places it’s forbidden. Most of the students in this class didn’t receive any comprehensive, formal sex education in school. They decided to debate the issue. The video is only a short clip from a live debate.

CNN Dubai

2008-09-13T08:59:00.000+04:00

We visited the CNN office in Dubai in June 2006. CNN has broken international stories from the Dubai office. The offices produces video and text content for cnnarabic.com. The Office was surprisingly small but everyone looked to be very busy.

Best Arab University Survey

2008-09-13T06:03:00.001+04:00

Which Arab University is the best? If you or your friends are studying at a University in Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, or Qatar please take this short survey. It will help others learn about University in the region.
Egypt ¦ Kuwait ¦ Lebanon ¦ Oman ¦ Qatar ¦ Saudi Arabi ¦ United Arab Emirates

Then take one more short survey. It's your chance to tell us which is the best overall university in terms of social life, Respect for women, religious values, faculty, etc. Please take the survey and tell your friends. We'll publish the results in one month. Add us to your favorite list and check back!

Moroccan Blogger Released

2008-09-12T06:42:00.004+04:00

The AP is reporting that Mohamed Erraji (see the story below) has been released but must appeal his two year sentence. The Paris-based group Reporters Without Borders said "the Moroccan judicial system must now hear his appeal in a proper manner. We hope the outcome will be fair."
One can only wonder about the significance of the online reaction to his situation. Blogs and Internet-based journalists were all over his story and a Facebook group was created. Curiously I didn't see the story in print (my local paper or national papers). A quick check of the International Herald Tribune and the New York Times came up with no stories.

Al Jazeera

2008-09-12T04:39:00.000+04:00

This is the Al Jazeera video control room at their headquarters in Doha, Qatar. It's one of the best I've seen anywhere in the world! Unlike many other broadcasters in the region, Al Jazeera makes a big effort to train and hire local staff. The staff are mostly from Qatar. Other Arabic TV stations we visited didn't have as many Arabs working behind the scenes.
Al Jazeera was very accommodating. They let us poke around everywhere. We visited the Al Jazeera training centre, the 24-hour news channel and the Al Jazeera Children's Channel.
In Canada, my home, strict broadcast regulations make it difficult for cable operators to provide the channel. Consequently, many people watch Al Jazeera through black market satellite dishes.

Morocco: Blogger Arrested, Sentenced Immediately

2008-09-11T08:23:00.005+04:00

Moroccan blogger Mohammed Raji was arrested at his home in Agadir. An article that Raji had posted on Hespress is said to be the source of the conflict. It was critical of the Moroccan King.
American blogger A Moro in America, has a good post about bloggers and the press in Morocco which, according to Global Voices, is one of the better free speech zones in Muslim North Africa.

Dubai Debt Toxic?

2008-08-01T02:50:00.000+04:00

This from the Telegraph:
"This has been the most spectacular spending mission on Earth. But it's a mirage. If complex debt structures have brought the financial world to its knees, Dubai is the world's biggest toxic timebomb."
This from David Eldon, chairman of the DIFC authority, "Dubai has declared it can cover its debt for the next seven quarters. The infrastructure in Dubai is very good, the regulations are sound and there is openness to business. The city has strong economic fundamentals."
Time will tell.

Blogs & Facebook in Egypt Seen as Dangerous

2008-07-28T07:21:00.003+04:00

More Egyptian bloggers have been arrested. Amnesty International on Saturday urged the authorities in Egypt to free 16 Internet activists jailed for more than two weeks for "threatening national security." Amnesty International believes them to be prisoners of conscience, detained merely for exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
This after a group of people Egypt calls "Internet activists" used their '6 April Youth' Facebook group, to organise a group of about 30 young people who gathered on a beach in Alexandria for a peaceful protest. That's when the 16 were arrested. Public protests are illegal under the state of emergency in force in Egypt for 27 years.
"Amnesty International believes all 16 to be prisoners of conscience, detained for their participation in a peaceful protest. Bloggers continue to face threats and harassment for their work as rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly continue to be restricted in Egypt," it said.

Iran Blogs = Death Penalty ?

