http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review Layalina produces two publications: the Layalina Review, a peerless one-stop source for monitoring developments in the spheres of public diplomacy and Arab media, and "Perspectives," a monthly op-ed series featuring the highest caliber academics and practitioners in public diplomacy and Arab media. http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.4/article1.html As the war is raging in Afghanistan between the US-NATO coalition and the Taliban, propaganda and dissemination of information have brought forth a new dimension to the conflict many believe is key to the outcome. 2010-02-25 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.4/article2.html Israel has recently announced a new effort to re-brand its image as a militaristic, belligerent country in the wake of a report which found most Israelis feel international opinion of their state is too negative. The campaign will attempt to engage citizens as “goodwill ambassadors” through leaflets and coaching classes before they travel abroad. 2010-02-25 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.4/article3.html Amidst reports of clashes between opposition supporters and police, authorities stifle the media and opposition on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In the meantime, the US is reassessing its approach to engagement with Iran and how to best encourage greater freedom in the country. 2010-02-25 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.4/article4.html Despite Avatar's huge box office success, the controversy surrounding the movie has generated debate regarding its alleged connection to American propaganda and etymological roots to Hebrew words. 2010-02-25 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.4/article5.html US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton advocated open dialogue and equal partnership between the US and the Gulf region in recent visits to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Clinton mainly focused on Iran as she called for cooperation from other countries in the Middle East in putting pressure on the Islamic Republic. 2010-02-25 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.4/article6.html Although little Arabic-language content is available on the internet, Google’s Vinton Cerf has recently discussed expanding services and information in the Middle East and North Africa region. Some experts advocate a shift in social media and marketing tactics, while others remain doubtful, citing the potentially negative effects of technology on society. 2010-02-25 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.4/article7.html Al-Hurra is still considered a mouthpiece of the US government in the Middle East, and therefore enjoys little to no popularity or credibility in the region. 2010-02-25 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.4/article8.html Despite a decline in popularity across the world, the US president manages to continue to inspire people who still expect him to deliver on his initial promises of engagement. 2010-02-25                         http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.3/article1.html                Internet outreach has become the most popular item among the US government’s array of public diplomacy tools, as the Department of State integrates it in empowering individuals and promoting greater freedom.                                2010-02-11                                http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.3/article2.html                The UN Goldstone report and the allegation of war crimes perpetrated by Israel in Gaza have considerably affected the image of the Jewish state, which is now considering new PR campaigns.                                2010-02-11                                http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.3/article3.html                The rapidly changing state of the media in the Arab world highlights the numerous challenges presented in the region.                                2010-02-11                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.3/article4.html                The efficacy of Al-Hurra, the USG-funded media outlet in the Arab world, still generates debates on whether it should exist or not, while highlighting the lack of viewers and prohibition against domestic broadcasts as particularly incapacitating.                                2010-02-11                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.3/article5.html                Google aims to destroy barriers to accessing technology by creating a position for a lobbyist in the Middle East to promote network neutrality.                                2010-02-11                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.3/article6.html                The Dubai Appeals Court has issued a verdict ordering Al-Arabiya to compensate the Saudi Prince Saif Al-Islam for failing to broadcast an interview recorded in 2008.                                2010-02-11                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.3/article7.html                Despite claims of Arab official under-representation, this year’s annual World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland featured the first televised debate by an Arab network, Al-Arabiya, focusing on the most pressing political, economic and business issues, with a primary emphasis on the Arab-Israeli conflict.                                2010-02-11                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.3/article8.html                Comprehensive bi-partisan legislation was introduced by the Senate of Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry and Senator Dick Lugar aimed at provided authority, policy guidance, and operative oversight to the State Department.                                2010-02-11                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.3/article9.html                As the media industry in the Middle East remains dynamic and independent, Saudi media company Rotana continues to expand, providing unique opportunities and challenges in the region.                                2010-02-11                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.3/article10.html                Despite calls to lift heavy censorship and regulations on journalism, organizations are still battling to secure a prominent role for media development in the Middle East, particularly as some argue that smaller internet-based publications do not warrant equal treatment.                                2010-02-11                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Perspectives/AlanHeil.html                Alan Heil, former deputy director of Voice of America, discusses the benefits that new technology and the internet bring to Washington's global engagement endeavors through U.S. publicly-funded civilian overseas networks and broadcasting. New technologies can bring people together and provide them with a voice over the internet, giving them a global outreach; this is what one knowledgeable observer defines as "a global electronic town meeting."                                