Welcome to Layalina Productions

the layalina review

	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.8 RSS The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media Vol. V No.7: 03/13-03/26, 2009 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. 8, March 26-April 09, 2009 The Zeitgeist of Public Diplomacy Public diplomacy under the new administration is at a crossroads as its purpose and roles are being redefined. In the meantime, it appears that President Obama has chosen to put an emphasis on policy. Broadcasting American Identity Debates about the merits and limitations of strategic communication featured prominently in recent press, highlighting the current challenges in defining public diplomacy. Social Media Is No Panacea Social media are a potentially transformative tool, though not yet fully explored and exploited. Some argue that public diplomats should focus on substantive policy changes, rather than relying on social media, to win hearts and minds. Dropping "War on Terror" Rhetoric As President Obama continued his overseas mission, a change in rhetoric was confirmed by Secretary of State Clinton, who confirmed that the administration is no longer using the phrase “war on terror.” The change has been supported by several media outlets and human rights groups. Al-Jazeera Steps Up Productions Al-Jazeera, the Middle East-headquartered international broadcaster, announced that it is significantly stepping-up the distribution of its feature programs. New Christian Channel in the Middle East A new TV channel set to broadcast in the Arab world will be telecasting prayers and sermons through the satellite network of the St. Athanasius Apostolic Synod which decided to make use of modern age tools. Promoting Democracy: A New Approach While Bush put democracy at the top of his "freedom agenda," Obama highlights the importance of promoting democratic values, practices and institutions abroad from a different foreign policy angle. US-Muslim Relations: Turning Words into Deeds? While President Obama’s attempts to engage the Muslim world, including his speech to the Turkish parliament in Ankara, have been met with optimism, critics warn that concrete policies are still needed in order to substantively improve US-Muslim relations. CIA Recruits on TV The CIA is attempting to recruit more officers by advertising on the internet, radio and television. It is also holding meetings with American Muslims to make up for a severe shortage of Arabic speakers. MIPTV 2009 The fast-growing TV territories of China and the Middle East, as well as TV in the multi-screen world, dominated this year's MIPTV, the world's largest audiovisual entertainment trade show. Educating on TV Twofour54 Ibtikar, the funding arm of Abu Dhabi's Twofour54, has joined up with a UK indie to produce a children's show in English and Arabic to air on preschool channel CBeebies. Hopes for Development at the Arab Media Forum The Sixth Arab Media Forum that opened in Dubai focuses on the relationship between media and development. Development, participants agreed, is related to solving the dilemma of poverty, erasing illiteracy and granting the freedom of expression. Obama Shows a New America at the G-20 The G-20 Summit in London last week came with much anticipation and mixed reviews. The Summit became an opportunity for President Obama to introduce himself and, more importantly, reintroduce the United States to world leaders. Arab Leader Converge in Doha Arab leaders met in Doha for the 21st Arab Summit. The Sudanese president attended in defiance of a warrant for his arrest, and the Egyptian president, for the second time in a row, did not attend. The summit ended a day early, leading the Arab media to question the future of these summits.

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.8

RSS

The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media

Vol. V No.7: 03/13-03/26, 2009

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. 8, March 26-April 09, 2009

The Zeitgeist of Public Diplomacy
Public diplomacy under the new administration is at a crossroads as its purpose and roles are being redefined. In the meantime, it appears that President Obama has chosen to put an emphasis on policy.

Broadcasting American Identity
Debates about the merits and limitations of strategic communication featured prominently in recent press, highlighting the current challenges in defining public diplomacy.

Social Media Is No Panacea
Social media are a potentially transformative tool, though not yet fully explored and exploited. Some argue that public diplomats should focus on substantive policy changes, rather than relying on social media, to win hearts and minds.

Dropping "War on Terror" Rhetoric
As President Obama continued his overseas mission, a change in rhetoric was confirmed by Secretary of State Clinton, who confirmed that the administration is no longer using the phrase “war on terror.” The change has been supported by several media outlets and human rights groups.

Al-Jazeera Steps Up Productions
Al-Jazeera, the Middle East-headquartered international broadcaster, announced that it is significantly stepping-up the distribution of its feature programs.

New Christian Channel in the Middle East
A new TV channel set to broadcast in the Arab world will be telecasting prayers and sermons through the satellite network of the St. Athanasius Apostolic Synod which decided to make use of modern age tools.

Promoting Democracy: A New Approach
While Bush put democracy at the top of his "freedom agenda," Obama highlights the importance of promoting democratic values, practices and institutions abroad from a different foreign policy angle.

US-Muslim Relations: Turning Words into Deeds?
While President Obama’s attempts to engage the Muslim world, including his speech to the Turkish parliament in Ankara, have been met with optimism, critics warn that concrete policies are still needed in order to substantively improve US-Muslim relations.

CIA Recruits on TV
The CIA is attempting to recruit more officers by advertising on the internet, radio and television. It is also holding meetings with American Muslims to make up for a severe shortage of Arabic speakers.

MIPTV 2009
The fast-growing TV territories of China and the Middle East, as well as TV in the multi-screen world, dominated this year's MIPTV, the world's largest audiovisual entertainment trade show.

Educating on TV
Twofour54 Ibtikar, the funding arm of Abu Dhabi's Twofour54, has joined up with a UK indie to produce a children's show in English and Arabic to air on preschool channel CBeebies.

Hopes for Development at the Arab Media Forum
The Sixth Arab Media Forum that opened in Dubai focuses on the relationship between media and development. Development, participants agreed, is related to solving the dilemma of poverty, erasing illiteracy and granting the freedom of expression.

Obama Shows a New America at the G-20
The G-20 Summit in London last week came with much anticipation and mixed reviews. The Summit became an opportunity for President Obama to introduce himself and, more importantly, reintroduce the United States to world leaders.

Arab Leader Converge in Doha
Arab leaders met in Doha for the 21st Arab Summit. The Sudanese president attended in defiance of a warrant for his arrest, and the Egyptian president, for the second time in a row, did not attend. The summit ended a day early, leading the Arab media to question the future of these summits.