2008-07-12T19:31:00.004+04:00

Harvard’s Internet and Democracy blog reports Iran drafted a bill "establishing weblogs and sites promoting corruption, prostitution and apostasy", as crimes punishable by death. If the bill is passed, publish a blog in Iran and you could get the death penalty.
The new bill states those convicted of these crimes "should be punished as 'mohareb' (enemy of God) and 'corrupt on the earth."
Blogging in Iran is very popular. Cyber-savvy young Iranians have been criticising the political system for years.
In fact, Arab blogs are growing at a rapid rate despite bloggers being jailed for blogging. (See our previous posts) The February 2007 edition of the Columbia Journalism Review said that “blogging has taken off in the Arab world because it presents an opportunity to reclaim individuality. In a region where leaders, be they Hassan Nasrallah or Ismail Haniya, claim to speak on behalf of all Arabs, a blog is a chance to contradict, to undermine, and to assert. “
It seems that the Iranian bill is not likely to pass since only 19 members of the Majlis have signed on. At least 129 votes would be needed for it to be approved.
What do you think about the power of Arab bloggers to affect change and the power of authorities to stop them? Please post a comment.

Celebrating over 250,000 Clicks!

2008-05-07T08:30:00.000+04:00

To celebrate this excellent achievement we’ve posted some of the most interesting comments.
By sharing this blog with a friend or posting a comment you've sparked debate, bridged cultural boundaries and sometimes just made us laugh.
Please check out the new Comments pages and see what everyone is saying.
Thanks for making this blog such a success! On behalf of the student contributors, and the folks who provide tips and story ideas, thanks for the clicks. New Comments Page

VIDEO: "Sex" Tutor Gets Her Job Back

2008-05-02T23:00:00.007+04:00

Following the previous post (below) about an art teacher in the United Arab Emirates who was afraid she'd lose her job if she displayed classical art featuring nudity in class comes this: A teacher in the U.K. was suspended from a private school after pupils spotted her in a raunchy video. There is no doubt that if this happened in the UAE the teacher would be fired. A teacher I know was fired for merely blogging, somewhat anonymously, about her frustrating experiences in the U.A.E.
But in the U.K. this teacher was merely suspended and got her job back.
The video was made while the 25-year-old was a student, before she started work as an English teacher at Stockport Grammar School in Manchester in 2006.
Full Story

The Art Teacher's Dilemma

2008-04-29T19:17:00.005+04:00

I was speaking with art teacher at a major university here in the UAE. She wants to expose her Emirati students to the basics of art history; the students have a curious nature and desire to learn. But the art teacher is reluctant to show imagery in the classics that could be deemed "inappropriate," specifically images of nudity.
This dilemma never really goes away here and, unfortunately, in most cases, self censorship rules. This happens because in many academic settings here there are no formal "rules." Self censorship can be more detrimental to teaching as people tend to err on the side of precaution. The teacher also wants to take the students on a road trip to Italy and France. The teacher said that most of her female Emirati students would not be permitted to take a trip, without family, for this purpose.
This was a timely discussion given the controversy about NYU's plans to open a complete liberal-arts university Abu Dhabi.

Moroccan Facebook User Jailed

2008-03-09T23:45:00.005+04:00

The Moroccan government arrested a Facebook user, Fouad Mourtada, for creating a fake profile of a Moroccan prince, as a "joke." The Wall Street Journal reports Facebook denied providing Mourtada's personal information to Moroccan authorities.
How did Moroccan authorities hack Mourtada's Facebook page to get personal info?
The Committee to Protect Bloggers suspects Facebook may have provided the personal info and be lying, adding "it will be impossible to take its denial at face value until and unless the means of discovering Mourtada’s identity becomes public."
The C.P.B. suspects Facebook may have provided the info, in keeping with Facebook's user agreement which says it will share information with law enforcement and other government agencies “when it has a good faith belief it is legally obligated to do so.”
Mourtada was sentenced to three years in prison for creating the satirical Facebook profile.