2010-02-04                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.2/article1.html                As a climate of mistrust and suspicion settle in over Pakistan and the United States, Defense Secretary Robert Gates made a recent visit to Pakistan in an attempt to strengthen ties between both countries. In the meantime, the Taliban is overhauling its image to win the hearts and minds of the region.                                2010-01-28                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.2/article2.html                After a year in tenure, President Barack Obama’s ratings remain high abroad, despite a dropping approval rating at home. While America’s image and popularity has improved, the country’s credibility remains very low internationally.                                2010-01-28                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.2/article3.html                A recently launched State Department campaign aimed at supporting global internet freedom has provided a context for renewed discussions over ‘soft power’ as a foreign policy tool to promote freedom of speech around the world.                                2010-01-28                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.2/article4.html                Following the Department of Defense recent update of its doctrine on psychological operations, critics investigate the role the media has played in creating negative propaganda and its interference with foreign policy.                                2010-01-28                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.2/article5.html                Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is discussing possible media partnership with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, owner of the leading media company Rotana, while Arabs expressed their worries of Murdoch gaining a foothold in regional media, claiming his media machine generally portrays them as terrorists.                                2010-01-28                                       http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.2/article6.html                The Qatari channel is hailed by some as a bastion of independent regional reporting while others criticize its bias in reporting on regional conflicts.                                2010-01-28                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.2/article7.html                While President Obama’s speech in Cairo was positively received, he has been criticized for not following up his public diplomacy efforts with concrete action on foreign policy issues central to the Muslim world.                                2010-01-28                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.2/article8.html                The United States government has come under fire for new, controversial initiatives aiming to protect the country from future terrorist attacks. Experts offer their opinion on what the Obama administration is missing in its national security policy.                                  2010-01-28                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.2/article9.html                Although prospects remain bleak for the relationship between the United States and Iran, some pro-democracy advocates believe that a regime change is just around the corner and that an alliance between the two countries may be possible.                                2010-01-28                                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.2/article10.html                Although prospects remain bleak for the relationship between the United States and Iran, some pro-democracy advocates believe that a regime change is just around the corner and that an alliance between the two countries may be possible.                                2010-01-28        http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.1/article1.html A recent bill adopted by the House of Representatives calls for punitive measures against TV networks seen as spreading anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East. The bill is generating widespread criticism in the region as many accuse the US government of infringing upon national sovereignty. 2010-01-14 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.1/article2.html Public diplomacy advocates are calling for a private-public partnership to win the war of ideas against a radical Islamist ideology. These measures require an unprecedented use of market research and communications resources. 2010-01-14 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.1/article3.html As the US Congress appropriates over a million more dollars for Al-Hurra TV, commentators, such as James Zogby, renew their criticism of Al-Hurra’s mission and success. 2010-01-14 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.1/article4.html In US public diplomacy efforts, social networking sites are being used to empower grassroots movements in an attempt to encourage democratization and access to information, resources and markets in key countries such as Iran. 2010-01-14 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.1/article5.html Radicalizing preachers are becoming an increasing source of concern for national security as a pattern of home-grown Islamic terrorism is detected in the US. 2010-01-14 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.1/article6.html After the "Failed Christmas Terrorist Attack," President Obama made several remarks censuring the intelligence community and pledged to work with Congress to increase resources for national security. Critics of the administration denounced his remarks, identifying them as more examples of Obama's flawed foreign policy. 2010-01-14 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.1/article7.html The American media's misrepresentation of Muslims and Islam, which intrinsically links the religion with terrorism, contributes to a growing Islamophobia. 2010-01-14 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.1/article8.html While 2009 has witnessed an erosion of the most fundamental press freedom and persecution of dozens of independent reporters and online bloggers, journalist advocacy organizations continue their battle towards more freedom of expression and democracy in the Arab world. 2010-01-14 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.1/article9.html The new security measures, which generated protests all over the world, have generated quite a fear among Saudi students living in the US, who worry that they may experience the same frenzy that followed 9/11. 