Category Archives: Media Systems

Free At Last, Free At Last: Libya (Post 5)

How could we not expect the people of Libya to be excited as they move towards a more free and independent media system? According to Fatima el Issawi’s article for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, “transitional bodies established after the revolution to reorganize the media sector took radical measures to break with the past, disbanding many of the former media outlets with the aim of creating a freer system. This was interpreted by former state journalists as punishment for their complicity.”

It is not a normal occurrence for people to succeed at a total reform of something government has so much control over. Though Libya is having some issues with journalists from the Gaddafi Era, they are working as hard as they can to get the whole nation to switch to a freer and more true media lifestyle. According to the article there are several things the people of Libya can do to make this transition more smooth. Some of them are to “lobby for the rights and security of journalists, establish a specialized expert body to spearhead the liberalization and reconstruction of Libyan media, reintegrate journalists employed during the Gaddafi era into the new media sector and adopt tailored, long-term training programs.”

They have the support of people in other countries of Africa who have a more understanding government and also a more free media system. According to yourmiddleeast.com, “Libya will likely want to create its own unique system and style. There has been talk of private TV stations and some public service media, possibly like the BBC model, which would properly represent the people. The mix of new media including newspapers and recast old titles will be of paramount importance. Radio is also very much in play and is more important than many people think.”

It is exciting to see the people working towards making their country better. Do you think that this move towards freedom will by successful? What moves do you think the United States would take if we were in the same position as Libya?

http://carnegieendowment.org/2013/05/14/transitional-libyan-media-free-at-last

http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/features/how-can-libya-build-its-independent-media_8984

Journalist Jailed in Morocco (Post 4)

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Because of how dangerous certain places can be for journalists to try and do their jobs, there is a group of people called The Committee to Protect Journalists. Earlier this year they urged Moroccan authorities to drop charges that were at that time held against a Mahmoud Lhaisan. Lhaisan is a TV journalist who was arrested in front of his home after reporting on police abuse during protests following a World Cup game.

During the protests that Lhaisan was reporting on, people were beaten and arrested, as well as police officers being injured. Moroccan government did not want this to be broadcasted in the fear of causing more disturbances.

According to the article on CPJ.org, “Lhaisan was charged with protesting illegally, obstructing traffic, and attacking police officers, according to news reports.” These accusations have no proof to support them, but are what the Moroccan government felt the reporter was doing wrong.

The article goes on to say, “Lhaisan’s family said the journalist had been arrested in retaliation for his criticism of police abuse during the demonstrations…They said that after the journalist was arrested, police surrounded their house to discourage his colleagues from expressing solidarity with him.”

The CPJ feels that journalists should not be left responsible for what happens in the news, as it is just their job to report it. This is an issue that many of the countries we have studied currently face.

Another article by the Committee to Protect Journalists focuses on the “Attacks on the Press 2010: Morocco.” The article opens by stating, “The government continued using the judiciary to settle scores with critical journalists and pressuring private advertisers to avoid probing publications, two hallmarks of its antagonistic approach to independent and opposition media. The tactics forced two leading independent weeklies to close and a critical daily newspaper to move online.”

It is a horrible place to be in, one where you can lose your job, have a company shut down, or even face imprisonment just for simply doing the job you were asked. The Committee to Protect Journalists is working towards making this world wide issue of journalists brutality and unfairness be brought to an end.

https://cpj.org/2014/07/morocco-jails-journalist-over-coverage-of-protests.php

https://cpj.org/2011/02/attacks-on-the-press-2010-morocco.php

Ebola in Morocco (Post 3)

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Ebola was a wide spread disaster in America just a few weeks ago and already we seem to have forgotten about it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains. Ebola can cause disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees)…The natural reservoir host of Ebola virus remains unknown. However, on the basis of evidence and the nature of similar viruses, researchers believe that the virus is animal-borne and that bats are the most likely reservoir. Four of the five virus strains occur in an animal host native to Africa.”

The reason I felt this was important to post about this topic under media structure was after reading the article “Africa: Ebola Deals a Blow to Morocco’s Africa Plans” I noticed the government influence on the subject. Morocco wants to post-pone the African Cup of Nations soccer tournament which would have taken place mid-January through early-February of next year because of the fear of Ebola. This has enraged soccer fans in Africa.

It seems strange that the government, which is willing to host other large events in Morocco would be opposed to something that would surely bring attention, tourism, and stimulation to the land. According to the article “Doctors, experts and representatives of non-governmental organisations present in the Ebola-affected countries earlier this month spoke about this issue during a discussion entitled ‘Unpacking the impact of Ebola on health systems and regional Integration,’ held at the University of the Witwatersrand medical school in Johannesburg on 11 November. The panic around Ebola is fueled by the high mortality rate, but there are many misconceptions about how it is spread, they said.” Notice that only non-governmental health officials have spoken out on the topic.