Video: Arab blogger, Fouad Al-Farhan, jailed

2008-03-03T03:20:00.005+04:00

Ahmad Fouad Al-Farhan, an Arab blogger - see our story below - and a resident of Jeddah, was arrested at his workplace by police on December 10. Authorities are holding him in prison without charges.
Below is an excellent video report that includes clips from other Arab bloggers.
Some of Al-Farhan's top 25 reasons for blogging: (as posted on his blog which authorities objected to)
2. Because societies do not progress until they learn to respect opinions of their members. And we would like to see our society progressing.
3. Because blogging is our only option. We do not have a free media, and freedom to assemble is not allowed.
18. Because our religion encourages us to speak out.
19. Because we are sick and tired of the Saudi media hypocrisy.

Saudi Blogger in Solitary Confinement

2008-03-03T03:05:00.005+04:00

Ahmad Fouad Al-Farhan, 32, a blogger and a resident of Jeddah, was arrested at his workplace by police on December 10. The police first took him home to collect his laptop computer and then took him to prison. Recently Al Farhan's mother said Saudi authorities allowed her son to telephone his family from Jeddah’s Dahban Prison. Al Farhan has not been informed of the charges against him. His detention is believed to be the first arrest of an online critic in the kingdom.
More at the Free Fouad website.
Worse places: 10 Most Censored Countries
Saudi Bloggers Push Cultural Boundaries

Citizen Journalist Beaten to Death in China

2008-01-11T22:32:00.000+04:00

CNN is reporting that a citizen who pulled out his mobile phone to film a confrontation between city inspectors and villagers was beaten to death. According to CNN, the villagers were trying to prevent trucks from dumping waste near their homes.
When Wei Wenhua took out his cell phone to record the protest, more than 50 municipal inspectors turned on him, attacking him for five minutes. Wei was dead on arrival at a Tianmen hospital, the report said.
Full Story.

VIDEO: Faisal Al Kasim, from Al Jazeera, speaks to UAE Students

2008-01-01T04:11:00.001+04:00

Dr. Faisal Al Kasim is one of the most popular, and controversial, television personalities in the world. UAE Students who work on this blog, Broadcasters of Tomorrow, did an exclusive interview, at Al Jazeera's Qatar studios, with Dr. Al Kasim. This first excerpt of the interview deals with critical reaction to his popular Al Jazeera program The Opposite Direction. Critics believe that despite the show’s efforts to provide a forum for open debate the show is, at times, little more than a “shouting match”

Dr. Faisal Al Kasim’s program The Opposite Direction, has been broadcast on Al Jazeera for over 12 years. On the show, guests debate hot-button political and social issues with candour and passion rarely seen on television. The debates occasionally get confrontational; guests have walked off the set mid-debate.

Critics, including Dr. Muhammed Ayish, from University of Sharjah, suggest that the program’s confrontation style is counterproductive. Many critics suggest that these kinds of programs actually limit the space for meaningful dialogue in the public sphere. We read some of Dr. Ayish’s writings to Dr. Al Kasim, and asked for his comments.

More interview clips will be released in the coming weeks.

Haj Pilgrimage: Get it on Credit

2007-12-17T23:26:00.000+04:00

The annual Haj pilgrimage, the largest regular religious gathering in the world, has begun. More than 1.6 million pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia for the Haj.

Abu Dhabi's First Gulf Bank issued a credit card with a photo of Mecca. It promotes a rewards program that encourages people to spend money by offering trips to Mecca. The more you spend the more reward "steps to Mecca" you get. Students, and a professor, debated the merits of this marketing campaign. Click for the Video excerpt.

Dubai's Dangerous Debt

2007-12-14T15:59:00.000+04:00

Dubai has grown at a rapid pace....but at what cost? Human rights groups point to Dubai's exploitation of workers who suffer from fatal accidents and low salaries. But now the Wall Street Journal has pointed the finger at Dubai's financial stability. Here's the growth.

Dubai in 1991.

Dubai today. The Wall Street Journal reports that international "financial analysts are starting to wonder about the amount of debt the city-state is racking up." The article paints a picture of a city with dwindling oil revenues but a limitless appetite for growth. It places Dubai's debt, relative to gross domestic product, at about 42%. That's pretty high compared to Abu Dhabi's debt of 2.9% of GDP. More from WSJ.