2010-01-14 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_VI.1/article.10html Recent jihadist incidents have demonstrated a failure to communicate not only among the various US agencies but also across national intelligence services, highlighting that the war on terror is far from being over. 2010-01-14                              http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Perspectives/WilliamKiehl.html               William P. Kiehl, Editor of the online journal American Diplomacy, argues that funding imbalances and a lack of internal cohesion and interagency coordination have made the Department of State into 'a junior partner [to the Department of Defense (DoD)] or an afterthought' in foreign affairs. Kiehl remarks that reform similar in scope to the Goldwater-Nichols Defense Reorganization Act is necessary for State to reassess its organizational structure. He concludes that State should be restructured to accommodate the many roles it must play through a broader mandate and authority to 'encompass wide-ranging end-to-end coordination and management of foreign affairs from public diplomacy to development to trade.'                               2010-01-05                                     http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.26/article1.html               While President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize demonstrates general appreciation for his diplomatic approach to international contentious issues, some argue that he has yet to deliver on his pledge for peace.                               2009-12-17                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.26/article2.html               Switzerland’s recent ban of minarets has inspired impassioned and polarized reactions on both side of the issue, and analysts agree the ban will likely damaging diplomatic outreach in the Middle East and among Muslims worldwide.                               2009-12-17                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.26/article3.html               President Obama’s first year was marked by his policy of engagement with the Middle East and the Muslim world. Yet the Arab world generally expresses disapproval with his handling of Israeli-Palestinian issues and the building of troops in Afghanistan jeopardize the positive response the president yielded after Cairo.                               2009-12-17                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.26/article4.html               After words and blows were exchanged between Egyptians and Algerians, the dust appears to be settling in the aftermath of the Egypt-Algeria soccer matches. Politicians speak of reconciliation, although tension still remains.                               2009-12-17                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.26/article5.html               Reporters cover media restrictions surrounding recent anti-government demonstrations in Iran while continuing to blast Iranian officials for extreme media repression.                               2009-12-17                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.26/article6.html               The United States House of Representatives recently passed a bill that will brand Arab media outlets that broadcast “incitements to violence” against the US as terrorist entities. If the bill becomes law, it will also take action against satellite carriers that broadcast such networks.                               2009-12-17                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.26/article7.html               While the UN and women's rights activists strive to improve the social and economic role of women in the Arab world, recent developments are breaking new ground in the Middle East.                               2009-12-17                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.26/article8.html               Gulf Cooperation Council member states gather this week in Kuwait for their 30th annual summit. Leaders are enthusiastic that the council will make advancements on issues troubling the region, but detractors claim little has been achieved on previous occasions.                               2009-12-17                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.26/article9.html               Dubai hosted the sixth annual Dubai International Film Festival despite the emirate's recent economic crisis. The festival is considered a link between cultures as it unites industry professionals from around the world who use the event to network and celebrate the world of film.                               2009-12-17                      http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.26/article10.html               Bloggers in the Arab world discuss the challenges they face at recent meetings and workshops. While there is increasing awareness and use of new communication technologies in the Middle East, the pace of adoption has been relatively slow.                               2009-12-17        http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Perspectives/NadiaBilbassy.html Nadia Bilbassy, Chief U.S. Correspondent for the Middle East Broadcasting Corporation, discusses how the U.S. response to the Goldstone report stood as one true test of President Obama's administration's rhetoric in promoting engagement with the Arab world. Bilbassy makes the case that he U.S. veto of the Goldstone report damaged America's credibility in the Middle East as reliable partner in promoting democracy and respect for human rights and further confirmed an accused bias towards Israel. 2009-12-10 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.25/article1.html The State Department’s public diplomacy efforts still remain unclear. According to experts, the US agency must have a clear plan aligned with the USG’s overall strategic communication objectives. 2009-12-03 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.25/article2.html President Obama’s recent nominations to more key posts are generating further controversies and debates. 2009-12-03 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.25/article3.html With the year coming to a close, analysts and commentators reflect on Obama’s accomplishments, unfulfilled promises, and Americans’ growing sense of disillusionment. 2009-12-03 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.25/article4.html Al-Youm, a show that tackles regional and international news, and economic, cultural and social issues, is boosting Al-Hurra’s ratings. 2009-12-03 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.25/article5.html On the anniversary of Saddam Hussein’s execution, a new channel called “Al-Arabi” started broadcasting the life story and speeches of Iraq's former leader on satellite television. No one seems to know for sure who is funding it. 2009-12-03 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.25/article6.html New regulations in Iraq claiming to moderate the media and avoid sectarian tensions may in fact aim to muzzle news outlets as the elections approach. 