Pretty shocked tonight watching CNN and feeling as though it has significantly morphed into a much more technology centric news station since the obama administration has taken reigns. I don't think its a bad thing, overall i think it's great, but there are things that are interesting and still have me surprised. Like skype commercials, a lot of blog/twitter/facebook and other social media, RSS, real-time feeds being leveraged around the clock. even there in-between pre-roll & post-roll have flashy graphics promoting CNN.com- they want to drive traffic online to consume content.
The reporters seem a lot more relaxed and candid, often including behind the scene shots in coverage and diverse programming. The last year has given rise to a bucnh of new CNN fresh faces and prime time stars.
Also the seem to be reporting a lot of grass roots news, connecting to the people through motivational programing like "CNN Heroes 2009" - the people elect everyday "change" makers. and the CNN iReport: "share your stories with cnn.com"
what was most surprising was to see a commercial for various programming and one was promoting Marketplace Middle East- "providing coverage bridging the gap between east & west" it literally sounded like a newscaster re-iterating my professor: Helga Suari's words from last year in my "Islam, Media & the West Course." with NYU-AD shortly opening in 2010, and apparently much broader international programming, i am curious to see how this relationship between islam & west and middle east relations unfold in 2010.
Not to mention waiting to see what will happen between Israel & Palestine.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Will a New Obama Era redefine relations between Islam & West?
New York Times Article about Obama's Ciaro Speech yesturday reveals the U.S willingness to push for reform and progress with Islam & West relations, but how will the Muslim world view it? Are people ready for what Obama proposes?
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Fair Coverage
This entire breakout of war in the Gaza region has spurred an interntational media frenzy in terms of Middle East coverage and public response. Riots, rallies, for and against both in Israel, Europe and overseas has erupted worldwide since the war began on december 28th the day i landed in Israel.
I have been sumerged in the Israeli Media Coverage delivering updates and tuned into by the masses 24/7 what is truly a news cyclone coverage. Sadly the way the conflict is depictedoverseas both by CNN and other worldwide sources in the U.S and elsewhere doesn't convey both sidesof thestory.
For once i am in israel truly hearing, living, and breathing what people here discuss and experience around the clock. I have attached a link to a washington Post article, that i found to be the only american coverage that i feel i have encountered in the last week that delivered coverage trully from the other perspective, often ommited from reporting to the rest of the world.
click above or access it by copying this link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101780.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
I have been sumerged in the Israeli Media Coverage delivering updates and tuned into by the masses 24/7 what is truly a news cyclone coverage. Sadly the way the conflict is depictedoverseas both by CNN and other worldwide sources in the U.S and elsewhere doesn't convey both sidesof thestory.
For once i am in israel truly hearing, living, and breathing what people here discuss and experience around the clock. I have attached a link to a washington Post article, that i found to be the only american coverage that i feel i have encountered in the last week that delivered coverage trully from the other perspective, often ommited from reporting to the rest of the world.
click above or access it by copying this link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101780.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
War in Gaza
Of course after not having visited israel for ages, a day after i land for winter vacation 2008-2009 a few days shy of the new year- a new war breaks out in Gaza
when will this constant turmoil end? will there be peace not war for the future of the middle east region?
I want no more conflict!
NYU-AD 2009?
NYU-AD Info (click)
NEW PHOTO/VIDEO UPDATES AVAILABLE!
to think the o-so-liberal New York University is going an opening a satellite campus in the United Arab Emirates....
perhaps not as extremist or rigid as other islamic societies but still in the heart of the muslim world, a pinical crossroads hailed as the "new state of progress" the beacon of new-age thinking & hope, i hope the academic institution of NYU really holds true to its values, and demands the highest state of excellence and deliverance, while carrying out relationships with the local community & government in the UAE.
As for myself i am a senior at NYU, the vice-president of the AJC NYU Society, and organized an NYU-AD focused event last year as a campus entrepreneur, that actually hosted Vice Chancellor Mariet westermann (as a follow-up to a former meeting with her and the society). It was held as a round table discussion with a representative from AJC to discuss the implications, and promote a dialogue between students, faculty & administrators to hold the university accountable and transparent about developments in the region. My goal was to see students opening up and being vocal/informed on campus after the announcement of the Abu Dhabi & NYU partnership.