Duabi's debt load is four times the average among other Persian Gulf states. Credit-rating companies are asking for more information to determine how sound the government really is.

In the end, if Dubai gets into financial trouble it would take its neighbours with it. Or perhaps they're counting on a regional bailout.

Iraqi Student in Canada

2007-11-23T08:23:00.000+04:00

Alice Wu, a Journalism student at the University of Western Ontario, did a radio report about an Iraqi Student studying at U.W.O. The student, Shamis, left family back in Iraq. She talks to them on the phone whenever she can. Alice says " what got to me, was that every time she called Iraq, her family there always had stories about trying to survive another gunfire, or another bombing. They were actually there--in the midst of it all. Just regular citizens trying to live. I wanted to feature an Iraqi in Canada because I felt that we never hear these kinds of stories, something that hits much closer to home than just 'more Iraqis were killed in Iraq.' That Iraqis here suffer too, not necessarily from the war, but losing family members to the war."
Click to Listen

Fox Porn News

2007-11-17T10:09:00.000+04:00

Here's a clip promoting "Outfoxed." It's a critically acclaimed documentary that examines how media empires, led by Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, have been running a "race to the bottom" in television news.

Al-Jazeera - Top Ten New Fall Shows

2007-10-12T05:53:00.001+04:00

David Letterman has some fun with Al Jazeera. Check out his top 10 list.

Saudi film student recognized

2007-09-29T11:33:00.000+04:00

From Oct. 2007.
American University of Sharjah student Mohammad Bajnaid received great news that his film "20th of May" was selected for the prestigious Emirates Film Competition. Bajnaid, originally from Saudi Arabia was delighted by the news.
The film includes scenes of students using drugs. The comedic tale of a few guys pulling an "all nighter" was almost banned from being shown. Drug use is a very serious crime here so it was no surprise the film raised eyebrows and some people even considered shelving the film. Nevertheless the message of Bajnaid's film is a positive one and thankfully his excellent direction, acting and comedic timing trumped any call to censor the film.

We Are Nominated!

2007-06-24T19:38:00.000+04:00

This blog, Broadcasters of Tomorrow, was nominated for a prestigious Student Journalism Award, sponsored by Reuters and The Press Gazette.

VIDEO: Arab Visa Card & Images of Makkah

2007-05-31T00:38:00.001+04:00

Economic development in Dubai is fostering a consumer based society. We saw an ad for a “Makkah Visa” credit card, complete with images of Makkah, and decided to debate the issue. The Makkah Visa card rewards cardholders with the opportunity to earn ‘steps’ to travel to the Holy City of Makkah. For every AED 1.00 spent on the card, customers earn one ‘step.’ As well as marketing Makkah, ads featuring scantily clad women posing alongside mobile phones, jewelry and chocolates are everywhere in Dubai. How does all this square with the values of the region?

Fire Photos from Abu Dhabi

2007-05-24T20:47:00.000+04:00

The old wedding hall on the tip of Abu Dhabi's mainland caught fire early this evening. The hall, mostly made of wood, burned quickly and fire fighters had a difficult time containing the blaze. I was about to cross the bridge when I saw smoke. I only had a small camera with me and managed to take a few shots before security told me to stop. No word on what started the fire.

VIDEO: Asking Alexandria Rocks Dubai!

2007-05-20T08:28:00.001+04:00

Dubai emo rockers, Asking Alexandria, dropped into the studio and we filmed their live performance. They're about to start touring the UK and they're playing on MTV Europe's segment on Dubai. Not bad for a bunch of students from the UAE, one of whom attended The American University of Sharjah! AA on MySpace.

Saudi Arabia: Talk Radio & Free Speech

2007-05-05T11:36:00.000+04:00

Salama al-Zaid's radio program is an example of the inevitable changes that occur as media in Saudi Arabia becomes more accessible. New York Times correspondent Hassan Fattah, who was a guest lecture in our broadcast journalism class, writes,"In recent years, King Abdullah has encouraged more open discussion, eased restrictions on women and put some restraints on the country’s dreaded vice police, in an attempt at social, if not political, change." More on al-Zaid and his "uncensored" program here. Also worth noting: the story was front and centre on the New York Times home page.

