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Journal of Arab & Muslim Media Research - Online First
Online First articles will be assigned issues in due course.
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Finding the third space in digital diaspora in the narration of Leila Aboulela’s Bird Summons (2019): A postcolonial corpus-assisted analysis
Authors: Nasaybah Awajan and Mohammed NofalAvailable online: 26 April 2025More LessThe aim of this study is to show how Leila Aboulela incorporates digital diaspora in her narration of Bird Summons (2019). Largely focusing on the main character, Salma, the study also explores how Aboulela depicts Arabs, who in the West try to cope with their new life through technology and social media. Aboulela shows how Salma reaches to what Homi Bhabha calls ‘The Third Space’ with the assistance of digital devices and social media. The novel is analysed through the lens of postcolonialism with the use of corpus linguistics. The importance of digital environments is well-established in migrant groups in diaspora is highlighted in the novel. There is shortage of studies that tackle digital environments and diaspora in general. The contribution of the study lies in the fact that Bird Summons (2019) as a novel has been tackled by a few scholars. Added to that, corpus linguistics is not widely used in literary studies. Thus, the study fills in an important gap in the literature due to these important contributions. The study concludes with the fact that Aboulela includes digital dispersions in her storytelling of Bird Summons (2019). Furthermore, Aboulela portrays her primary protagonists, who are individuals of Arab descent residing in the western hemisphere, as capable of adapting to their unfamiliar surroundings through the utilization of technology and social networking platforms, with particular emphasis placed on the character Salma.
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From enmity to amity: A framing analysis of the Saudi-Iranian relationship in Arab News and Tehran Times before and after normalization
Authors: Oussama Badad and Mohammed el-NawawyAvailable online: 26 April 2025More LessThis study examines the framing strategies utilized by two English-language newspapers – Arab News and Tehran Times – in their reporting of the Saudi-Iranian relationship before and after the diplomatic reconciliation in 2023. The research employs qualitative textual analysis to examine articles published over six months with the aim of determining the prevailing frames employed by each newspaper. The study reveals a notable transition in media coverage of this relationship from antagonism to prospect cooperation in both countries. The analysis indicates that prior to normalization, there was a significant prevalence of ‘conflict and hostility’ and ‘western influence and intervention’ frames in the coverage. Consistent with Saudi Arabian viewpoints, Arab News frequently structured its reporting to mirror the Kingdom’s diplomatic positions and policy agendas. Tehran Times, on the other hand, presented Iran’s foreign policy initiatives as defensive measures in the face of regional tensions and reflected the country’s perspective. After normalization, a notable change was observed in the way information was presented. Both newspapers started to embrace more conciliatory narratives such as ‘diplomatic triumph’ and ‘regional stability’ frames. The results of this study enhance our comprehension of how prominent media outlets in historically unstable regions adapt their storytelling in reaction to geopolitical shifts. Furthermore, it highlights the significance of media framing in the context of international affairs.
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Balance and impartiality in public service news: The BBC’s news framing of the 2023 Israel–Gaza war
By Nael JebrilAvailable online: 26 April 2025More LessThis study analyses how the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) framed and sourced news during the first three weeks of the 2023 Israel–Gaza war (7–28 October 2023), utilizing a framing approach to assess impartiality. Building on quantitative content analyses, it compares twenty cross-party and party-specific frames, as well as variations in the utilization of sources in the BBC’s ‘Israel–Gaza war’ section. The analyses reveal minimal disparities in the use of cross-party positive frames between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, with the human-interest frame being the most prevalent. However, the use of cross-party negative frames was partial to Israel, with a substantially higher frequency of criminality and terrorism frames in Palestinian narratives, despite some references to Israel’s violations. Party-specific frames favouring Israel were markedly more prominent than those favouring Palestine, while Palestinian concerns were marginalized. The BBC cited Israeli political and citizen sources more frequently than Palestinian sources, whereas Palestinian medical sources were cited more often than Israeli ones.
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The role of video streaming service usage in Generation Z’s understanding of entertainment
By Pınar ErginAvailable online: 29 March 2025More LessThis article explores Generation Z’s understanding of entertainment through the connection between video streaming service use and fun. The proliferation of media entertainment tools designed for personal consumption has multifaceted implications, alienating entertainment from its social aspect. The rising popularity of video streaming services largely reshapes entertainment by disconnecting it from the conventional viewing experience. Through semi-structured in-depth interviews with samples from Generation Z, this study examines the traces of this transformation. Research findings reveal that Generation Z participants have developed three ways to have fun through video streaming services. These are simultaneous viewing together, watching together by downloading add-ons from different screens and solo viewing that later becomes a topic of discussion during friends’ gatherings. This research interprets the use of video streaming services for fun as direct experience, indirect experience and postponed experience, and it holds potential for contributing to communication studies.
