This week the ABC Radio National's discussion was about social justice in the Middle East created by blogs. Social justice here refers to a form of freedom to express! There are many middle easterners coming out of their box in these blogs.
Media coverage in the Middle eastern countries are often controlled by the government. Blogging provides an alternative channel for the everyday man and women to voice their subjective views on the world and the way their country is running.
Some of the blogs that I have read from Middle Easterners voice on political views hereas others on personal views. There was a write up on a personal incident.
On ABC Radio National, Mona Eltahaway an Egyptian-born social commentator writes about coverage of sexual harassment incidents in Egypt. These reviews are out not from a media platform, not by the government but from a personal blogger. This is a typical example of how blogs are changing the way news is getting around. There is no more role to play for gatekeepers in this new media evolution;blogging.
Now we don't need to find a support group to host our ideas and issues. A blog is enough to publish your views out to the world.
How about the popular satellite channels like al-Jazeera and al-Arabia which are renown for their sensational news coverage? Mona Eltahaway writes that these mediums are still controlled by old voices whereas the Middle Eastern community is made of more youngsters. So these youngsters turn to blogging and digital space to create an identity and voice for themselves. Blogging seem to be most popular among Middle Eastern women than men. I think this is largely due to the culture of the society rather than religious practices.
Have you ever thought about politician using blogs to advocate their positions?
I will write about this in future entries.
Some Middle easterners blogs are linked here.
Blog from Iran
Adventures of an Iranian teacher
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