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The Media's Role in Shaping Political Culture in the Middle East and North Africa

The Arab Spring powerfully uprooted several long-standing authoritarian governments in the Middle East and North Africa, led to elections in Tunisia and Egypt and motivated some states to initiate reforms.

A Senegalese electoral official empties a ballot box on a table for counting during presidential elections in the capital Dakar February 26, 2012. Senegal's incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade, who is seeking to extend his 12-year rule in the West African state despite complaints he is violating term limits, was heckled by scores of voters as he cast his ballot on Sunday. REUTERS/Joe Penney (SENEGAL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)
Image: Reuters

25 June, 2:00 p.m., Room Aeltestenrat
Hosted by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

A free and responsible media have been and are still crucial in helping the Arab states on their path to democracy. But while social media played an important part in the uprisings, they do not seem to be able to promote active political participation, generate real leadership and form alliances, leaving a gap between the virtually connected youth and the obsolete political institutions.

So what role do both traditional and social media play in the process of shaping a new political culture in the Middle East and North Africa? What needs to change in the political and societal framework so that they can assume their role? What is the perception of Arab media in comparison with Western media in this process? What is different in how social media are used to shape the political culture after as compared to before and during the uprisings? How are the new regimes handling the media? And what effect does the change in the political landscape have on the training of journalists and the quality of news reporting?

Participants representing civil society, politics and the media from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Syria and Lebanon will discuss these questions and analyze the situation in their respective countries, offering interesting insights and perspectives.

Panelists:

Abassi, Omar
Political Scientist, Rabat, Morocco

Al Rantawi, Oraib
Director, Al Quds Center for Political Studies, Amman, Jordan

Allmeling, Anne (Moderator)
Freelance Reporter and Editor, Germany

El Rafei, Shahira
Senior Editor, Al Ahram Newspaper, Cairo, Egypt

Zajcek, Jasna
Journalist, Die Tageszeitung (taz), Germany/Lebanon