2009-12-03 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.25/article7.html In late November, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission gave the green light to Al-Jazeera English, which will soon air on televisions across Canada. 2009-12-03 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.25/article8.html In an attempt to recruit Arab-Americans, the Central Intelligence Agency will launch a new commercial which tackle the concepts of family, Arab culture, and American patriotism. 2009-12-03 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.25/article9.html Clashes between Egypt and Algeria following the recent soccer debacle between both countries highlighted existing tensions in inter-Arab relations. 2009-12-03 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.25/article10.html The Palestinian Authority’s recent request to the United Nations for a resolution to create a Palestinian state has prompted skeptical reactions from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian issue. 2009-12-03 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.25/article11.html A recent Middle East Broadband market survey shows that internet penetration remains low across the region, highlighting income disparities and access to technology. 2009-12-03 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.24/article1.html President Obama nominated on November 18 the nominees of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the United States Government's non-military broadcasting. 2009-11-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.24/article2.html Hopes and faith in President Barack Obama are fading across the Arab world as the lack of results become more obvious. 2009-11-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.24/article3.html Department of Homeland Security officials are working with groups around America to combat possible anti-Muslim backlash following the shootings at Fort Hood in Texas by Major Nidal Malik Hasan. 2009-11-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.24/article4.html In a recent official visit to Pakistan, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated US engagement towards promoting common interests between both countries, while improving communication especially with local media. 2009-11-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.24/article5.html Saudi-based Middle East satellite providers Nilesat and Arabsat have both stopped carrying the Tehran-based Al-Alam news channel. Atif Al-Musawi, manager of the Al-Alam’s Beirut office told that did not receive notification before their broadcasts were curtailed. 2009-11-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.24/article6.html The Obama administration took an important step towards closing the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, when it announced plans to prosecute the accused 9/11 conspirators in the United States. 2009-11-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.24/article7.html US public diplomacy must reestablish its moral imperative to undermine extremists’ messages, some analysts suggest. But others insist that without concrete policy to back it up, public diplomacy can’t succeed. 2009-11-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.24/article8.html As the United States commits itself to improving Pakistan's ailing economy and strengthening the country's democratic institutions, Secretary Clinton's recent visit aimed at eliminating the troubling "trust deficit" and encouraging Islamabad to adopt the Kerry-Lugar Legislation. 2009-11-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.24/article9.html The Obama Administration brings a focus to the arts and cultural diplomacy. Experts take a step back and try to see the true meaning and implications of this unconventional method of diplomacy. 2009-11-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.24/article10.html Reporter Without Borders now ranks Lebanon higher than Israel in terms of press freedom, and the Dubai Press Club is celebrating its tenth anniversary. But a culture of censorship is still pervasive throughout the Middle East, highlighted by a recent media crackdown in Iraq via sanctions and legal actions on major news outlets. 2009-11-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.24/article11.html The events of the 15th Cairo Arab Media Festival and the widespread popularity of the TV show Noor are just two indicators of the growing role of television in everyday life in the Middle East and North Africa. 2009-11-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.23/article1.html In a recent official visit to Pakistan, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated US engagement towards promoting common interests between both countries, while improving communication especially with local media. 2009-11-05 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.23/article2.html After a recent United Nations debate, the Goldstone Report on Operation Cast Lead continues to draw both support and dissidence. While some are claiming inherent Anti-Semitism and subjectivity of the report, others argue that there must be increased accountability of the actions of IDF personnel and are calling for more specificity to the counterclaims of dissidents. 2009-11-05 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.23/article3.html A female journalist sentenced to 60 lashes by a court in Jeddah for her involvement in a show that sparked huge controversy in the country, The Bold Red Line, gets pardoned by the King. The case generated wide debates regarding the state of media freedom and its limits in the Kingdom. 2009-11-05 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.23/article4.html Al-Arabiya finds itself marred in a controversial case where it is accused by Saudi citizen of blasphemy, which is considered a serious public offence in Saudi Arabia. 2009-11-05 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.23/article5.html Following the fifth re-election of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on October 25th, the Tunisian government is accused of putting together a package of repression which suppressed other candidates and silenced independent media coverage of the campaign. 2009-11-05 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.23/article6.html The results of the Reporters Without Borders' 2009 freedom index painted a grim picture of press freedom in the Arab world. At a conference in Qatar, Arab journalists conferred to discuss freedom of speech in the Middle East. 2009-11-05 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.23/article7.html The recent Arab Knowledge Report reveals distressingly high levels of illiteracy, poor education and lack of innovation in the Middle East, despite rapidly rising Internet use. The report, co-authored by the UN and a Dubai foundation, claims the mix of uneducated and unemployed youth is a recipe for disaster. 