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Jad Melki

Lebanese American University, Communication Arts, Faculty Member

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Jad Melki, Ph.D., is associate professor of the journalism and media studies and chairperson of the Department of Communication Arts at the Lebanese American University (LAU), where he also directs the Institute of Media Research and Training. Melki is also a visiting faculty at the Salzburg Academy and an affiliated researcher with ICMPA at the University of Maryland, College Park. His research is at the intersection of digital media literacy, journalism, war, and gender studies, and focuses on Arab media education. Previously, Melki was founding Director of Media Studies at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and has taught at the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins, and Towson University. In 2015, he won the UNESCO-UNAoC International Media and Information Literacy Award for advancing media literacy education in the Arab region through founding the Media and Digital Literacy Academy of Beirut (MDLAB). As a former broadcast and digital journalist, Melki was part of a team that won a Webby Award and a National Press Club Award for covering the 2006 Lebanon-Israel war. He received his Ph.D. from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.

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Papers by Jad Melki

Maneuvering Entrenched Structures of Arab Education Systems

The plight of media education and research in Arab higher education

Scopus, 2012

Arab media studies began at two academic institutions in Egypt in the mid 1930s and slowly began ... more Arab media studies began at two academic institutions in Egypt in the mid 1930s and slowly began spreading to a handful of Arab countries—Tunis, Algeria, Sudan, Iraq and Lebanon—in the subsequent three decades (Abu Bakr, Labib and Kandil, 1985; Al-Jammal, 1991). However, the field remained small until the late 1980s and witnessed a sudden growth in the ensuing decade, immediately following the rapid expansion of Arab satellite and digital media (Ayish, 1998). By the debut of the 21st century, most Arab countries had multiple media studies programs.

Television News and the State in Lebanon

Selective Exposure During Uprisings: Examining the Public’s News Consumption and Sharing Tendencies During the 2019 Lebanon Protests

The International Journal of Press/Politics, 2020

This study examines selective exposure and trust during uprisings. It studies major uses of tradi... more This study examines selective exposure and trust during uprisings. It studies major uses of traditional and social media and assesses the public’s trust in these media and their engagement in sharing news. Focusing on the October 2019 Lebanon uprising, the research surveys thousand Lebanese individuals using a nationally representative probability sample. The findings provide support for selective exposure theory beyond the Western context, particularly for people undergoing stressful political change. The findings also provide support to the robustness of issue publics as a theoretical construct that predicts selective exposure to pro-attitudinal news content, as well as support for attitude strength and attitude importance as two separate predictors.

Lebanese adolescents' expectations about social inclusion of peers in intergroup contexts

This study examined the role of group norms, group identity, age, contact, and stereotypes on you... more This study examined the role of group norms, group identity, age, contact, and stereotypes on youths' decisions to include a peer in an intergroup context portraying Lebanese and American adolescents. Lebanese participants (N = 275), ages 12 and 16 years, were surveyed about expectations for inclusion of an out-group target with similar interests or an in-group target with different interests into their own Lebanese group or another American group. Findings indicated participants focused on shared interests, rather than national identity, when making inclusion decisions for either group and group norms mattered. Older participants expected American peers to be less inclusive towards an out-group peer. Direct contact predicted inclusivity of out-group American peers into one's own Lebanese group, and indirect media-based contact predicted expectations for inclusivity into an American out-group. Findings have implications for interventions aimed at improving cross-national fri...

Trauma journalism education

The prevalence and determinants of anabolic steroid use among fitness centre attendees in Lebanon : original research

Background : Non-medical anabolic steroid (AS) use in non-professional athletes is an increasingl... more Background : Non-medical anabolic steroid (AS) use in non-professional athletes is an increasingly recognized public health problem in Europe and the United States but poorly studied in the Middle East. Research question : The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and determinants of anabolic steroid use amongst adult fitness centre attendees in the Greater Beirut area, Lebanon. Type of study : A cross-sectional study design was adopted. Methods :Subjects: The targeted population included all gym attendees in Greater Beirut aged 18 or above. Professional or career athletes competing in organized sports were excluded. Questionnaire: A questionnaire was used to survey participants on demographic information, history of anabolic steroid usage and possible determinants of use. Sampling: A list of 53 fitness centres in the Greater Beirut area was identified. Thirty-three gyms agreed to permit access to their centres. Trained research assistants distributed the questionnaire to al...