Is this an example of the governments control of the media? Will the people in charge of posting this article come under fire for exposing a truth the Moroccan government might not want people to know?

For your entertainment, posted is a video of what the African Cup of Nations was like in 2014.

Sources:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201412031326.html

http://rt.com/news/203595-african-cup-ebola-morocco/

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/about.html

Morocco Uses Twitter and Other Social Medias (Post 2)

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The above video is a prime example of Moroccans using their social media and social system freedom. For a little bit of history, “After it [Morocco] won its independence, the kingdom of Morocco was left with a deeply rooted French cultural influence that went on to provide much of the framework for its judicial, political, and educational systems. Morocco also inherited a press formed and nurtured by French journalistic traditions. Historically, French newspapers reflect particular political viewpoints and social agendas. Rather than striving for factual and unbiased news reporting, they are essentially the journalistic expression of a given political ideology”

As you can see, the people of Moroccos were used to a strict and biased media system. They were coerced into writing what would best suit the government Finally the Moroccans can speak rather freely about how they are feeling when it comes to social issues whether it is involving them or not. They get to express how they feel without the threat of the French. Even if newspapers are still heavily influenced by the French, both the paper and the internet, television and radio are coming under Moroccan control.

“With a population of 30,645,395 (2002), a GDP of $108 billion, and a literacy rate of only 44 percent, Morocco publishes 22 major daily newspapers, with an aggregate circulation of 704,000 (circulation per thousand: 27.) The press consumes 19,000 metric tons of newsprint annually. Many new dailies have appeared since 1990, and their number continues to increase. Old vanguards of the past, such as the longest-running French language daily Maroc-Soir (established in 1908) and the promonarchist Arabic language newspaper Al Mithaq Al Watani (established in 1977), have disappeared. ”

You can see that even though the French run media systems are slowly coming obsolete the newspapers are still an important factor. To me that seems strange because we use any social media form to get news nowadays. It is unusual to see new newspapers here in the United States because we are so technology obsessed. Would you think it’s weird to see a new newspaper being published? Do you think Moroccans should work on something like an app rather than a newspaper, since technology is slowly taking over the world?
Read more: http://www.pressreference.com/Ma-No/Morocco.html#ixzz3KbReKEbH“

Media Systems Take Libya (Post 1)

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It is always nice to see areas that usually have no media interaction working towards being involved with up and coming Internet communication. Libya is an area that normally would have no local media, social media, or even world wide media involvement. Not only does the nation of Libya lack on the nation wide involvement but also they were also unavailable when it came to huge world wide news such as wars or terrorist attacks. Media in Libya was extremely dictated by the government, Could you imagine not being allowed you know if there was an attack or a major natural disaster somewhere in the work because your media was so strictly regulated?

In an interview with Abdul Hafeedh Ghoga there were many interesting points made both defending and negating the need for media systems in Libya. The interview, which was conducted by Habib Toumi, the Bureau Chief at the Gulf News, included mostly the positive direction that Libya was moving it. “After four decades of autocratic rule, Libya is now in a position to create an independent, national media system that meets the needs of its people,” Abdul Hafeedh Ghoga, Vice Chairman of the National Transitional Council, said to Habib Toumi.

Also in that interview “”These principles and action items will serve as guideposts as we seek to put in place the type of media environment required by a vibrant, modern state. We are grateful to Northwestern University in Qatar and the many international experts who shared their insights during this unprecedented conference,” said Ghoga who headed the Libyan delegation and co-chaired the conference.”

This reference refers to the face that students from Northwestern University from America are volunteering there time where they feel it is necessary to help the people of Libya become media system independent. The people of Libya are more that grateful and welcoming of our help. They are aware that us here in the united state know what is going on.

I personally find it comforting that we can use our knowledge of technology and our outstanding media systems to help the people of Libya. How do you feel about us being in other nations sharing our information and trying to better nations that are not our own?

Source: http://gulfnews.com/news/region/libya/libya-takes-first-step-towards-creating-media-system-1.949310

Libya and Morocco

Comparing Media Systems in North Africa

Category Archives: Media Systems

Free At Last, Free At Last: Libya (Post 5)

Journalist Jailed in Morocco (Post 4)

Ebola in Morocco (Post 3)

Morocco Uses Twitter and Other Social Medias (Post 2)