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Middle East Articles
A searchable directory for Arab women experts in various development themes is now available on line at www.ammannet.net/look/woman.
The Arabic/English directory comes as the fulfillment of a commitment made in Amman in 2006 for gender-balanced news media. Journalists and reporters attribute their reliance on men to provide expert commentary on different themes to a lack of knowledge on where to find women able to discuss at a professional level on these themes.
WACC partner SAT-7 breaks new ground in Arab media
By Mette Schmidt, Sat 7
One hour is not enough! This is the name of a weekly talk show programme aired live from Beirut every Sunday evening by the Arabic satellite TV-channel SAT-7 for the last six months. The programme has been focussing on the rights of disabled persons to education, work and political participation. And the title is to be taken quite literally: The length of the show had to be extended from 60 to 75 minutes!
By María Teresa Aguirre; Programme Manager, WACC
Ms Azza Kamel, Director of Appropriate Communication Techniques for Development (ACT), Ms Andira Gad, Ms Abeer Zaki and María Teresa Aguirre, WACC.
A communication workshop in Lebanon sponsored by WACC almost two years ago has yielded unforeseen benefits. Members of the Helwan Association for Community Development (‘Bashayer’)- in partnership with Appropriate Communication Techniques for Development (ACT) – are half way to completing a year- long monitoring of images of violence against women in two of Cairo’s most important daily newspapers.
A clip from Six floors to hell.
By Julienne Munyaneza, Programme Manager
Video 48, the audio-visual wing of Hanitzotz Publishing House, a partner of WACC in Jerusalem, Israel, committed to bridging the gap between Arabs and Jews, fighting for the recognition of Arab Israeli’s rights, has just released/produced a powerful film “Six Floors to Hell”.
It was produced thanks to the financial support of WACC and its German partner, Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (EED), in Bonn, Germany.
By María Teresa Aguirre, Programme Manager for Partnerships and Projects/Communication Rights (WACC)
After several months of preparatory work, widespread consultation and many messages of support and encouragement, the Palestinian group Women Media and Development (TAMor Tanmiyet wa Aâlam al Mar’ah) has launched a Palestinian women’s website that brings together the creative work of a myriad women from all over the West Bank and Gaza strip.
Amman, Jordan - Journalists have a responsibility of reporting conflicts without escalating violence. Their ultimate role is to use communication as means of dialogue and peace building, says Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour, the former General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, now the President of the Forum for Development, Culture & Dialogue (FDCD) a faith-based organization in Lebanon.
For the past thirty years Lebanon and its people have been ravaged by wars, conflicts, conspiracies, and human rights violations. This country, which is part of the Holy Land, is once more in the midst of a war that is neither his nor for his benefit. This war has destroyed our homes, killed our children, desolated our land, and devastated our institutions.
Sameh Fawzy
This is a media produced crisis. A widely circulated CD contains a play, allegedly defames Islam, caused massive demonstrations, destruction of proprieties and strong fear.
David Cromwell
"The best relationship with our viewers is no longer one of parent-child but of consenting adults trying to piece together the best picture of the world." (Roger Mosey, head of BBC TV news)
"A good case can be made that propaganda is a more important means of social control in open societies like the United States than in closed societies like the late Soviet Union... This system of thought control is not centrally managed... It operates mainly by individual and market choices, with the frequent collective service to the national interest arising from common interests and internalised beliefs." (Edward Herman)
World Tribunal? What World Tribunal?
Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick
‘The citizen is completely helpless. He does not hear any other voice; and if everybody says the same, it must be true.’ The lament is from Uri Avnery, veteran leader of Israel’s peace movement, in our Peace Journalism video, News from the Holy Land, on coverage of the conflict with the Palestinians.