To recap-The CEI (campus entrepreneur initiative) & AJC (american jewish committee) Society 2008 event overview:
"Jason Isaacson, who is AJC's Director of the Office of Government annd International Affairs based in DC will be joining us, accompanied by Mariet Westerman, to conduct an Abu Dhabi round-table discussion, and get more students involved and vocal in the developments. The dialogue will be hosted by the Campus Entrepreneur Initiative and NYU's AJC society members. The event will be held at Bronfman Center, first floor 5-6pm on Monday May 5th, open invitation to all!"
maybe this is a step forward in reforming education in the Arab world...?
it seems a bit ironic that the "violets" and the "all-inclusive, gay friendly campus of washington square park embedded in village cultures, is attempting to be replicated in a rather extreme islamic country
perhaps not as extremist or rigid as other islamic societies but still in the heart of the muslim world, a pinical crossroads hailed as the "new state of progress" the beacon of new-age thinking & hope, i hope the academic institution of NYU really holds true to its values, and demands the highest state of excellence and deliverance, while carrying out relationships with the local community & government in the UAE.
As for myself i am a senior at NYU, the vice-president of the AJC NYU Society, and organized an NYU-AD focused event last year as a campus entrepreneur, that actually hosted Vice Chancellor Mariet westermann (as a follow-up to a former meeting with her and the society). It was held as a round table discussion with a representative from AJC to discuss the implications, and promote a dialogue between students, faculty & administrators to hold the university accountable and transparent about developments in the region. My goal was to see students opening up and being vocal/informed on campus after the announcement of the Abu Dhabi & NYU partnership.
To recap-The CEI (campus entrepreneur initiative) & AJC (american jewish committee) Society 2008 event overview:
"Jason Isaacson, who is AJC's Director of the Office of Government annd International Affairs based in DC will be joining us, accompanied by Mariet Westerman, to conduct an Abu Dhabi round-table discussion, and get more students involved and vocal in the developments. The dialogue will be hosted by the Campus Entrepreneur Initiative and NYU's AJC society members. The event will be held at Bronfman Center, first floor 5-6pm on Monday May 5th, open invitation to all!"
I am all for unconvential, out-of-the-box thinking and approaches, i am an optimist, and firm believer in progress and new opportunities so i await to see the results, and the progression of this project- and shall i say welcoming "free" admittance of all students, event Israeli students!
I am a huge fan of John Sexton's vision, Hugs & leadership. Had the privledge to attend a Sexton student dinner at his penthouse as a sophomore, had him speak at the Shabbat for 2k8 i co-chaired last year, and had the honor of speaking in concession with him and David Harris at the AJC diplomatic luncheon at the Law School a few weeks ago. however, with all respect and trust in great leadership; accountability and follow-through is key, and i hold Sexton and NYU: the institution that i invested in for my undergraduate education, TO DELIVER. awaiting 2010....
Israeli Media Coverage
Access a new blog addressing some issues concerning the israeli media coverage of the ME conflict
Friday, December 12, 2008
Blog Feedback
To sit and reflect on everything i have learned in this ILA course is quite the feat- no single blog entry will do it justice. Nonetheless extracting thematic links between all of the blogs with everyone's overarching conclusions seems feasable, as i noticed individual classmate reactions share many parallels. we've all acquired perceptions that have evolved quite drastically over the course of the semester- but mapping that evolution has been rather interesting, and the blog manages to trace the personal journey rather effectively.
I have to share that this is my first time ever keeping a blog and interacting with this communication interface. There are little nuances i have yet to figure it- like how to post a PDF file link (learning how to jazz up my background layout took a bit of time as well) but posting something that is written with a much more informal approach- a stylized stream-of-consciencousness has been quite an experience. Like a journal, i felt compelled to write not in a reportive journalistic manner, but rather using a personal undertone, sharing my personal experiences, interactions with family/friends, absorption of the material, and exploration of related issues in U.S politics, literature, international media/music, etc. What was weird was that i was writing for myself, but knew it would be read by others, a private purpose shared with the public (blog characteristics took some time getting used to). The blog served as an outlet to voice my opinions, but perhaps still
Reading over other classmates blog has revealed how much this course opened up or further enhanced a new realm of the media landscape to us all. The Arab World for many really is approached as "foreign so-called 'other'" because of the little exposure and interaction people have with it. Only in recent decades as a result of war/conflict has the news media coverage shifted its focus to include the Middle East region with more depth. Politics departments and history courses also have further enabled students to specialize in the Middle East (once far less common). Looking over blog entires you see that many classmates felt cultured and open-minded until they re-assessed their perceptions of the Arab world and preconceived notions of Islam. I personally travel to the middle east yearly to visit family in Israel, and grew up with much exposure to news coverage of that region of the world- but particularly from a western, pro-american, not surprisingly pro-israeli lens. This course completely reversed and realigned many students former perceptions- particularly focusing on Arab Media & Modernity. It seems that almost all of us referenced youtube clips, movies, and news articles, or scholarly publications to challenge our former notions and foster personal growth. Interestingly the course touched upon israel-palestinian conflict which for me has always been the sole focus of that region, yet broadened the content to include a much larger Arab sphere. We all blogged about the alarming Mumbai attacks, The election race- and McCain's Marginalizing campaign,
Although usually rather outspoken, i found myself more introspective and reflective during class discussions, analyzing and challenging my prior knowledge. My former exposure to some of these topics during my childhood, or even in courses at NYU such as international politics of the Middle East, looking at the formation and development of a lot of the countries we discussed, got thoroughly questioned. The comparative media systems paper i wrote and researched for over a month and a half last year ( and posted) would be conducted rather differently with much more elaborate conclusions if i were to revisit it after taking this course- proving how much my notions have evolved. The same could probably be said for every single person in the class- the beginning of the course and the last day, represent a morphed indivual- the manifestation of good education.
