Arab Media & Society

Deadline: January 15, 2025

Arab Media & Society, the biannual journal of the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism in the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the American University in Cairo, is seeking submissions for our next issue on “Media & Conflict”.

The Arab world has been deeply affected by conflict and war. This complicated history positions the region as a crucial case study to examine the intricate relationship between media and conflict. Throughout the Arab world, the media landscape significantly shapes public opinion, controls narratives, and propagates ideological messages during times of conflict. This system of mediation includes state-controlled outlets, independent voices, alternative platforms, and other media outlets. Whether covering long-standing geopolitical struggles—like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—or more recent conflicts involving Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Algeria, and Morocco, the media plays a central role in constructing and broadcasting narratives surrounding these conflicts, which shapes our conception of these momentous events.

In recent years, the proliferation of digital media has infused novel complexity into the media-conflict dynamic. The rise of social media platforms, the ubiquity of smart devices, as well as the ease and instantaneous speed that content can be shared has fundamentally altered how conflicts are reported, perceived, and engaged with by both local and global audiences. Digital media has empowered grassroot movements, introduced novel forms of mis/disinformation, and altered the relationship between the public, the media, and state institutions. In a region where narratives are tightly controlled, digital media has disrupted traditional hierarchies while enabling new actors the capacity to reinforce or challenge established conflict narratives.

Issue 38 of Arab Media & Society aims to examine the role of media—both traditional and digital—through the lens of conflict in the Arab world. As such, we seek to explore the intersections of traditional and digital media with technology, ideology, and geopolitics by encouraging submissions that address how various forms of media (re)shape conflict narratives, media practices, and public engagement with war and conflict.

Media and Conflict in the Arab World

Media and conflict are inseparable in the Arab world. Traditional media outlets—television, radio, and newspapers—are longstanding tools used by state and non-state actors to shape public opinion and construct ideological narratives during times of conflict. While these remain potent means of producing and disseminating narratives, the advent of digital media has drastically altered this formerly entrenched media landscape. The proliferation of social media platforms, online news outlets, and digital forums allow for faster, more diverse, and often unfiltered dissemination of information. As a result, conflicts are no longer simply reported in this new media environment, they are experienced, shared, and amplified through digital networks in real-time.

The rapid proliferation of digital media has established new mechanisms—for both state and non-state actors—that exert tremendous influence upon conflict dynamics in the Arab world. Governments increasingly rely on digital media as a tool to disseminate propaganda, psychological warfare, and engender domestic and/or international support. Simultaneously, grassroots movements, citizen journalists, and alternative media outlets utilize digital platforms to challenge official narratives, document human rights abuses, and mobilize resistance to state violence.

The widespread availability of smartphones, in combination with the power of social media, has transformed previously voiceless citizens into potential content producers. These novel digital networks have precipitated an unprecedented level of public engagement with both war and conflict. Images and videos depicting violence, suffering, and resistance circulate online and (re)shape how conflicts are perceived within the Arab world and globally. However, these platforms also provide a fertile breeding ground for disinformation, deepfakes, and the manipulation of public opinion, which may exacerbate existing tensions and fuel conflict. Given these developments, it is imperative to critically examine the role of all media—traditional, broadcast, and digital—in the (re)construction of conflict narratives, the mobilization of actors, and the transformation of media practices in the Arab world.

This issue seeks contributions that engage both theoretical and/or empirical approaches to better understand how media is transforming conflict dynamics, media practices, and public perceptions in the region. We invite scholars to explore the complex and evolving relationship between media and conflict in the Arab world.

Themes and Topics of Interest

Submissions may address the following themes, which aims to provide a broad framework for investigating media and conflict in the Arab world. Please note, this list of suggestions is not exhaustive. Submissions may be qualitative or quantitative as we encourage interdisciplinary approaches and critical analyses.

• The role of media in (re)framing conflict narratives: How do different media platforms shape narratives involving war and conflict in the Arab world? What are the dominant frames and how do they influence public opinion and/or policy decisions?
  