Arab TV: Are Young People Watching?

2007-05-01T12:26:00.000+04:00

American University of Sharjah students made their mark at the Arab Broadcast Forum session about "reaching the Arab Youth on the Street.” LBC TV broadcast the debate hosted by the popular TV personality Shada Omar. It was agreed that new media has successfully reached Arab youth, while traditional media’s share of the youth market is declining.

An issue that has long been pondered is how to engage young viewers: are youth concerned with the current events? Are young people in Kuwait, for example, concerned about what’s happening in Lebanon? A group of us “youth” sat and listened as the panel wondered if we would rather be watching shows that deal with serious issues like unemployment and drug abuse or entertainment programs like Star Academy.

Amr Khaled, an Egyptian Televangelist, who insisted he isn’t a “media expert,” simply said that the youth are the most important viewers. If broadcasters want to reach the the youth they'll have to engage them with better programming.

AUS student Nasreen Abdulla asked the panel why there was such a gap between the youth and media companies. The main problem, according to most of the media experts present like Octavia Nasr, senior editor for Arab Affairs, CNN, is that youth are not represented on Arab media. Mohammed Yehia, interactivity editor, BBC Arabic website suggested that the youth make up the majority of the Arabic population. Therefore, they should be better represented and encouraged to get involved in current issues.

The panel closed with a poignant and political comment on the struggle Arab youth face to freely express themselves in the media. The comment from AUS student Ibrahim Haj Hamad recieved a hearty round of applause from from the audience and LBC TV's Shada Omar .

Blogging at the Arab Broadcast Forum

2007-05-01T11:53:00.000+04:00

AUS Students attended the Arab Broadcast Forum in Abu Dhabi and blogged live from the event!
The forum was attended by media leaders from around the world.

Al Jazeera, Arab TV & State Funding

2007-04-29T18:01:00.000+04:00

Some of the AUS students who were blogging live from the Arab Broadcast Forum.

The final session opened up with a grilling of the guests on discrepancies in the funding of Arab channels. Citing numbers showing a wide disparity between advertising revenues and operating expenses, the moderator sought answers from the panel of advertising moguls and multimedia executives. How long can broadcasters continue to operate without a practical business model? Most Arab channels don’t rely on advertising to cover expenditures; they receive state funding, and according to Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Shammam, “under the table” finances.

Mazen Hayek of MBC Group pointed to the fact that his company was an exception, in that it relied entirely on advertising revenues. He underlined the need to view advertising as a means to developing a robust media community and described advertising models employing new media such as SMS messages. On the other hand, Abu Dhabi TV executive Ali Al-Ahmed stressed the need for significant government funding to cover ever-rising costs. He pointed out that Arab media companies ought to be forthwith about their government funding, since government subsidies and having a pro-regime agenda do not necessarily go hand in hand.

Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Shammam admitted Al Jazeera relies on state funding but approved of trend whereby Arab media channels are trying to develop a sustainable business model based on advertising. There is, however, very little reliable auditing of television viewers and no pan-Arab recognized rating system. Advertising mogul Antoine Shuoeiri blamed ailing television channels for obscuring audience figures. He suggested many broadcasters would be embarrassed by the low numbers of people watching their programs.

Fox News Defends Perceived Bias

2007-04-29T12:20:00.000+04:00

The second annual Arab Media Forum kicked off with a lively debate moderated by Egyptian media giant Emad Adeeb.
The debate touched on the fairness of coverage in Arab and Western news media. Amy Kellogg, Middle East correspondent to Fox News, defended her channel’s perceived bias towards Israel, asserting that Fox News was the only Western channel to maintain a camera crew reporting from Gaza after the war in Lebanon. (although BBC also had a crew there!) Kellog insisted that Fox journalists reporting from the field simply relayed the news and suggested talk shows such as Bill O’Reilly’s are similar to the op-ed pages in newspapers.