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Social media and democracy: Evidence from Tunisia
Available online: 21 March 2025More LessThis research attempts to advance the discourse on the influence of digitization on democratic processes. The principal aim is to explore specific ways in which social media has contributed to the advancement of democracy in the Tunisian context. To address this objective, the study commences with a thorough examination of the Tunisian sociopolitical landscape, providing a comprehensive foundation for subsequent analyses. Utilizing an econometric model, the research investigates the intricate relationship between social media and democratic transitions during the period spanning from 2000 to 2020. This quantitative approach facilitates a systematic and robust exploration of the dynamics at play. The pivotal findings of the study underscore the substantial and pivotal role played by social media in fostering the success of the democratic movement in Tunisia. This work enriches the existing literature on digitization and democracy and offers a nuanced understanding of the mechanisms through which social media influences democratic transitions.
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Integrating artificial intelligence in the podcast industry in the Sultanate of Oman: Opportunities, challenges and ethical considerations
Available online: 21 March 2025More LessAs with many industries, artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a pivotal role in transforming the podcasting sector. However, like any technology, it is essential to strike a balance between opportunities and challenges. This study, conducted through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with seven podcast creators in the Sultanate of Oman, aims to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating AI into the podcast industry. It also examines strategies for mitigating potential risks and considerations for ethical practices when incorporating AI technologies into podcasting. The key findings suggest that the opportunities arising from AI integration in the podcast industry encompass time, effort and cost savings, particularly in improving sound quality, eliminating noise, adjusting tone, expanding the reach through translation and transcription services and increasing accessibility for visually impaired and deaf audiences. Moreover, the results indicate that this integration can lead to certain challenges, including information bias, limited access, loss of human touch, potential lack of uniqueness, data accuracy and credibility, deep fakes, privacy and data security concerns, intellectual property issues, job displacement, accessibility issues for visually impaired individuals and financial costs associated with AI tools. Furthermore, the results emphasize the importance of ensuring the accuracy and credibility of information obtained through AI, respecting the intellectual property of others, maintaining authenticity and creativity, and considering the general ethical considerations in content creation when integrating AI technologies.
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Incidental news exposure and political behaviour among young social media users in Nigeria
Available online: 21 March 2025More LessThe explosion of social media is widely believed to have invigorated incidental exposure to news content, transforming how users in the present digital dispensation encounter and consume news. Consequently, scholars have examined the determinants of incidental news exposure and its consequences on different political outcomes among social media users, with studies reaching divergent conclusions. However, intellectual diagnosis into the rebranded concept of incidental news exposure has predominantly been concentrated in advanced, western democracies, hence having research conducted in settings other than advanced democracies is essential to cross-culturally generalize the resurged concept and consequences of incidental news exposure. Thus, this study investigates the factors that animate incidental news exposure and the corresponding effects on online and offline political participation among social media users between the ages of 18 and 35 in Nigeria. The network sampling method was used to sample a total of 387 respondents who chiefly use social media routinely. The study found that generic social media use, social media use for news and political interest are significantly correlated with incidental news exposure among respondents. While incidental news exposure was a positive and significant predictor of online political participation, it did not correlate with offline political participation among respondents. We conclude that incidental news exposure contributes to aspects of political outcomes among social media users and recommend the need for further studies on this phenomenon as well as the introduction of political education to assist political enculturation of the youths within the Nigerian democratic space due to its strategic role on Africa’s political emancipation.
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Qatar vs. Germany: An analysis of Qatari reactions to western discursive othering during the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Authors: Carola Richter and Abdulrahman Al-ShamiAvailable online: 18 September 2024More LessMassive sports events always attract international attention. However, for attention-seeking countries, this is a double-edged sword because it is difficult to remain in control of the images produced by foreign media outlets. Since Qatar is eager to boost its image internationally, hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup was supposed to be a major step in the country’s comprehensive strategy to achieve this. However, Qatar faced strong criticism from western countries in the run-up to and during the World Cup, exemplified here by a cursory investigation of German media. Taking a postcolonial lens, we analysed the reactions to this criticism in Qatari media in opinion articles of three different sets of media, one focusing on the national Qatari public (Al-Sharq), one targeting the pan-Arab public (Al-Jazeera) and one targeting the western, English-speaking public worldwide (Al-Jazeera English). Two distinct discursive patterns were identified – one that aims to construct a particular identity mix of an Arab, Global Southern and Islamic ‘us’ against the ‘West’ as a kind of positively turned self-othering and another that actively deconstructs what is perceived as western hypocrisy. While the first pattern is exclusive to the Arab-speaking media, the second pattern was addressed in all three sets of media, albeit with different lines of argumentation depending on the target audience. While, for example, in Qatari national media, reactions to the allegation of Qatar violating or neglecting the rights of LGBTQ people are connected to an emphasis on a different, ‘conservative’ or ‘Islamic’ value system, Al-Jazeera Arabic and English presented their arguments in a more sophisticated manner and highlighted the double standards used by the West by including references to a neo-liberal world order and the remnants of a colonial past that continue to shape the West’s policies.