2009-11-05 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.23/article8.html In reaching to Muslims, the Obama administration is pursuing engagement with local communities, initiatives for the common good, a defense of freedom of religion and expression, and addressing local needs instead of an emphasis on curtailing violent extremism. 2009-11-05 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.23/article9.html New non-Latin domain names and script appear on the internet, opening up new opportunities for millions of people across the globes. 2009-11-05 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.23/article10.html Qatar becomes the second venue for the New York Tribeca Film Festival. The film festival is one in a number of indicators which point to a boom of the broadcast media industry in the Middle East. 2009-11-05 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Perspectives/NancySnow.html Dr. Nancy Snow, Associate Professor of Public Diplomacy at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, discusses how U.S. credibility and standing abroad cannot solely hinge on the positive image of President Obama. Snow remarks that while Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale has yet to solidify her agenda, relying on the president to carry out U.S. public diplomacy is a dangerous path to tread on, as "we are now on a collision course among American soft power in rhetoric, a global citizen president in principle, and a commander-in-chief in practice." 2009-11-04 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.22/article1.html A recent error in the budget drawn by DoD for information operations has raised concern on the Hill and across the Public Diplomacy community who is increasingly concerned at seeing the military broaden its “propaganda” campaigns without oversight. 2009-22-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.22/article2.html While many believe that the US President deserved the Nobel Peace Prize Award for inspiring an ideology of peace across the globe, some argue that it was still too premature to grant him this honor. Obama accepted the award as an affirmation of American leadership rather than a recognition of his own achievements. 2009-22-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.22/article3.html The State Department announces another initiative to exploit and to expands social networking capabilities in the Middle East and North Africa. 2009-22-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.22/article4.html The Kerry-Lugar Bill sparks heated responses from both sides of the aisle in the United States and Pakistan. 2009-22-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.22/article5.html The Palestinian Authority has reversed its position twice on the recent report by Richard Goldstone to the UN Human Rights Council on the state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Commentators express a wide range of reactions calling it a long overdue indictment of Israeli military policy to claiming it’s too soft on terrorism. 2009-22-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.22/article6.html This month’s Nobel Prize, along with America’s lead ranking by the Anholt Nation Brands Index, have sent foreign policy analysts rushing to forecast how Brand America will craft its new image. 2009-22-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.22/article7.html A recent ban on the niqab by the world’s leading Sunni school of Islam Al-Azhar has generated controversial debates in Egypt, putting in question the religious authority of the institution. 2009-22-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.22/article8.html Saudi and Iranian media have become a battlefield for each country to promote their own interests, consequently shaping Obama‘s approach to Iran. 2009-22-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.22/article9.html Recent commercial and broadcast enterprises have boosted job creation and media development in the Emirate, fostering greater investment and program diversity. 2009-22-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.21/article1.html Despite a significant increase in non-military aid to Pakistan by the House of Representatives in a bid to prevent terrorism, the US remains hugely unpopular with increasing numbers of Pakistanis rejecting America as a partner to fight militancy in their own country. 2009-10-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.21/article2.html According to some, Chicago may have lost a bid to be the 2016 Olympic city due to America’s negative standing internationally, despite Obama's popularity. 2009-10-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.21/article3.html Evidence from a recent GAO report show that language barriers impede the United State’s diplomatic mission in regions of strategic interest, such as East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. New initiatives are required to address the gaps left behind by the foreign language shortfalls. 2009-10-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.21/article4.html Top US General McChrystal recently declared that the Taliban and other insurgent groups are gaining ground on the information warfare, undermining the credibility of the American government. 2009-10-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.21/article5.html Recent Pentagon internet initiative to increase outreach over the web is being dubbed by experts and analyst as a propaganda operation that could profoundly damage DoD and DoS images. 2009-10-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.21/article6.html Although the Obama Administration is coming out swinging in regards to public diplomacy, some question its utility in American foreign policy. 2009-10-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.21/article7.html Lack of leadership and proper appropriation of resources are currently affecting public diplomacy efforts that fail to materialize into concrete policies and strategy. 2009-10-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.21/article8.html Muslim groups have recently staged events aimed at highlighting a more positive image of Islam in the US. A national prayer rally on the west lawn of the Capitol and IlmFest, an educational conference in Baltimore, both drew thousands of attendees last week. 2009-10-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.21/article9.html Several new endeavors are promoting Arab comedy in the Middle East and the West: A humorous Jordanian website, the Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in LA and standup comedy tour "Arabs Gone Wild." 2009-10-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.21/article10.html The latest failed terror plots in the US and Saudi Arabia illustrate recent success in the fight against terrorism. But they also demonstrate the threat of terrorism has not diminished; especially in light of recent developments in Yemen, and in light of Al-Zawahiri’s bash on President Obama and Turkey in a recently released tape. 2009-10-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.21/article11.html The recent opening of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia is generating a boarder debate on education and modernization in the Kingdom. 