TY - JOUR
T1 - The online public sphere in the Arab world
T2 - The war in Iraq on the Al Arabiya website
AU - Al-Saggaf, Yeslam
N1 - Imported on 12 Apr 2017 - DigiTool details were: Journal title (773t) = Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. ISSNs: 1083-6101;
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Many aspects make online media attractive to news readers, including low cost, ease and speed of access, and the opportunity for readers to ask questions, provide feedback, participate in discussions, and interact with other readers in ways not previously possible. Given that traditional media in the Arab world generally are subject to strict government control, the participatory features that accompany the new online media should make these sources even more attractive to users. However, comments posted by readers of online media in the Arab world are still subject to some monitoring and content regulation. This study explores the potential of online media in the Arab world to foster civic engagement. The online source selected for study is www.alarabiya.net, the official website for the popular TV station Al Arabiya in Dubai. Ethnographic observation and analysis of the content of articles published during the Iraq War on Al Arabiya's site and the responses they received show that Arabs not only challenged the views of the Al Arabiya site about the war, but they also offered their own versions of the truth.
AB - Many aspects make online media attractive to news readers, including low cost, ease and speed of access, and the opportunity for readers to ask questions, provide feedback, participate in discussions, and interact with other readers in ways not previously possible. Given that traditional media in the Arab world generally are subject to strict government control, the participatory features that accompany the new online media should make these sources even more attractive to users. However, comments posted by readers of online media in the Arab world are still subject to some monitoring and content regulation. This study explores the potential of online media in the Arab world to foster civic engagement. The online source selected for study is www.alarabiya.net, the official website for the popular TV station Al Arabiya in Dubai. Ethnographic observation and analysis of the content of articles published during the Iraq War on Al Arabiya's site and the responses they received show that Arabs not only challenged the views of the Al Arabiya site about the war, but they also offered their own versions of the truth.
U2 - 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2006.00327.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2006.00327.x
M3 - Article
SN - 1083-6101
VL - 12
SP - 311
EP - 334
JO - Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication
JF - Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication
IS - 1
ER -