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Silencing the voices of discontent: How the new digital communication environment reinforces the spiral of silence in the Yemeni crisis
Authors: Abdullah Bakhash, Jamel Zran and Shahira S. FahmyAvailable online: 10 September 2024More LessThis study examines the impact of the new digital communication environment on the spiral of silence mechanisms in the context of the current Yemeni crisis. The research focuses on three controversial topics related to the crisis: the role of the Arab coalition in Yemen, the legitimacy of President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi and the call to disengage the Yemeni southern governorates from the unified Yemeni state. The sample for this study consisted of 438 respondents, selected using the snowball sampling method. The findings suggest that despite the changes in communication conditions, the mechanisms of the spiral of silence remain effective in the new digital communication environment. The study found that respondents emphasized their awareness of the severity of controversy, disagreement, hostile reactions from the other side and their fears of the threat of social isolation which affected their desire to express their opinions towards the three political issues. The results demonstrated that the respondents with the highest fear of isolation tended to exclude expressing an opinion in the new communication environment or prefer adhering to neutrality. The results confirmed that what impedes the expression of opinion in conflict environments is not the inability of individuals to access media and publishing platforms but rather the same psychological and social mechanisms of the spiral of silence – as identified by Neumann. The study proposes a new model of the spiral of silence theory that incorporates the transformations of the communication field and the inhibitors of opinion expression on social media.
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Register of male and female Arabic language teachers on YouTube channels: A gender analysis in sociolinguistics
Available online: 03 September 2024More LessLanguage and gender have a strong connection, especially in a social context. This study examines register in Arabic by looking at the language used by male and female teachers who utilize the YouTube media platform to provide basic Arabic tutorials. From these videos, the language characteristics of male and female Arabic language teachers can be observed, in terms of gender. In general, this study investigates the registers of male and female Arabic language teachers. Specifically, it elaborates on the significant differences between the language used by male and female Arabic language teachers based on a register analysis. The research question is thus divided into two: (1) what is the typical character of male teachers and female teachers of Arabic on YouTube channels; (2) how do male and female Arabic teachers use register on YouTube channels. The method used in this research can be divided into three stages. The first stage was the data collection, which was carried out by viewing and observing Arabic language learning videos uploaded onto YouTube channels by male and female teachers. The second stage was the data analysis, which used the model of Miles and Huberman, consisting of data reduction, data display and data conclusion. The final stage was the reporting of the results, using illustrative quotes in the form of descriptions and narratives related to the language registers of male and female teachers in terms of a sociolinguistic study. The gender-based language characteristics can be identified from aspects of gesture, word choice, greeting pronunciation and the mention of personal names. This research contributes to the development of the study of language learning in terms of gender based on an online social media platform.
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Unveiling the global hijab discourse on Instagram: A multi-layered analysis of narratives, communities and sentiments
Authors: Ali Feizollah, Mohamed M. Mostafa, Riyadh A. K. Mehdi and Ream N. KinawyAvailable online: 02 August 2024More LessThis article presents a comprehensive analysis of the global discourse on the hijab on Instagram, a key platform for cultural and fashion expressions. Employing a mixed-methods approach, it examines a dataset of 100,000 Instagram posts to explore representations and discussions of the hijab in online communities. The study includes temporal analysis of discourse evolution, text classification of narratives using advanced natural language processing (NLP) techniques like topic modelling and sentiment analysis, and network analysis of community interactions. Key findings reveal the multifaceted nature of the hijab discourse, encompassing themes of fashion, religion and community. The temporal analysis uncovers peaks in hijab-related posts from October 2021 onwards and between May and July 2022, coinciding with Islamic events and the rise of modest fashion. Sentiment analysis indicates a generally positive and neutral perception of the hijab, while emotion analysis highlights joy, anticipation and trust as dominant emotions. Text classification identifies five main topics: hijab styles and fashion, sizing and shipping, colours and product types, religion and spirituality, and product orders. Network analysis visualizes the interconnected nature of these themes and communities. The study makes original contributions by shedding light on the ‘hijabista’ phenomenon, representing Muslim women who blend fashion with modesty on Instagram, and by demonstrating Instagram’s role in shaping contemporary hijab discourse related to identity, empowerment and cultural representation. The findings enhance understanding of social media’s impact on cultural discourses and offer valuable insights into the social and cultural implications of these online narratives for scholars, businesses and policy-makers.