2009-10-08 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Perspectives/NicholasCull.html Dr. Nicholas Cull, Professor of Public Diplomacy and Director of the Masters Program in Public Diplomacy at USC, marks the ten year anniversary of the failed merger of USIA with the State Department. Once a "necessity of the Cold War," Dr. Cull remarks that the agency was quickly relegated to the back burner from the mid-nineties on, bringing about the demise of effective public diplomacy efforts until very recently. 2009-09-30 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.20/article1.html Eight years after the September 11 attacks, Americans believe that Muslims face more discrimination than other religious groups in the Unites States. 2009-09-24 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.20/article2.html Although President Obama’s overtures boosted relations between the US and the Arab world, some argue that little has been achieved to significantly improve America’s image abroad or to advance US strategic interests. 2009-09-24 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.20/article3.html The current crisis facing public diplomacy between the Department of State and the Department of Defense is generating debates as to the increasing role the latter should play. 2009-09-24 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.20/article4.html Eight years after 9/11, commentators are exploring America's response to the terrorist attacks and the lasting psychological impact of the attacks. 2009-09-24 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.20/article5.html The proliferation of satellite television throughout the Arab world over the past ten years has created a general sense of confusion while profoundly altering Arab culture and values. 2009-09-24 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.20/article6.html Experts in public diplomacy are emphasizing the importance of a more aggressive approach by undermining the message of extremists rather than trying to boost US popularity. 2009-09-24 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.20/article7.html Al-Qaeda recently released a new tape in which Osama bin Laden speaks to the American public. In the meantime, experts believe that although still a threat, the terrorist group is facing difficulties. 2009-09-24 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.20/article8.html As Al-Zaidi received a hero's welcome upon his delayed release from jail, he denounced torture and other abuses by the Iraqi government forces during his detention. 2009-09-24 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.20/article9.html The arrest of Jawad and subsequent closing of closing of two LBC offices in Saudi Arabia has made the struggle between conservative Saudi values and liberal business investors a salient issue. 2009-09-24 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.20/article10.html Harris County, TX GOP leader criticizes Sheriff for allowing Al-Jazeera to investigate Texas facility, focusing on the criminalization of the mentally ill. 2009-09-24 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.20/article11.html Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale traveled to the United Nations to participate in the launch of the Second Annual Democracy Video Challenge and to highlight the UN's International Day of Democracy. 2009-09-24 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.19/article1.html Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff recently declared that the US military is bungling its outreach to the Muslim world and squandering good will by failing to live up to its promises. 2009-09-10 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.19/article2.html As the shortcomings of US Public Diplomacy are once more exposed, experts argue that the US should thrive to undercut violent extremists by helping governments and civil society engage their fellow citizens with a powerful narrative. 2009-09-10 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.19/article3.html Prince Mohammad Bin-Naif was the target of an assassination attempt by an Al-Qaeda suicide bomber, the first such attack on the Saudi royal family. The attack has sparked discussion on religious extremism in the kingdom; especially at it occurred during the holy month of Ramadan. 2009-09-10 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.19/article4.html Prince Mohammad Bin-Naif was the target of an assassination attempt by an Al-Qaeda suicide bomber, the first such attack on the Saudi royal family. The attack has sparked discussion on religious extremism in the kingdom; especially at it occurred during the holy month of Ramadan. 2009-09-10 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.19/article5.html ImHalal, the world’s first Islamic search engine, filters for haram, or forbidden, content. The engine seeks to become the number one website in every Muslim home 2009-09-10 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.19/article6.html Muntadhar Al-Zeidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former President Bush, will be released early from his one-year sentence. The journalist had become a hero in the Arab world and an internet sensation with a global fan base on Facebook. 2009-09-10 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.19/article7.html Al-Arabiya show 'Death Making' pushes an anti-terrorism message through interviews with jihadis and an emphasis on the negative ramifications of terrorist acts. 2009-09-10 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.19/article8.html During Ramadan, Muslims look forward to gathering with family and friends to watch the numerous TV series prepared specifically for this month, while networks and production companies battle for higher viewing rates at the expense of the spiritual experience. 2009-09-10 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.19/article9.html An imprisoned Shi'ite Ismaili was given added time after criticizing the Saudi judicial system and monarchy. In other related news, a prominent Saudi professor railed against the owners of Saudi TV channels, calling for their trial and execution. 2009-09-10 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.19/article10.html Arab Media Group, a leading media group in the UAE, has launched a website dedicated to Ramadan, as part of its cultural policy to provide key insights into the holy month. 