The debate shifted to the media's role in escalating sectarian violence. Many audience members agreed that media coverage contributes to widening the gap between warring Shiite and Sunni populations in Iraq. Despite the political context of news, raising distinctions between different religious groups promoted a religious spin on the conflict. Ali Al-Jabri, an Abu Dhabi TV presenter, reaffirmed this view by indicating that Baghdad itself was divided into factional regions.

US Evacuation from Iraq

2007-04-29T11:03:00.000+04:00

Speaking at the Arab Broadcast Forum in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Mohamed Reda Khatami, ex-deputy speaker of Parliament, Islamic Republic of Iran said "at the moment evacuation would be a bigger mistake than invading Iraq."

Arab Broadcast Forum

2007-04-29T09:40:00.000+04:00

Today we are attending the Arab Broadcast Forum in Abu Dhabi. The organizers have generously provided us with the opportunity to participate in this event. One of the key sessions is titled: Reaching the Arab Street. It poses the question "How are Arab broadcasters connecting with the Arab youth?"
The day starts with a session on reform in Iran featuring Dr. Mohamed Reda Khatami, ex-deputy speaker of Parliament, Islamic Republic of Iran. More later.

Saudi Arabian Women at a Football Match

2007-02-12T16:39:00.000+04:00

During a Gulf-Cup, semi-final football match between Saudi Arabia and UAE, held in Abu-Dhabi, some Saudi college girls were spotted among the fans. Photos of the girls were featured on the front pages of Saudi newspapers the next day. There were heavy comments on their choice to be in a stadium full of men, plus they were accused of ruining the country’s image by avoiding their responsibilities and duties as Saudi citizens.

Iran: Photojournalist

2007-02-06T09:17:00.000+04:00

2007-02-04T16:44:00.000+04:00

"I just want you to justify why are you arguing against the family and treating it as an obstacle."
AUS Student on BBC's Doha Debates.

There Are No Hereditary Kings in America

2007-02-01T13:35:00.000+04:00

The federal appeals court in Cincinnati, Ohio could rule against US president Bush. Today the court is hearing arguments in a case that began last year.
From the NY Times: “Last August, a federal judge found that the president of the United States broke the law, committed a serious felony and violated the Constitution.”
Judge Taylor of the United States District Court in Detroit wrote, among other things, that US president Bush had “undisputedly violated the First and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution.” She added the line “There are no hereditary kings in America.”
The US National Security agency had “been monitoring the phone calls and e-mail messages of Americans for more than four years without first obtaining warrants from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, as required by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.”
President Nixon was impeached for wiretapping. The article notes that Nixon “caused wiretaps to be placed on the telephones of 17 persons without having obtained a court order authorizing the tap, as required by federal law; in violation of Sections 241, 371 and 2510-11 of the Criminal Code.
President Bush could probably be charged with wiretapping not 17 but thousands of people."
NY Times Story
San Fransisco Chronicle on the Nixon and Bush arguments

Bloggers Attack the Largest News Agency in the World

2007-01-14T09:12:00.000+04:00

For the past six weeks irate, right-wing bloggers have been accusing the Associated Press of faking news. Based on information the US government provided, the bloggers alleged AP's agenda was to paint a bleak picture of sectarian violence in Iraq. That came to an end recently when the US military admitted it had lied about a news source.

It all began in November, after AP ran a story about six Sunnis being attacked and burned to death by Shiites at a mosque. The AP story included a line about a source. The U.S. military, and the Iraq government, said the source never existed. The governments said that AP’s source on the story was made-up. They claimed the story was fabricated.

Conservative bloggers used the official story, that the witness never existed, to attack AP. Bloggers got busy criticizing the media. The blogsphere buzzed with posts about the left-wing bias of news reporting. They used the story to illustrate Western media’s alleged bias towards presenting Iraq in the worst possible light.

Then this week the US reversed its earlier denial and announced that the source was actually legitimate and that the story about six Sunnis being attacked and burned to death by Shiites at a mosque was true.