• Propaganda and disinformation in the media: How are state and non-state actors exploiting media to disseminate disinformation, propaganda, and psychological warfare? What tools are employed to manipulate public opinion and fuel conflict through traditional and/or digital platforms?
  
• Citizen journalism and grassroots media in conflict zones: What role do citizen journalists and alternative media outlets play in documenting and reporting conflicts? How do they challenge or reinforce official narratives and what impact do they have on the public’s perception of conflict?
  
• Ethical and legal challenges of reporting conflict: What are the ethical considerations for journalists, activists, ordinary citizens, and media outlets when documenting conflict? How do legal frameworks in the Arab world impact the ability of media to report on conflicts freely and accurately?
  
• The visual economy of war: How do images of violence, suffering, and resistance circulate through various media platforms? What are their psychological, cultural, and political impacts on audiences? How does the visual representation of war differ between traditional and digital media?
  
• Social media and the mobilization of conflict actors: How are social media platforms used by conflict actors to mobilize support, recruit fighters, and spread ideological messages? What role do digital networks play in (re)shaping the strategies of both state and non-state actors in conflict zones?
  
• Media coverage of humanitarian crises in conflict: How do media platforms cover the humanitarian aspects of conflict, such as displacement, refugee crises, and human rights violations? How do these platforms contribute to or detract from international humanitarian interventions?
  
• Safety in conflict zones: How has the rise of digital media impacted the safety and security of journalists, citizens, activists, and media workers in conflict zones? What new risks do digital platforms pose and what strategies can be employed to mitigate these risks?
  
• Media, public trust, and conflict: How do media platforms influence public trust in media outlets during times of conflict? How do audiences navigate misinformation and disinformation? What strategies can be employed to restore trust in conflict reporting?
  
• Gender and conflict reporting through media: How is the gendered dimension of conflict represented in media? What challenges do female journalists and activists face in reporting on conflict? How is the impact of conflict on women and marginalized groups portrayed?
  

Suggested Areas of Research:

• The role of media in shaping narratives of war and conflict.
  
• The authority of official/alternative narratives in conflict reporting.
  
• The circulation of propaganda and disinformation via media during conflict.
  
• The role of citizen journalism and alternative media in conflict zones.
  
• The ethical dilemmas in reporting conflict.
  
• The visual representation of war and violence across media platforms.
  
• The use of media for the mobilization of conflict actors.
  
• Humanitarian crises and the coverage of atrocities by media.
  
• The impact of digital media on journalistic safety in conflict zones.
  
• Public relations and crisis/conflict news management.
  
• The public trust/distrust in media during times of conflict.
  
• Gendered reporting of conflict across media.
  
• Censorship and media freedom in Arab conflict zones.
  
• The role of media in post-conflict peacebuilding efforts.
  
• The use of dehumanizing language or demonizing adversaries via media.
  
• The role of media as it pertains to inciting conflict and fostering peace and reconciliation.
  
• The role of diaspora and exile communities in shaping media narratives.
  
• The rise of disinformation and its impact on conflict resolution.
  
• Comparative analysis of traditional versus digital media in covering Arab conflicts.
  
• The intersection of media, ethics, and law in conflict reporting.
  

The above list is a non-exhaustive set for suggested areas of research. We welcome contributions that explore other dimensions related to media and conflict in the Arab region.

Deadline for Submissions

Authors interested in submitting their research for peer-review consideration must submit manuscripts by January 15, 2025.

Other submissions, including book and conference reviews, shorter (non-peer reviewed) research papers, and columns, should be submitted by January 31, 2025.

Submission Guidelines

All submissions must be in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx), adhere to the Chicago Manual of Style, and have a maximum length of 10,000 words (including footnotes and citations).

Please include the author's name (as it should be published), their affiliation, and a brief abstract of no more than 150 words.

Please email all submissions to: editor@arabmediasociety.com

For further information regarding our publishing policies, kindly visit: www.arabmediasociety.com/publishing-policies/

Contact Information

For any inquiries regarding the call for papers, please contact: editor@arabmediasociety.com.

Thank you for your interest and support of Arab Media & Society. We look forward to your contributions to this timely and important issue.