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Cyber Capabilities and National Power: A Net Assessment

London et al.: International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2021), 174 pp.

"This report sets out a new methodology for assessing cyber power, and then applies it to 15 states: Four members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance – the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia; Three cyber-capable allies of the Five Eyes states – France, Israel and Japan; F ... more

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Media Influence Matrix: Israel. Technology, Public Sphere and Journalism

Roni Dorot

Budapest: CEU Center for Media, Data and Society (2021), 30 pp.

"Although internet penetration rate in Israel stands at 88%, internet infrastructure, and notably the roll-out of fiber-optics, was not properly regulated until December 2020. Therefore, among other things, Israel’s internet speed was in decline in comparison to OECD countries, although it is expe ... cted to rise in mid-2021. Moreover, frequencies for 5G network deployment have been allocated only as late as August 2020, in significant delay compared to technologically progressed countries. Following global trends, Israelis draw on different technological means to use the internet, and especially to consume media. While fixed telephony demand is in decline, smartphones took over the market with 88% of smartphone ownership. Israel records a specific digital divide among marginalized groups like the Arab population and ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews. Together with the 65+ age group, these three main sectors are susceptible to be affected by digital illiteracy. The international technology conglomerates that control the Israeli market are Facebook (with its daughter company WhatsApp) in the field of messaging applications and social media, and Google Chrome browser, while the operating system (OS) market is dominated by Microsoft (on desktop) and Google (Android on mobile). The four main Israeli groups operating in the communications market are: Bezeq, HOT, Cellcom and Partner. They are all active in five telecom segments and market them in bundle packages for relatively low prices: cellular, fixed (telephony and internet) infrastructure, internet providing, international calls and multichannel TV. This highly saturated and competitive market has damaged the revenues and future incentives of these companies to invest in cutting-edge infrastructure. Israelis get most of their political information from online news sites. Some 76% of the public in Israel consume news content on social media at least once a day (40% of Jews and 66% of Arabs). The leading social media platforms are YouTube, Facebook and Twitter; they make a central source for the dissemination of politics, and have significant power in shaping public opinion. Nevertheless, “fake news” is also circulating fast and efficiently on these platforms, making disinformation a troubling phenomenon for Israeli society. Few journalistic initiatives took upon themselves the responsibility for public fact-checking. Traditional media struggles with fragile financial sustainability and business models. Given the populist effect that fake news has on consumers and, consequentially, on revenues, it is risky to rely on traditional media solely, in this matter." (Page 4) more

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Hashtag Palestine 2020

Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media (2021), 61 pp.

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The Attacks on Palestinian Digital Rights: Progress Report, May 6-19, 2021

7amleh – Arab Center for Social Media Advancement (2021), 15 pp.

"Over the past two weeks, 7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media has worked to document and respond to the digital rights violations occurring during the 2021 Israeli attacks on Gaza, Palestinians in mixed cities in Israel and forcible displacement of Palestinians in East Jerus ... more

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Digital Economy in Kri: A Market Study

Altai Consulting;Danish Refugee Council (DRC) (2021), 66 pp.

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External Communication in Social Media During Asymmetric Conflicts: A Theoretical Model and Empirical Case Study of the Conflict in Israel and Palestine

Bernd Hirschberger

Bielefeld: transcript (2021), 310 pp.

"Social media increasingly shapes the way in which we perceive conflicts and conflict parties abroad. Conflict parties, therefore, have started using social media strategically to influence public opinion abroad. This book explores the phenomenon by examining, (1) which strategies of external commun ... more

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The African Film Industry: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Growth
Top Insights

Marie Lora Mungai, Pedro Pimenta et al.

Paris: UNESCO (2021), 271 pp.

"For the first time, a complete mapping of the film and audiovisual industry in 54 States of the African continent is available, including quantitative and qualitative data and an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses at the continental and regional levels. The report proposes strategic recomme ... more

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How the Middle East Used Social Media in 2020

Damian Radcliffe, Hadil Abuhmaid

New Media Academy (2021), 64 pp.

"1. Social Media Users in MEA (Middle East and Africa) spend the most time on social networks, averaging over 3.5 hours per day. Internet users in the MEA have an average of 8.4 social media accounts, research reveals. UAE, with an average of 10.5 accounts, has “the highest number of social media ... more

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Between Violence, Vulnerability, Resilience and Resistance: Arab Television News on the Experiences of Syrian Women During the Syrian Conflict

Rand El Zein

Bielefeld: transcript (2021), 206 pp.

"How are the structures of power and the notion of agency among Syrian women during the recent Syrian conflict connected? To explore this matter, Rand El Zein investigates gender politics around displacement, conflict, the body, and the nation. In doing so, she outstandingly reconciles critical medi ... more

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Media, Migration and Displacement in the Middle East and North Africa: An Explorative Study

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2021), 21 pp.

"DW Akademie commissioned field studies in the following six Middle Eastern and Northern African countries in 2019/20: Lebanon, Jordan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. The initiative to carry out these studies stems from DW Akademie’s long-standing experience in the MENA region and the identi ... more

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New Voices: Aswat Jadida. Ten Years of Development in Arabic Media

Issy-les-Moulineaux: CFI (2021), 65 pp.