Arc of research and central issues in media literacy education

When Arab women (and men) speak

Journalism, Gender and Power

Media Exposure and Health Behavior during Pandemics: The Mediating Effect of Perceived Knowledge and Fear on Compliance with COVID-19 Prevention Measures

Health Communication

Emerging research has examined the role of media coverage of diseases in influencing people's hea... more Emerging research has examined the role of media coverage of diseases in influencing people's health behavior, particularly their compliance with prevention measures. This study examines whether increased media exposure to COVID-19 news and interpersonal communication about the disease positively relate to people's abidance by prevention measures, and whether perceived knowledge and fear mediate this relationship. The study focuses on Lebanon, whose government and media responses led to a successful containment of COVID-19 in its first phase, although the country was experiencing a severe economic crisis, widespread political unrest, and a massive influx of refugees. It examines both legacy media (Television) and social media, as well as interpersonal communication, through a cross-sectional researcher-administered phone survey of 1,536 adults and a nationally representative probability sample. The fieldwork was conducted between March 27 and April 23, 2020, and resulted in a 51.6% response rate. The findings support the hypotheses that increased media exposure to COVID-19 news positively relates to people's abidance by prevention measures and that perceived knowledge and fear mediate this relationship. However, the same hypotheses for interpersonal communication were not supported.

Mobile device use among emergency department healthcare professionals: prevalence, utilization and attitudes

Scientific Reports

Mobile devices are increasingly permeating healthcare and are being regularly used by healthcare ... more Mobile devices are increasingly permeating healthcare and are being regularly used by healthcare providers. We examined the prevalence and frequency of mobile device use, and perceptions around clinical and personal usage, among healthcare providers (attending physicians, residents, and nurses) in the Emergency Department (ED) of a large academic medical center in Lebanon. Half of the target population (N = 236) completed the cross-sectional electronic questionnaire. Mobile device usage for personal matters was uniform across all providers, with the highest usage reported by medical students (81.3%) and lowest by attendings (75.0%). Medical formulary/drug referencing applications were the most common application used by providers followed by disease diagnosis/management applications, 84.4% and 69.5% respectively. Most respondents agreed that mobile devices enabled better-coordinated care among providers and were beneficial to patient care. Most respondents also agreed that mobile de...

Mitigating Infodemics: The Relationship between News Exposure and Trust and Belief in COVID-19 FakeNews and Social Media Spreading

SSRN Electronic Journal

Introduction Misinformation surrounding COVID-19 poses a global public health problem that advers... more Introduction Misinformation surrounding COVID-19 poses a global public health problem that adversely affects governments’ abilities to mitigate the disease and causes accidental deaths and self-harm due to false beliefs about the virus, prevention measures, vaccines and cures. We aim to examine the relationship between exposure to and trust in COVID-19 news (from Television, social media, interpersonal communication) and information sources (healthcare experts, government, clerics) and belief in COVID-19 myths and false information, as well as critical verification practices before posting on social media. Methods We use a cross-sectional researcher-administered phone survey of adults living in Lebanon between March 27 and April 23, 2020. Results The sample included 56.1% men and 43.9% women, 37.9% with a university degree, 63.0% older than 30, and 7% with media literacy training. Those who trust COVID-19 news from social media [95%CI:(1.05–1.52)] and interpersonal communication [95%CI:(1.25–1.82)], and those who trust information from clerics [95%CI:(1.25–1.82)] were more likely to believe in COVID-19 myths and false information. University graduates [95%CI:(0.25–0.51)] and those who trust information from government [95%CI:(0.65–0.89] were less likely to believe in myths and false information. Those who believe in COVID-19 myths and false information [95%CI:(0.25–0.70)] were less likely to engage in critical social media posting practices. Only those who underwent media literacy training [95%CI:(1.24–6.55)] were more likely to engage in critical social media posting practices. Conclusion Higher education and trust in information from government contributed to decreasing belief in COVID-19 myths and false information. Trust in news from social media, interpersonal communication and clerics contributed to increasing belief in COVID-19 myths and false information, which in turn contributed to less critical social media posting practices, thereby exacerbated the infodemic. Media literacy training contributed to increasing critical social media posting practices, thereby played a role in mitigating the infodemic.

