Reporting in the MENA Region

A great strength of this book is its recency...Considering the long turn-around cycle for publishing a book, this recency is quite impressive. It is also noteworthy that the authors are clearly experts in the subject matter, as demonstrated in the very knowledgeable and authoritative observations, comments, and arguments.... While journalists elsewhere, particularly those struggling in severe state-controlled and ideologically censored communication environments, continue to manage to survive in this social media era, this research has great global relevance. * Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly *
This timely and well-researched book provides the definitive portrait of journalistic digital practices across North Africa and the Arab world. Ayish and Mellor bring to life journalists’ ongoing struggles with—and accommodations to—the state, the market, civil society, and their own news organizations to define the future of social media. In so doing, the authors challenge over-optimistic claims about the Arab Spring’s democratizing legacy and provide a benchmark for future comparative research. -- Rodney Benson, New York University
A fascinating inquiry into how pan-Arab journalists employ social media tools in order to enrich their engagement with distant audiences. Bringing to bear multiple strands of analysis, it casts into sharp relief a crucial range of factors shaping the post-Arab Spring mediascape. Essential reading for students, researchers, and journalists alike. -- Stuart Allan, Professor and Head of the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Cardiff University
The authors have given us a comprehensive, thorough, and current roadmap of social media practices in the Middle East. It will be valuable for anyone studying social media in global and comparative contexts. -- Andrea Hickerson, Rochester Institute of Technology
An authoritative, lucid, and engaging account of how journalism and social media is evolving in the pan-Arab context. This timely book is crucial reading for anyone serious about understanding contemporary journalism practice, social media, and audience engagement—not just in the pan-Arab context, but globally. -- Einar Thorsen, Bournemouth University
In this exceptionally valuable book, Ayish and Mellor take readers into the pan-Arab news business as it is adjusting to social media’s opportunities and demands. With an impressive trove of data, this volume is essential reading for anyone interested in the continuing evolution of Arab journalism. -- Philip Seib, University of Southern California