"This work highlights ten years of support for media development in the Arab world, telling the story through photos, eye-witness accounts, journalist profiles and personal experiences. Ten years spent alongside men and women playing an active role in civil society, committed to citizen-centred, div ... more

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Palestinian Media Needs Assessment in the Context of the 2021 Jerusalem Uprising and the Gaza War

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2021), 11 pp.

"While major airstrikes destroyed the office of some international media organizations such as that of Al Jazeera, local media organizations have been severely impacted. Unlike their international counterparts, local journalists do not have privileged access to protection provided by external entiti ... more

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Independent Media in Lebanon: An Economic Outlook

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2021), 10 pp.

"Alternative media platforms in Lebanon vary in size and expenditures. Annual turnovers range between USD 15,000 to almost USD 1.1 million. Editorial costs make up the bulk of all alternative media platforms. Namely the salaries of core team members and journalists, as well as the fees paid to freel ... ancers, correspondents, and outside consultants/writers. Secondary costs include production equipment, rent, operation, equipment, legal fees, and technical feels. All interviewed independent platforms are non-profit. Almost all members of independent platforms are motivated primarily by their love of the job. Most independent platforms have relied on volunteering, either totally or partially, from their conception to their current stage. None of the platforms interviewed have a devoted person or team in charge of marketing and sales in the traditional sense of buying ads or working on partnerships. Partnerships are usually rare, approached informally, by word-of-mouth and networks, and decided up by editorial teams. All platforms have one person (full-timer or part-timer) in charge of marketing the platform’s own content on social media, but not advertising other brands on their own platforms, except The961. Almost all the platforms are unsatisfied with the current promotion model on social media. Most concerns are related to the clash between the platform’s values and the ethics and politics of social media platforms. Complaints also touched upon the fact that independent media have to invest time and money to create content, and then they have to pay social media to host it, rather than get paid by social media. Some platforms, such as Khateera, have adopted a pragmatic mindset from the start. “Our only objective is to get our message across to as wide an audience as possible,” they said. All media have agreed that good journalism costs money and generates very little, therefore other revenue streams are required to sustain it. All independent media interviewed have relied mostly on grants, except The961. Grants provide core funding and project-based funding. Both Daraj and Megaphone have also relied on volunteers but have shifted away from it. Sentiments towards grants vary. Most platforms in Lebanon have chosen donors that are not related to national, local or foreign authorities; donors that preserve their editorial integrity: i.e., no interference in editorial decisions and alignment with values and ethics. They all have a good relationship with their donors." (Findings, page 3) more

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Youth and Independent Media in Tunisia: Focus Group Findings

Metn (LB): Samir Kassir Foundation (2021), 6 pp.

"1. Participants used a mix of social media platforms and TV/radio to acquire news. Word of mouth was also a noteworthy source of information. Many participants expressed a distaste for comment sections. It was generally agreed that information found on social media should not be taken as truth. 2. ... more

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Youth and Independent Media in Morocco: Focus Group Findings

Metn (LB): Samir Kassir Foundation (2021), 6 pp.

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Exposed and Exploited: Data Protection in the Middle East and North Africa

Marwa Fatafta, Dima Samaro

Access Now (2021), 45 pp.

"In this report, we highlight how privacy and data protection violations by state and non-state actors are compounded by the lack of legal data protection safeguards which would obligate public entities, private companies, and international organizations to respect and adhere to data protection prin ... more

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Improved Access to Public Health Information: More Effective Responses to COVID-19 in the MENA Region

Maharat Foundation (2021), 7 pp.

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Local Media Survival Guide 2022: How Journalism is Innovating to Find Sustainable Ways to Serve Local Communities Around the World and Fight Against Misinformation
Inspiring Practice

Jacqui Park

Vienna: International Press Institute (IPI) (2021), 81 pp.

"This report is meant to share the experiences and lessons of local media practitioners globally, and to build a community for networking and support. It’s about telling their story in their own voice – and helping all involved learn from one another. By talking to both new digital start-ups and ... more

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A Comparative Study on Hate Speech and Incitement to Violence in Syrian Media. Second Monitoring Round (2020)

Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) (2021), 53 pp.

"The Syrian media of various types and geographical distribution use hate speech and incitement to Violence disproportionately. The average use of public hate speech in the Syrian media was (17.99%) as a percentage of the monitored content of the study sample, which is considered a low percentage wh ... more

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Social Media Impacts on Conflict and Democracy: The Techtonic Shift

Lisa Schirch (ed.)

London; New York: Routledge (2021), xv, 239 pp.

"Social media technology is having a dramatic impact on social and political dynamics around the world. The contributors to this book document and illustrate this "techtonic" shift on violent conflict and democratic processes. They present vivid examples and case studies from countries in Africa, So ... more

The African Film Industry: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Growth Top Insights

Local Media Survival Guide 2022: How Journalism is Innovating to Find Sustainable Ways to Serve Local Communities Around the World and Fight Against Misinformation Inspiring Practice

The African Film Industry: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Growth
Top Insights

Local Media Survival Guide 2022: How Journalism is Innovating to Find Sustainable Ways to Serve Local Communities Around the World and Fight Against Misinformation
Inspiring Practice