Using media to impact health policy-making: an integrative systematic review

Implementation Science, 2017

Introduction: Media interventions can potentially play a major role in influencing health policie... more Introduction: Media interventions can potentially play a major role in influencing health policies. This integrative systematic review aimed to assess the effects of planned media interventions-including social media-on the health policy-making process. Methods: Eligible study designs included randomized and non-randomized designs, economic studies, process evaluation studies, stakeholder analyses, qualitative methods, and case studies. We electronically searched Medline, EMBASE, Communication and Mass Media Complete, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the WHO Global Health Library. We followed standard systematic review methodology for study selection, data abstraction, and risk of bias assessment. Results: Twenty-one studies met our eligibility criteria: 10 evaluation studies using either quantitative (n = 7) or qualitative (n = 3) designs and 11 case studies. None of the evaluation studies were on social media. The findings of the evaluation studies suggest that media interventions may have a positive impact when used as accountability tools leading to prioritizing and initiating policy discussions, as tools to increase policymakers' awareness, as tools to influence policy formulation, as awareness tools leading to policy adoption, and as awareness tools to improve compliance with laws and regulations. In one study, media-generated attention had a negative effect on policy advocacy as it mobilized opponents who defeated the passage of the bills that the media intervention advocated for. We judged the confidence in the available evidence as limited due to the risk of bias in the included studies and the indirectness of the evidence. Conclusion: There is currently a lack of reliable evidence to guide decisions on the use of media interventions to influence health policy-making. Additional and better-designed, conducted, and reported primary research is needed to better understand the effects of media interventions, particularly social media, on health policy-making processes, and the circumstances under which media interventions are successful.

Shape Shifting in the Conflict Zone

Journalism Studies, 2016

Block Her Entry, Keep Her Down and Push Her Out

Journalism Studies, 2014

Media exposure, mediated social comparison to idealized images of muscularity, and anabolic steroid use

Health communication, 2015

This study examined the association between anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use and dominant so... more This study examined the association between anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use and dominant sociocultural factors, specifically media exposure to idealized images of male muscularity, and mediated social comparison trends among a sample of young Arab adults. The study found evidence that participants more exposed to content that promotes muscularity and those who idealize images of muscularity and perceive them as motivators for achieving muscularity are more likely to be AAS users. It also found that a significant percentage of participants used at least one kind of dietary supplement and that the level of AAS use among health club participants indicates it is a significant public health problem in Lebanon. The study suggests that dealing with this problem requires a unique approach, beyond the typical awareness of risks strategy, since some users were well aware of the risks yet continue to use AAS, and their motivations pertain more to body image and sexuality. A stronger appr...

The interplay of politics, economics and culture in news framing of Middle East wars

Media, War & Conflict, 2014

The Palgrave International Handbook of Women and Journalism, 2013

Global media and brand Dubai

Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 2012

Abstract In the past two decades, Dubai has built a globally resonant place brand image out of an... more

Television News and the State In Lebanon

This dissertation studies the relationship between television news and the state in Lebanon. It u... more

Maneuvering Entrenched Structures of Arab Education Systems

The plight of media education and research in Arab higher education

Scopus, 2012

Arab media studies began at two academic institutions in Egypt in the mid 1930s and slowly began ... more Arab media studies began at two academic institutions in Egypt in the mid 1930s and slowly began spreading to a handful of Arab countries—Tunis, Algeria, Sudan, Iraq and Lebanon—in the subsequent three decades (Abu Bakr, Labib and Kandil, 1985; Al-Jammal, 1991). However, the field remained small until the late 1980s and witnessed a sudden growth in the ensuing decade, immediately following the rapid expansion of Arab satellite and digital media (Ayish, 1998). By the debut of the 21st century, most Arab countries had multiple media studies programs.

Television News and the State in Lebanon

Selective Exposure During Uprisings: Examining the Public’s News Consumption and Sharing Tendencies During the 2019 Lebanon Protests

The International Journal of Press/Politics, 2020

This study examines selective exposure and trust during uprisings. It studies major uses of tradi... more This study examines selective exposure and trust during uprisings. It studies major uses of traditional and social media and assesses the public’s trust in these media and their engagement in sharing news. Focusing on the October 2019 Lebanon uprising, the research surveys thousand Lebanese individuals using a nationally representative probability sample. The findings provide support for selective exposure theory beyond the Western context, particularly for people undergoing stressful political change. The findings also provide support to the robustness of issue publics as a theoretical construct that predicts selective exposure to pro-attitudinal news content, as well as support for attitude strength and attitude importance as two separate predictors.

Lebanese adolescents' expectations about social inclusion of peers in intergroup contexts

This study examined the role of group norms, group identity, age, contact, and stereotypes on you... more This study examined the role of group norms, group identity, age, contact, and stereotypes on youths' decisions to include a peer in an intergroup context portraying Lebanese and American adolescents. Lebanese participants (N = 275), ages 12 and 16 years, were surveyed about expectations for inclusion of an out-group target with similar interests or an in-group target with different interests into their own Lebanese group or another American group. Findings indicated participants focused on shared interests, rather than national identity, when making inclusion decisions for either group and group norms mattered. Older participants expected American peers to be less inclusive towards an out-group peer. Direct contact predicted inclusivity of out-group American peers into one's own Lebanese group, and indirect media-based contact predicted expectations for inclusivity into an American out-group. Findings have implications for interventions aimed at improving cross-national fri...

