Layalina Productions, Inc. | The Layalina Review: Volume V No. 13

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	The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media The Layalina Review is a peerless bi-weekly source for monitoring developments in the spheres of public diplomacy and Arab media. Its readers include academics, Foreign Service Officers, students, members of Congress and their staffs, foreign diplomats, and professionals in both the private and public sectors. Published 26 times per year, the review is FREE to subscribers and available in PDF, HTML, and RSS formats. The Layalina Review is brought to you thanks to a grant from The Dr. Scholl Foundation.
Statistic of the Week When asked How much confidence in the US do you have, 61% of the Middle east responded none, compared to 5% who responded a lot. Annual Arab Public Opinion Survey 2009, University of Maryland/Zogby International. June 02, 2009. Download VOL. V NO.13 RSS The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media Vol. V No.12: 05/22-06/04, 2009 Vol. V No.11: 05/08-05/21, 2009 Vol. V No.10: 04/24-05/07, 2009 Vol. V No.9: 04/10-04/23, 2009 Archives Subscribe to our Publications Layalina Review Staff Anne Hagood, Managing Editor Sasha Scott, Contributor Omar Tanamly, Contributor Youmna Sakr, Contributor Heather Stephenson, Contributor Meghan Clark-Kevan, Contributor Iqbal Khaiy, Contributor *The views expressed here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Layalina Productions, Inc.	VOL. V NO. 13, June 05-June 18, 2009 McHale Addresses Security Issues 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. Obama Establishes New Boundaries Many consider Obama’s speech in Cairo to be a victory in public diplomacy since Obama laid the foundation for an ongoing dialogue between the US and the Muslim world. The White House employed new media to further continue the conversation initiated by the speech. Satellite TV Expands in the Mideast Pan Arab free to air satellite television continues to rapidly expand in the Middle East, facilitating better information and a freer environment. Iraqi Media Struggles with Propaganda Despite an environment free of the restrictions imposed under the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, the media in Iraq still faces major challenges hindering freedom of expression and often bordering with propaganda. Religious TV Spurs Tensions As religious channels are enjoying some popularity in the Middle East, they often tend to reflect political tensions when they do not actually encourage sectarian conflicts. Iran Bans Media Coverage Since the elections the Iranian government has increased its efforts to curb the flow of information. The government has slowed the speed of the Internet, limited access to websites and has banned foreign media from reporting in the streets. New Media at Work in Lebanese Elections The 2009 Parliamentary elections in Lebanon yielded an unexpected victory for the American-backed coalition, causing analysts to give the Obama Administration credit for swaying, in part, Christian voters. Cinema Re-opens in Saudi Arabia after Three Decades Saudi cinema re-opened for the first time in three decades as the Saudi film, “Menahi” screened in theaters. Although there were minor protests at the premiere by religious conservatives, many Saudis see the re-opening of the cinema as an important in the progress of Saudi society and culture. Arab Press Skeptical of Obama’s Speech As President Obama delivered a speech in Cairo addressing Arab populations and reiterating a new engagement with the Muslim world, the Arab press welcomes his words with a mix of skepticism and enthusiasm. Obama’s Speech in Cairo Reflects a New Direction of US Foreign Policy 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.

The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media

The Layalina Review is a peerless bi-weekly source for monitoring developments in the spheres of public diplomacy and Arab media.

Its readers include academics, Foreign Service Officers, students, members of Congress and their staffs, foreign diplomats, and professionals in both the private and public sectors.

Published 26 times per year, the review is FREE to subscribers and available in PDF, HTML, and RSS formats.

The Layalina Review is brought to you thanks to a grant from The Dr. Scholl Foundation.

Statistic of the Week
When asked How much confidence in the US do you have, 61% of the Middle east responded none, compared to 5% who responded a lot. Annual Arab Public Opinion Survey 2009, University of Maryland/Zogby International. June 02, 2009.

Download VOL. V NO.13

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The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media

Vol. V No.12: 05/22-06/04, 2009

Vol. V No.11: 05/08-05/21, 2009

Vol. V No.10: 04/24-05/07, 2009

Vol. V No.9: 04/10-04/23, 2009

Archives

Subscribe to our Publications

Layalina Review Staff
Anne Hagood, Managing Editor
Sasha Scott, Contributor
Omar Tanamly, Contributor
Youmna Sakr, Contributor
Heather Stephenson, Contributor
Meghan Clark-Kevan, Contributor
Iqbal Khaiy, Contributor

*The views expressed here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Layalina Productions, Inc.

VOL. V NO. 13, June 05-June 18, 2009

McHale Addresses Security Issues
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.

Obama Establishes New Boundaries
Many consider Obama’s speech in Cairo to be a victory in public diplomacy since Obama laid the foundation for an ongoing dialogue between the US and the Muslim world. The White House employed new media to further continue the conversation initiated by the speech.

Satellite TV Expands in the Mideast
Pan Arab free to air satellite television continues to rapidly expand in the Middle East, facilitating better information and a freer environment.

Iraqi Media Struggles with Propaganda
Despite an environment free of the restrictions imposed under the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, the media in Iraq still faces major challenges hindering freedom of expression and often bordering with propaganda.

Religious TV Spurs Tensions
As religious channels are enjoying some popularity in the Middle East, they often tend to reflect political tensions when they do not actually encourage sectarian conflicts.

Iran Bans Media Coverage
Since the elections the Iranian government has increased its efforts to curb the flow of information. The government has slowed the speed of the Internet, limited access to websites and has banned foreign media from reporting in the streets.

New Media at Work in Lebanese Elections
The 2009 Parliamentary elections in Lebanon yielded an unexpected victory for the American-backed coalition, causing analysts to give the Obama Administration credit for swaying, in part, Christian voters.

Cinema Re-opens in Saudi Arabia after Three Decades
Saudi cinema re-opened for the first time in three decades as the Saudi film, “Menahi” screened in theaters. Although there were minor protests at the premiere by religious conservatives, many Saudis see the re-opening of the cinema as an important in the progress of Saudi society and culture.

Arab Press Skeptical of Obama’s Speech
As President Obama delivered a speech in Cairo addressing Arab populations and reiterating a new engagement with the Muslim world, the Arab press welcomes his words with a mix of skepticism and enthusiasm.

Obama’s Speech in Cairo Reflects a New Direction of US Foreign Policy
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.