The rally by right-wing bloggers brings up questions. Who was behind the bloggers’ rally to attack AP? Why did the story, which received so much Internet traffic, get almost no coverage in mainstream media? Why did the US and Iraq governments deny the existence of the source? In the end, the governments’ denials, and the campaign against a credible news organization by right-wing online activists, shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, the war was initiated by fooling US citizens, and the media, into a battle using a campaign of misinformation and half truths, by a leader who still doesn’t know the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite. In the words of a confused G.W. Bush “Fool me once…fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."

Arab Christian Exodus

2007-01-11T09:17:00.000+04:00

The Crossroads Arabia blog has posted a piece about Christians leaving the Middle East.
"Recently, Baghdad and Mosul have been emptied of over 50 percent of their Christian inhabitants. Some of them have left out of fear, others voluntarily, and the rest have been forced to leave." The post links to an article by Hussein Shobokshi in the pan-Arab, Arabic daily Asharq Alawsat.

Video: Jailed Reporters & Bloggers

2007-01-08T22:46:00.000+04:00

Students from The American University of Sharjah comment on blogging and the news that online reporters and bloggers are being jailed.

Dubai University Senior Lecturer: "Grades Are Grades"

2007-01-01T01:01:00.000+04:00

Abu Dhabi's newspaper, The National, is reporting that some high school students are experiencing great dificulty adapting to the new math curriculum. According to the paper, some have asked the Ministry of Education to change how their final grades are calculated to more accurately reflect the difficulty of new the tests.

Educators said the new exams, which move away from memorisation of facts and figures, were necessary to provide an accurate picture of student performance.
Commenting on requests to adjust grades, Dr. Clifton Chadwick, a senior lecturer in the faculty of education at the British University in Dubai said “grades are grades.”
The National reports that Dr. Chadwick’s sentiment is in line with the position taken by the Ministry of Education.

A recent Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study found that five times as many students in Dubai were taught by teachers who did not graduate in education than the international average.

Dubai’s TIMSS results, released in December, showed that pupils studying the national curriculum in state schools posted the lowest scores, lagging substantially behind their peers in private schools.
Full Article

VIDEO: Saudi Film "Keif Al-Hal" Disappoints Students

2006-12-20T09:40:00.000+04:00

Due to a request by a subject in this video it is no longer available.

When You Are a Journalist, You Are No Longer An Arab

2006-12-20T08:31:00.000+04:00

Hassan Fattah, a Middle East correspondent for The New York Times, outlined the basics of journalistic ethics, while recounting his role in presenting the region to an American audience.

Speaking at a broadcast journalism class in the American University of Sharjah, the Beirut-born Fattah highlighted the reporter’s need to judge the news value of events, while also presenting the big picture. Citing his experiences in

Lebanon

during the war, Fattah underlined the importance of having good sources, stressing that being approachable was a recipe for success. He urged budding journalists to forsake their ego in the search for information, quipping that “a good interview should feel like a therapy session.”

Fattah noted the emotional impact of covering a war zone, but emphasized that a reporter should not be taken by the story. Dubbing criticism of articles covering the Arab-Israeli conflict as commonplace in the

United States

, Fattah called for nonpartisanship, explaining that “when you are a journalist, you are no longer an Arab.” -Kareem Shaheen

Online Journalists Jailed

2006-12-09T19:14:00.000+04:00

A new census by the Committee to Protect Journalists found a record 134 journalists in jail in 24 countries.
Internet bloggers and online reporters now make up one-third of those incarcerated. While print reporters, editors and photographers made up the largest number of jailed journalists, with 67 cases, there were 49 imprisoned Internet journalists, making them the second-largest category.

Newspaper to be Shut Down?

2006-12-07T11:35:00.000+04:00

Secret Dubai Diary reports that the tabloid 7Days might be shut down.
Recently three Arab papers raged against 7Days in their editorials and called for advertisers to boycott the tabloid. The paper is now hard to find and was allegedly banned from Emaar properties. SDD speculates a recent interview with UAE President Khalifa, could have sparked the controversy.
The interview, with a London-based Arabic paper, was reprinted from WAM and AFP copy. Apparently some people think something was lost in translation. Editorials in the Arab press raged against 7Days claiming Khalifa [was] misquoted and utterly insulted. The article and interview has been deleted from the 7Days site, but its Google cache can be seen here.
Last month the Media Watch blog mysteriously vanished after in-depth reporting on the problems at the Khaleej Times newspaper. I was hoping someone would dare to fill the void and blog about the politically charged media scene. Fortunately Secret Dubai Diary has picked up the beat. Full story at Secret Dubai Diary.

