I'lam hosts a symposium on International Women's Day, March 8 2011, under the theme of 'Feminist Perspectives on The Role of the Media in the Revolutions in the Arab World'.
The symposium will begin at 4pm at I'lam's offices and will host Amal Murcos, musician and radio host; Dima Al-Jamal Abu-As'ad, radio presenter; Ghada As'ad, newspaper editor; Muna al-Qawasemeh, Jerusalem-based reporter.
Download the programme in Arabic.
Follow-up:
In honor of International Woman's Day, March 8 2011, I'lam Media Center held a symposium under the theme of "Feminist Perspectives on the Role of the Media in the Revolutions in the Arab World". The symposium hosted Amal Murcos, musician and radio host; Dima Al-Jamal Abu-As'ad, radio presenter; Muna al-Qawasemeh, Jerusalem-based reporter; and Ghada As'ad, newspaper editor.
By greeting the audience, I'lam's Arabic Media Coordinator, Samah Bsoul, opened the symposium, emphasizing that the discussion's theme was chosen as a result of analyses that stressed the important role of the media, particularly the Arabic media, in the revolutions, which brought significant historical changes. On the feminist perspective, she comments: I'lam's concern over women's issues does not only come to a realization on the 8th of March of every year; I'lam, however, is deeply committed to the media coverage of the role of women and their status in the various fields, by monitoring the Palestinian Media in Israel.
The discussion, then, was opened for the audience's arguments and questions. Some important insights made by the journalists were:
The journalist Muna al-Qawasemeh: I have been covering the news in Jerusalem for over 15 years. Jerusalem being the most ancient revolution arena in the Arabic world, I have always wished that this arena would get the media coverage it really deserves, so that it could transmit to the world the real picture of occupation and violations that the Arab citizens and the Arab media suffer from. The life of a Jerusalem-based reporter is full of risks, as we work very hard to transmit the word and the picture to the world while often facing arrest and being shot with rubber bullets. However, this has never and will never stop us from doing what we do in spite of all the undemocratic media policies.
The Radio Presenter and Musician Amal Murcos: With no doubt, the media is one of the most basic elements of revolutions and wars. The Arab world has witnessed pivotal events in which the media have played a significant role, starting with Ahmad Saeed in 1967 and until our own days where we have the ability to watch revolutions live. Art also has its share in the revolutions, for it rises from peoples' wishes and strength of will. Art has always boosted the morals of Arab revolutionaries. But if we compare the media as opposed to art, then, I guess, media does play the bigger role in revolutions.
Radio presenter Dima Al-Jamal Abu-As'ad: Every Arabic news channel had a clear message, where one could easily distinguish between a pro-authority channel and an anti-establishment one. It was obvious that some news channels were not neutral in their coverage with a special bias to the revolutionaries; something which explains interference with their satellite broadcasts. Even reporters showed their complete empathy with the revolutionaries.
The journalist Ghada As'ad: Electronic media was a principle instrument in pulling the trigger of revolutions. I remember this saying about electronic media: we thought our children were spending time chatting on the net, it turns out they were "cooking" a revolution.
The symposium was concluded with a glimpse on the world of art, as musician Amal Murcos performed her new song called "We have on this Land what makes Life Worth Living" with the words of the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish and the melodies of Violet Bara.
Ghada As'ad (purple), editor at Bokra, speaking while the crowd listens in | .jpg)
