Home » Phone Hacking: it’s sad, not bad…

Phone Hacking: it’s sad, not bad…

Oh how outraged everyone is getting over the bean spilling going on at the Leveson Enquiry.
Yet looking at phone hacking as a morality tale masks the real background story. As the enquiry is revealing, phone …

Home » A virtual space for Arabs

A virtual space for Arabs

Attempting to counter the stifled ability to express, Arabs.com interestingly points out that we must admit that we are ‘oppressed’ in order to actually combat that oppression. In his ‘message’, the founder of the website states his support for the freedom of choice and expression as well as the need for platforms without bias or guardianship.

Home » Cyber-sceptics unite – a review of Morozov’s ‘The Net Delusion’

Cyber-sceptics unite – a review of Morozov’s ‘The Net Delusion’

This review originally appeared in Literary Review, April 2011
This book essentially a warning to the West – a term that is never defined but refers more or less to US policymakers – about its blinkered cyber-utopianism. Evgeny Morozov …

Home » A social media revolution?

A social media revolution?

So the joke goes that Mubarak dies and meets Nasser and Sadat in the afterlife. They ask him, “were you poisoned or shot?” Mubarak shrugs and answers “Facebook!”  Actually, an Egyptian family did recently name …

Home » Egyptian Revolution did NOT start in Silicon Valley, CA.

Egyptian Revolution did NOT start in Silicon Valley, CA.

On March 30th, the frontline club and in association with BBC Arabic hosted a special panel titled: Protest, Technology and the End of Fear. The event hosted Alaa Abdul Fattah, famous Egyptian blogger and political …

Home » humour in the revolutionary sphere

humour in the revolutionary sphere

I saw somewhere that George Orwell once said, “every joke is a tiny revolution.” In the last week of this current wave of up rise throughout the Arab world, it has been the humour in social protest that has fascinated, and perhaps even confused, me. What role do these comedic characters play?

Home » SMALL MEDIA SYMPOSIUM 2011 | CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

SMALL MEDIA SYMPOSIUM 2011 | CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

The Small Media Initiative invites submission of abstracts for its 2011 Small Media Symposium to be held at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London on 8 – 9 …

Home » What Egypt Taught Me: People plus Media is equal to Power

What Egypt Taught Me: People plus Media is equal to Power

As I sit here breathless in London, flicking channels between Al Jazeera English, BBC, CNN and France 24, in anxiety and excitement to see what Hosni Mubarak will announce within the hour, I look back …

Home » Notes on Egypt, Al Jazeera and the Digital Divide

Notes on Egypt, Al Jazeera and the Digital Divide

The current situation in Egypt is indeed provoking many discussions about the role of media in the coverage, and some could argue the ignition of its events, which began on the 25 January 2011. The …

Home » Tweeting Tyrants Out of Tunisia: Global Internet at Its Best

Tweeting Tyrants Out of Tunisia: Global Internet at Its Best

What has happened during only a span of four weeks in Tunisia is mind-boggling and unprecedented in the modern day history of the Middle East; that a dictator who has had a stronghold in Tunisia …

Home » Operation: Tunisia

Operation: Tunisia

Any form of speech used for pulling communities together to criticize a government or ruling group’s action has historically met with tightening of laws, suppression of freedom and unjust actions at the hands …

Home » What would happen if Facebook shut down?

What would happen if Facebook shut down?

A silly rumour did the rounds over the weekend. An unscrupulous article surfaced announcing that Facebook CEO Mark Zukerberg had decided to shut down the company on March 15th to ‘get his old life back’. …

Home » It’s What They Call the News (Happy New Year)!

It’s What They Call the News (Happy New Year)!

Here’s me wishing all my good SOASian buddies and Project Carousel users a very happy New Year! The Autumn Term gave us a real eclectic mix of engaging content, let’s hope that as the year …

Home » Foreign Affairs Essay: The Political Power of Social Media

Foreign Affairs Essay: The Political Power of Social Media

An invitation to read-up on Clay Shirky’s take on the power of new and social media.

Home » Is Social Media a Fad?

Is Social Media a Fad?

The title is taken from this Youtube video I found while working for a presentation about the impact of the internet in the traditional media.
Found this very interesting
And this is how facebook would look …

Home » Iran’s Blogfather temporarily released on bail

Iran’s Blogfather temporarily released on bail

‘Blogfather’ and SOAS student Hossein ‘Hoder’ Derakhshan has been temporarily released from Iran’s notorious Evin Prison on bail totaling $1.5 million. Hossein, who was arrested in late 2008 and has spent the last two years …

Home » Online action against the Tory and Lib Dem Facebook pages

Online action against the Tory and Lib Dem Facebook pages

In solidarity with the SOAS Occupation and the student protests agains the proposed increase in tuition fees, we had some fun with the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Facebook pages last night.

Home » How to organise a successful student protest using online tools

How to organise a successful student protest using online tools

There’s been a lot of talk in the media about how the current student protests are organised using ‘social media’. But how is it being done? Here’s my quick guide to organising a successful protest …

Home » Conveying a complex campaign message online

Conveying a complex campaign message online

The financial crisis exposed the power of unregulated financial markets to wreck the real economy most of us depend on. And the bailouts and bonuses have shown that when bankers get it wrong, …

Home » Museveni’s rap star moment…

Museveni’s rap star moment…

President Yoweri Museveni rap with Lyrics – Do you want another rap Official video
Ugandan President Museveni’s rap song on You Tube is doing the rounds in Uganda, bringing him much needed positive publicity. But what …