George Bush Sr. Slammed by Student

2006-11-23T13:20:00.000+04:00

Nevine Al Rumeisi, a student from the Higher Colleges of Technology, addressed George Bush Sr. at the World Leadership Summit in Abu Dhabi. He told Bush that there is no respect for his son. He added there is no respect for the policies Bush Jr. is creating around the world. Navine's affirmations created strong applause and further criticism for US policies in the region.
George Bush Sr. replied that his son is a "good man" and he is fighting for freedom and peace. Full Story.

VIDEO: Student Film Festival at AUS

2006-11-19T16:15:00.000+04:00

A short clip about the Pause and Play International Film Festival!

VIDEO: Abu Dhabi Implosion

2006-11-18T16:18:00.000+04:00

We were on the scene for the demolition of an old building in khalidiya, Abu Dhabi. Hundreds watched, now you can too!

Saudi Bloggers Push Cultural Boundaries

2006-11-14T15:55:00.000+04:00

The Saudi Bureau of the Washington Post reports that bloggers are challenging political and cultural restrictions. Bloggers are managing to publish despite attempts to be shut down. Sexual boundaries are being challenged too. A woman blogging as "Mystique" writes about life in Saudi from a women's point of view. One post recounts her real-life experience at a local store that sells sex paraphernalia.

New Film Festival

2006-11-07T23:48:00.000+04:00

The American University of Sharjah's Pause and Play International Film Festival just launched. It has a wide range of categories including one for "student" films. Submission deadline is January 26, 2007. Submit your work and anything could happen....you might be adding "Award Winning" to your resume!

Al Jazeera and Israeli TV Buy Same Film

2006-11-07T06:04:00.000+04:00

51 Birch Street a Documentary about a Jewish Couple, from Long Island, New York, has been bought by both Al Jazeera and Israeli television. The film isn't about religion or race, it's about family, something we all share. Here's a synopsis: Documentary filmmaker Doug Block had every reason to believe his parent’s 54-year marriage was a good one. So he isn’t prepared when, just a few months after his mother’s unexpected death, his 83-year old father phones to announce that he’s moving to Florida to live with “Kitty”, his secretary from 40 years before.

VIDEO: TV, Nashwa on The BBC's Doha Debates Show

2006-10-26T17:06:00.000+04:00

The Qatar Foundation hosts and funds a unique TV program: The Doha Debates. Each month experts from the Arab world, and around the globe, debate big picture issues. Past debate topics include: Hezbollah's right to fight on behalf of Lebanon and does the Arab media have anything to learn from journalism in the West.
We visited the broadcast and appeared on the video of the program. A great big thanks to Ali, Tim and the gang for making us feel welcome and answering all our questions. Watch the full show, Video: 'This House believes the family is a major obstacle to reform in the Arab world.'

The Doha Debates: Photo

2006-10-14T09:26:00.000+04:00

American University of Sharjah student Talal sits in the presenter's chair to rehearse the show opener during a technical run through.

VIDEO: Production Studio. Behind the Scenes

2006-10-13T10:22:00.001+04:00

Video production at the American University of Sharjah. Arab students learn the secrets of television production, alongside students from around the world.

VIDEO: Abortion and Dating Debate Clips

2006-10-13T10:20:00.000+04:00

Sex education, dating and abortion are controversial issues anywhere. Here in the UAE we held two debates, one on Abortion and one on Dating. This video features clips from both debates edited together. These debates were the on-camera debuts for both hosts!

Welcome

2006-10-12T19:24:00.000+04:00

This blog features work of students in the United Arab Emirates. The ideas expressed here are captured on video and edited by broadcast journalism students. Videos are posted freely. No effort is made to find a balance of opinion. These are all point of view pieces that represent the ideas of the filmakers or their subjects. Please take a moment to comment, we really appreciate your thoughts.