I loved what Molly said about The media celebritizing terrorism as it is the media " plastering Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and countless other 'terrorists' faces on the nightly news. These men were made famous by media coverage and then made infamous through their own deeds and misdeeds" as she questions are fighting terrorism by informing the public or rather perpetrating the cycle? we've seen that we like many others, though we represent a highly educated demographic which much of the country sadly doesn't belong to, came into the course with western perspectives, ideals, and prejudices. Only with exposure to eastern, Arab, and other international perspectives can the marginilized skewed notions be properly challenged not perpetuated.
The East versus West, The Clash, The Orient, are all theoretical constructs fed to the masses to think in a particular way. If courses such as this get taught all over the country and around the world or more importantly the information gets disseminated, communication barriers can finally be broken through mutual understanding and universal (not limited) concern.
I have to share that this is my first time ever keeping a blog and interacting with this communication interface. There are little nuances i have yet to figure it- like how to post a PDF file link (learning how to jazz up my background layout took a bit of time as well) but posting something that is written with a much more informal approach- a stylized stream-of-consciencousness has been quite an experience. Like a journal, i felt compelled to write not in a reportive journalistic manner, but rather using a personal undertone, sharing my personal experiences, interactions with family/friends, absorption of the material, and exploration of related issues in U.S politics, literature, international media/music, etc. What was weird was that i was writing for myself, but knew it would be read by others, a private purpose shared with the public (blog characteristics took some time getting used to). The blog served as an outlet to voice my opinions, but perhaps still
Reading over other classmates blog has revealed how much this course opened up or further enhanced a new realm of the media landscape to us all. The Arab World for many really is approached as "foreign so-called 'other'" because of the little exposure and interaction people have with it. Only in recent decades as a result of war/conflict has the news media coverage shifted its focus to include the Middle East region with more depth. Politics departments and history courses also have further enabled students to specialize in the Middle East (once far less common). Looking over blog entires you see that many classmates felt cultured and open-minded until they re-assessed their perceptions of the Arab world and preconceived notions of Islam. I personally travel to the middle east yearly to visit family in Israel, and grew up with much exposure to news coverage of that region of the world- but particularly from a western, pro-american, not surprisingly pro-israeli lens. This course completely reversed and realigned many students former perceptions- particularly focusing on Arab Media & Modernity. It seems that almost all of us referenced youtube clips, movies, and news articles, or scholarly publications to challenge our former notions and foster personal growth. Interestingly the course touched upon israel-palestinian conflict which for me has always been the sole focus of that region, yet broadened the content to include a much larger Arab sphere. We all blogged about the alarming Mumbai attacks, The election race- and McCain's Marginalizing campaign,
Although usually rather outspoken, i found myself more introspective and reflective during class discussions, analyzing and challenging my prior knowledge. My former exposure to some of these topics during my childhood, or even in courses at NYU such as international politics of the Middle East, looking at the formation and development of a lot of the countries we discussed, got thoroughly questioned. The comparative media systems paper i wrote and researched for over a month and a half last year ( and posted) would be conducted rather differently with much more elaborate conclusions if i were to revisit it after taking this course- proving how much my notions have evolved. The same could probably be said for every single person in the class- the beginning of the course and the last day, represent a morphed indivual- the manifestation of good education.
I loved what Molly said about The media celebritizing terrorism as it is the media " plastering Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and countless other 'terrorists' faces on the nightly news. These men were made famous by media coverage and then made infamous through their own deeds and misdeeds" as she questions are fighting terrorism by informing the public or rather perpetrating the cycle? we've seen that we like many others, though we represent a highly educated demographic which much of the country sadly doesn't belong to, came into the course with western perspectives, ideals, and prejudices. Only with exposure to eastern, Arab, and other international perspectives can the marginilized skewed notions be properly challenged not perpetuated.
The East versus West, The Clash, The Orient, are all theoretical constructs fed to the masses to think in a particular way. If courses such as this get taught all over the country and around the world or more importantly the information gets disseminated, communication barriers can finally be broken through mutual understanding and universal (not limited) concern.
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