2009-09-10 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Perspectives/PhilipSeib.html American public diplomats cannot do their job as long as people at the top of government see public diplomacy as primarily a smokescreen for ineffective or wrongheaded policy. The assumption that public diplomacy can move in one direction while policy goes in another shows how little understanding exists of what public diplomacy can and cannot do. As U.S. public diplomats (Edward R. Murrow among them) have long observed, policy making and public diplomacy planning must move forward in tandem. 2009-09-01 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.18/article1.html Pakistani journalist Ansar Abbasi harshly criticized Judith McHale, the new US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, during an interview because of current American foreign policy. 2009-08-27 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.18/article2.html President Barack Obama’s Ramadan greeting continues his efforts to forge a new relationship between the US and the Muslim world. 2009-08-27 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.18/article3.html In the lead up to the 2011 election, the junior Mubarak responded to questions and concerns raised by the Egyptian people via Facebook and a dedicated website. New media, which has been a source of opposition and hostility towards Mubarak’s National Democratic Party, is a medium that few Middle Eastern leaders have tapped in to. 2009-08-27 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.18/article4.html Yale University Press has refused to publish a scholarly book about the global reaction to the controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad, printed in a Danish newspaper in 2005, unless the reproductions of the cartoons are removed. 2009-08-27 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.18/article5.html The Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF), set to be staged from October 29 to November 1, is to create a hub for regional filmmakers in the Arab state through education initiatives and community involvement. 2009-08-27 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.18/article6.html Google.ps will enable an estimated 2.4 million to conduct localized searches and rely on local business with the benefit of region-specific ads. 2009-08-27 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.18/article7.html The Noor series brings flocks of Arab tourists to Istanbul to view the scenery from their favorite program. The increase in Arab tourism diverts from an overall tourism decline in the country amidst economic woes. 2009-08-27 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.18/article8.html Stamps issued by the Iranian foreign ministry honoring an Egyptian woman murdered in a German courtroom were banned by Cairo. 2009-08-27 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.18/article9.html Queen Rania of Jordan has gained hundreds of thousands of followers on her Twitter account. She has recently Twittered about her “cool” king and family on vacation, and is one of the few Arab female leaders accessible to the public through the internet and social media. 2009-08-27 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.17/article1.html Following an order on August 3, the US Marine Corps banned the use of social media sites on its computer network, prohibiting Marines from accessing sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace for one year. 2009-08-13 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.17/article2.html The White House’s strategic communication campaign in Israel and Arab countries seeks to reframe policy and push towards peace, and has recently stressed using forms of social media in order to relate to both American citizens and followers worldwide. Some analysts are skeptical of its impact worldwide while others point out that social networking is bypassing the media filter in order to create an exact image of what the administration wants to project. 2009-08-13 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.17/article3.html A man who appeared on LBC detailing his sexual exploits and how he picks up women in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia has created an uproar that may result in a death sentence. Saudi officials have now closed several LBC bureaus in the country as a response to the public outcry. 2009-08-13 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.16/article4.html In Beirut, the host of a NewTV program escapes an arrest attempt in which authorities surrounded the channel’s studios. Ghada Eid riled officials when she made accusations on her show regarding the assassination of her cousin and alleged vote-buying during the recent parliamentary elections. 2009-08-13 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.17/article5.html “Imad Aqel,” which recently premiered in the Gaza strip, is the first feature film produced by the Islamist Hamas movement. The film portrays Hamas’ founding in the 1980s and its political and militant development. 2009-08-13 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.17/article6.html Al-Manar TV, which has been banned twice from broadcasting in Australia, has now been given permission to broadcast after an investigation found it did not breach the national anti-terrorism standard. 2009-08-13 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.17/article7.html Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki is trying to push a series of laws he claims are aimed at protecting journalists, but the media fears the legislation will actually be used to silence and censor them. 2009-08-13 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.17/article8.html ShooFeeTV, the premier provider of TV-related entertainment in the Arab World, recently launched its free-to-air satellite channel on ArabSat. 2009-08-13 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.17/article9.html The Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC) is branching out into online gaming through a joint venture with Gazillion Entertainment, a California-based specialist in massively multiplayer online games, to eventually develop content in Arabic for the Arab gaming market. 2009-08-13 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.16/article5.html Several different youths in the Middle East have recently begun online networks to help combat the negative way they feel Arab society is portrayed in the Western media. Their efforts will be aided by the advent of Arabic-language URLs, which should become available next year. 2009-08-13 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.16/article5.html George Mitchell, US Special Envoy to the Middle East, has yet to achieve a breakthrough in his push for a comprehensive peace plan. US pressure is alienating Israelis and has yet to influence Arab opinion. 2009-08-13 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.16/article5.html 