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Filmic construction of regional Islamophobia: Rendering Kashmiri Muslims in Hindi cinema
Available online: 18 June 2024More LessThis article examines the representation of Kashmir and its people in Hindi cinema, particularly Kashmiri Muslims. Cinematic representation has contributed to a harmful perception of Muslim identity and Islam. Given the contemporary global religio-political scenario, it is crucial to examine this phenomenon in promoting such perceptions about Kashmir, which is often referred to as South-Asian Palestine. The methodology employs survey, dialogical deconstruction and narrative analysis to unearth the implicit significances within three selected films, Haider, Mission Kashmir and Roja, depicting the Kashmiri Muslim subjects and their effect on the youth. A survey of university youth was also conducted at three central universities in Delhi. The investigation reveals a prevalent theme of violence in these films, often giving negative and biased portrayals of Kashmiris. Such conscious constructions of negative characters and narratives perpetuate Kashmirophobia – the fear or prejudice against Kashmir and its people among the youth. The portrayal of Kashmiri Muslims in Bollywood aggravates communal narratives and reinforces discriminatory views about the community, affecting the perception of the audience towards Kashmiri Muslims.
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Ethical communication: Exploring representations of Bedoon and migrant workers in the Kuwaiti TV show From Haram Street
Available online: 03 June 2024More LessThis research aims to provide a critical analysis of the portrayal of migrant workers and the Bedoon in the popular Kuwaiti TV series From Haram Street (Haram Street). The research methodology employs the use of a diasporic critique to explore to what extent have TV and popular culture as technologies of power allowed workers to submit to a certain degree of domination and how television reinforces this script of dominance. Using diasporic critique, the author highlights how labour migrants are displaced in reality but framed differently through popular culture. The key findings indicate that the series provides a highly stereotypical portrayal of the Bedoon and migrant worker communities. The findings also indicate that the diasporic nature of these communities – that of migrant workers and that of the Bedoon – allows for a privileged and hegemonic rhetoric that excludes domestic workers and Bedoon communities. Along with providing an insight into the feminist vernacular discourse in present-day Kuwait, Haram Street series also sets in motion hegemonic rhetorics meant to keep migrant workers and Bedoon communities disciplined and excluded through technologies of domination. Particular attention in this article is paid to how Haram Street shapes our understanding of the migrant workers’ and stateless individuals’ situation in Kuwait.
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Exploring variations in using emojis in digital communication in the UAE
Authors: Nada Alzara and Noha MellorAvailable online: 16 May 2024More LessThis research aims to explore how people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) use emojis on social media and the communicative functions of emojis, including gender differences in assessing appropriateness. The study is based on in-depth interviews with fifteen participants representing different gender, cultural and age groups. The interviewees include six males and nine females, with an age range from 18 to 45 years. The findings emphasize the importance of diversity of perspectives and sensitivities when using emojis in communication, raising questions about the role of emojis in reinforcing or challenging traditional gender norms within the UAE and how individuals navigate the intricate balance between self-expression and cultural norms in their digital interactions. Moreover, ‘emotional emojis’ were favoured by participants from every generation, apart from those in their 20s, although the specific emojis that best expressed those emotions varied. The findings also indicate the use of emoji as a cultural barometer within the digital realm of the UAE. The nuances in emoji preferences, usage frequencies and interpretations across different cultural groups, particularly between Emirati and non-Emirati populations, vividly portray how emojis mirror the complex tapestry of cultural identity and interaction. These emojis, as digital symbols, emerge as profound reflections of the rich cultural dynamics that shape the UAE’s digital landscape. This study adds to the body of research on digitized communication, particularly in the Arab context, and contributes to understanding how emojis are used to create meaning online.
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A critical inquiry into the discourses of war and occupation in the wake of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza
By Leon BarkhoAvailable online: 18 April 2024More LessThe aim of this article is to use one central assumption of Wittgenstein’s philosophy – language games – to review some important aspects of communication and language issues that typically have arisen in the aftermath of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. I draw specifically on a critical inquiry of purposefully selected samples of discursive and linguistic practices accompanying the war in Ukraine and the occupation of its territory by Russia, and the war in Gaza and the occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel. References will also be made to the types of language games used by mainstream western media to categorize other wars and occupations discursively and socially, such as those of Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan. I argue that the use of language is crucial for the understanding and representation of these wars and occupations, and a cause of failure in intercultural interaction. The central argument is as follows: While language games have different senses and not all people attach the same meaning to them, in case of conflict and controversy, those with power attach additional or different interpretations to them in a way they think is reasonable to change or at least rearrange their meanings. According to Wittgenstein’s deliberations of language games, the meaning of each of the various linguistic utterances, like words, sentences or symbols, is defined in terms of its setting and use. To unravel how and why certain linguistic practices are reinforced, and others are thwarted, the article supplements Wittgenstein’s deliberations of language with Hollihan and Baaskes’ definition of rhetorical source credibility, Thomas Hobbes’ ‘Leviathan discourse’ and Foucault’s notion of discourse and power.
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