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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 Muslim American women were found to have higher degrees more than their male counterparts with 42 percent of Muslim women having secondary education compared with 39 percent of Muslim men. Al-Arabiya. March 03, 2009. Download VOL. V NO.7 RSS The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media Vol. V No.6: 02/27-03/12, 2009 Vol. V No.5: 02/13-02/26, 2009 Vol. V No.4: 01/30-02/12, 2009 Archives Subscribe to our Publications Layalina Review Staff Leon Shahabian, Senior Editor Anne Hagood, Managing Editor Andrew Jones, Contributor Sasha Scott, Contributor George Chipev, Contributor Jake Foley, 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. 7, March 13-March 26, 2009 Government 2.0 Part of a broader outreach strategy effort spearheaded by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton builds on e-diplomacy innovations developed during George W. Bush's presidency Engaging with the Muslim World While Muslims still view US policies as biased in favor of Israel, their perception of the US has improved since Obama's electoral victory. Halal TV The launch of 4Shabab aims to reconcile traditional Arab values and change the West's negative stereotypes on Islam. However, some interpret the rise of Islamic channels as a way of strengthening national religious identity. Freeman's Resignation Remains Controversial 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. Clerics Ban Women from the Media A group of Saudi clerics urged the kingdom's new information minister to ban women from appearing on TV or in newspapers and magazines. This bans comes less than a month after some progressive reforms by the King that have generated controversies in Saudi Arabia. Socio-political Twittering 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. Al-Zaidi Gets the Boot Muntadher Al-Zaidi, the journalist who rose to fame after hurling his shoes at then-President George W. Bush during a press conference, received a three-year sentence this month. Media: Fueling or Discouraging Conflict? Media coverage of the recent fighting in Gaza and of the Arab-Israeli conflict in general is discussed, with disagreement over whether partisan online and mainstream reporting in the region encourages violence or negotiation. Al-Jazeera Grows on the International Media Scene Al-Jazeera English continues to grow internationally while receiving several awards for the quality of its journalism. Meanwhile, other Arab media outlets also win awards for their journalistic output. Media Developments in the Gulf As media reforms are set up in the Middle East to improve professional journalistic standards, fears that they may actually hinder freedom of speech in the region are growing among media organizations. Increase in Layoffs despite Media Growth The layoffs in Dubai come in stark contrast to the development of foreign companies and international partnerships that facilitated the better training and standards for media companies in the region. e-Revolution Challenges Government Control The rise of the internet has hampered the control of information by Arab governments and has shaped the way young people in the region come to see policies. Censorship Still Rampant in the Mideast In light of a Reporters Without Borders report expressing concern about internet censorship and other threats to free expression online, Menassat and other media watchdogs highlight censorship and repression in the Arab world. Legal Battles over Torture While Congress debates whether senior Bush administration officials should be held responsible for torture, humiliation and indefinite detention of prisoners during the "war on terror," some of those prisoners are bringing a number of lawsuits.

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
Muslim American women were found to have higher degrees more than their male counterparts with 42 percent of Muslim women having secondary education compared with 39 percent of Muslim men. Al-Arabiya. March 03, 2009.

Download VOL. V NO.7

RSS

The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media

Vol. V No.6: 02/27-03/12, 2009

Vol. V No.5: 02/13-02/26, 2009

Vol. V No.4: 01/30-02/12, 2009

Archives

Subscribe to our Publications

Layalina Review Staff
Leon Shahabian, Senior Editor
Anne Hagood, Managing Editor
Andrew Jones, Contributor
Sasha Scott, Contributor
George Chipev, Contributor
Jake Foley, 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. 7, March 13-March 26, 2009

Government 2.0
Part of a broader outreach strategy effort spearheaded by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton builds on e-diplomacy innovations developed during George W. Bush's presidency

Engaging with the Muslim World
While Muslims still view US policies as biased in favor of Israel, their perception of the US has improved since Obama's electoral victory.

Halal TV
The launch of 4Shabab aims to reconcile traditional Arab values and change the West's negative stereotypes on Islam. However, some interpret the rise of Islamic channels as a way of strengthening national religious identity.

Freeman's Resignation Remains Controversial
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.

Clerics Ban Women from the Media
A group of Saudi clerics urged the kingdom's new information minister to ban women from appearing on TV or in newspapers and magazines. This bans comes less than a month after some progressive reforms by the King that have generated controversies in Saudi Arabia.

Socio-political Twittering
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.

Al-Zaidi Gets the Boot
Muntadher Al-Zaidi, the journalist who rose to fame after hurling his shoes at then-President George W. Bush during a press conference, received a three-year sentence this month.

Media: Fueling or Discouraging Conflict?
Media coverage of the recent fighting in Gaza and of the Arab-Israeli conflict in general is discussed, with disagreement over whether partisan online and mainstream reporting in the region encourages violence or negotiation.

Al-Jazeera Grows on the International Media Scene
Al-Jazeera English continues to grow internationally while receiving several awards for the quality of its journalism. Meanwhile, other Arab media outlets also win awards for their journalistic output.

Media Developments in the Gulf
As media reforms are set up in the Middle East to improve professional journalistic standards, fears that they may actually hinder freedom of speech in the region are growing among media organizations.

Increase in Layoffs despite Media Growth
The layoffs in Dubai come in stark contrast to the development of foreign companies and international partnerships that facilitated the better training and standards for media companies in the region.

e-Revolution Challenges Government Control
The rise of the internet has hampered the control of information by Arab governments and has shaped the way young people in the region come to see policies.

Censorship Still Rampant in the Mideast
In light of a Reporters Without Borders report expressing concern about internet censorship and other threats to free expression online, Menassat and other media watchdogs highlight censorship and repression in the Arab world.

Legal Battles over Torture
While Congress debates whether senior Bush administration officials should be held responsible for torture, humiliation and indefinite detention of prisoners during the "war on terror," some of those prisoners are bringing a number of lawsuits.