The daughter of legendary assassinated Egyptian president Anwar Al-Sadat is outraged at a scene in the goofy American summer comedy “I Love You, Man” which features a pet dog jokingly named after her father. The scene was cut from the Egyptian release of the film, but it surfaced online nonetheless. 2009-08-13 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Perspectives/AmbassadorJamesGlassman.html Ambassador James K. Glassman, former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, analyzes President Obama's speech in Cairo and some pernicious stereotypes about the U.S. across the Muslim world. Glassman highlights that U.S. public diplomacy requires a new narrative and emphasizes the need for a more focused strategic communications effort. 2009-07-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.16/article1.html In a White House briefing on July 15, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Judith McHale praised the State Department’s initiatives highlighting the way social media have become a creative tool for public diplomacy in the 21st century. 2009-07-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.16/article5.html Al-Jazeera reporter, Sami al-Haj was illegally detained and tortured by US authorities for seven years. Al-Haj now plans to launch a joint-court case, with other Guantanamo detainees, to sue former president George W. Bush. 2009-07-22 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.16/article8.html After his appearance on a Lebanese talk show, a Saudi man was arrested for speaking openly about his sexual exploits, according to The Media Line. Sharia law prohibits speaking publicly about vice and admitting to pre-marital sex, and has been used by officials to justify his arrest. 2009-07-28 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.15/article2.html Ron Dermer, the Israeli Prime Minister's closest adviser and key policy strategist, calls for a public relations makeover, while others argue that a concrete shift in foreign policy may be necessary to improve Israel’s image. 2009-07-14 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.15/article1.html American Muslim, Farah Pandith, will head the newly created Office of the United States Special Representative to Muslim Communities in the US, in an effort to engage with Muslims on a grassroots level. 2009-07-16 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.15/article3.html Al-Jazeera English (AJE) recently launched in Washington DC, making the nation’s capital only the third US market to broadcast the Doha-based news outlet. 2009-07-14 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.13/article1.html After two weeks in office, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Judith McHale, speaks for students from the YES program and receives mixed reviews from the blog world. 2009-06-16 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.13/article10.html President Obama’s speech in Cairo reflects current aims of the new administration’s foreign policy in the Middle East and suggests that US policy will take a new direction. 2009-06-14 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.12/article4.html As the President heads to the Middle East as a renewed sign of engagement with the Muslim world, a mix of expectations and disbeliefs are taking the stage on the future of US-Arab relations. 2009-06-05 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.7/article6.html New Media is a growing trend all over the world, with sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and countless blogs becoming the main way people communicate about social and political issues across borders. 2009-03-20 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.7/article4.html The resignation of Charles Freeman from the position of chairman of the National Intelligence Council following a protracted political firestorm has prompted more debate over the Obama administration’s Middle Eastern policy related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 2009-03-19 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.6/article2.html Citing statistics from the Arab Human Development Report on Building a Knowledge Society, Kristin M. Lord writes that in order for the US political security with the Arab world to improve technologies and education within the Arab world must continue to improve. 2009-03-10 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.6/article5.html The rise of "new media" technology has transformed the concept of the 'audience' and necessitated a public diplomacy approach that can adapt to new trends such as social networking and blogs. 2009-03-01 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.6/article7.html A Saudi religious scholar compares a royal tycoon and another Saudi businessman to drug dealers for broadcasting movies on their networks. 2009-02-28 http://www.layalina.tv/Publications/Review/PR_V.6/article4.html The internet and interactive new media forms challenge the predominance of traditional print media. With a young demographic, the Arab world is at the forefront of new media popularity, giving a voice to those who were previously silent. 2009-02-20 http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/world/11049580.asp After Kyrgyzstan's decision to close the US military base in Manas, rumors of a base being established in Turkey have been denied by Turkish military. 2009-02-20 http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/02/2009219135025156298.html In a recent visit to Gaza, Senator John Kerry makes a point towards Hamas saying that their own offence must end for peace talks with Israel to happen. 2008-02-20 http://www.layalina.tv/publications/Review/PR_V.4/article4.html The potential qualifications and skills of the next Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy are discussed, with a quick appointment necessary. 2009-02-10 http://www.layalina.tv/publications/Review/PR_V.4/article5.html The BBC is criticized for opting not to broadcast a Gaza aid appeal, with some questioning the network’s impartiality, and the media portrayal of Palestinian and Israeli actions is critiqued. 2009-02-09 http://www.layalina.tv/publications/Review/PR_V.3/article1.html President Barack Obama’s chooses Al-Arabiya for his first formal presidential interview, provoking writers to analyze the meaning and message behind the decision. 2009-01-22 http://www.layalina.tv/publications/Review/PR_V.2/article6.html The use of new media, by mainstream and independent news sources alike, has become a major feature of the Gaza conflict. 2009-01-10 http://www.layalina.tv/publications/Review/PR_V.2/article15.html Accusations of media bias are directed at Western, Israeli, and Arab news sources for their coverage of the Gaza conflict. 2009-01-03 http://www.layalina.tv/publications/Review/PR_V.1/article1.html US-government funded Al-Hurra endures a year of skepticism and criticism due to concerns over the impartiality, credibility, and cultural relevance of the channel. 2008-12-31