Trauma journalism education

The prevalence and determinants of anabolic steroid use among fitness centre attendees in Lebanon : original research

Background : Non-medical anabolic steroid (AS) use in non-professional athletes is an increasingl... more Background : Non-medical anabolic steroid (AS) use in non-professional athletes is an increasingly recognized public health problem in Europe and the United States but poorly studied in the Middle East. Research question : The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and determinants of anabolic steroid use amongst adult fitness centre attendees in the Greater Beirut area, Lebanon. Type of study : A cross-sectional study design was adopted. Methods :Subjects: The targeted population included all gym attendees in Greater Beirut aged 18 or above. Professional or career athletes competing in organized sports were excluded. Questionnaire: A questionnaire was used to survey participants on demographic information, history of anabolic steroid usage and possible determinants of use. Sampling: A list of 53 fitness centres in the Greater Beirut area was identified. Thirty-three gyms agreed to permit access to their centres. Trained research assistants distributed the questionnaire to al...

Arc of research and central issues in media literacy education

When Arab women (and men) speak

Journalism, Gender and Power

Media Exposure and Health Behavior during Pandemics: The Mediating Effect of Perceived Knowledge and Fear on Compliance with COVID-19 Prevention Measures

Health Communication

Emerging research has examined the role of media coverage of diseases in influencing people's hea... more Emerging research has examined the role of media coverage of diseases in influencing people's health behavior, particularly their compliance with prevention measures. This study examines whether increased media exposure to COVID-19 news and interpersonal communication about the disease positively relate to people's abidance by prevention measures, and whether perceived knowledge and fear mediate this relationship. The study focuses on Lebanon, whose government and media responses led to a successful containment of COVID-19 in its first phase, although the country was experiencing a severe economic crisis, widespread political unrest, and a massive influx of refugees. It examines both legacy media (Television) and social media, as well as interpersonal communication, through a cross-sectional researcher-administered phone survey of 1,536 adults and a nationally representative probability sample. The fieldwork was conducted between March 27 and April 23, 2020, and resulted in a 51.6% response rate. The findings support the hypotheses that increased media exposure to COVID-19 news positively relates to people's abidance by prevention measures and that perceived knowledge and fear mediate this relationship. However, the same hypotheses for interpersonal communication were not supported.

Mobile device use among emergency department healthcare professionals: prevalence, utilization and attitudes

Scientific Reports

Mobile devices are increasingly permeating healthcare and are being regularly used by healthcare ... more Mobile devices are increasingly permeating healthcare and are being regularly used by healthcare providers. We examined the prevalence and frequency of mobile device use, and perceptions around clinical and personal usage, among healthcare providers (attending physicians, residents, and nurses) in the Emergency Department (ED) of a large academic medical center in Lebanon. Half of the target population (N = 236) completed the cross-sectional electronic questionnaire. Mobile device usage for personal matters was uniform across all providers, with the highest usage reported by medical students (81.3%) and lowest by attendings (75.0%). Medical formulary/drug referencing applications were the most common application used by providers followed by disease diagnosis/management applications, 84.4% and 69.5% respectively. Most respondents agreed that mobile devices enabled better-coordinated care among providers and were beneficial to patient care. Most respondents also agreed that mobile de...

Mitigating Infodemics: The Relationship between News Exposure and Trust and Belief in COVID-19 FakeNews and Social Media Spreading

SSRN Electronic Journal

Introduction Misinformation surrounding COVID-19 poses a global public health problem that advers... more Introduction Misinformation surrounding COVID-19 poses a global public health problem that adversely affects governments’ abilities to mitigate the disease and causes accidental deaths and self-harm due to false beliefs about the virus, prevention measures, vaccines and cures. We aim to examine the relationship between exposure to and trust in COVID-19 news (from Television, social media, interpersonal communication) and information sources (healthcare experts, government, clerics) and belief in COVID-19 myths and false information, as well as critical verification practices before posting on social media. Methods We use a cross-sectional researcher-administered phone survey of adults living in Lebanon between March 27 and April 23, 2020. Results The sample included 56.1% men and 43.9% women, 37.9% with a university degree, 63.0% older than 30, and 7% with media literacy training. Those who trust COVID-19 news from social media [95%CI:(1.05–1.52)] and interpersonal communication [95%CI:(1.25–1.82)], and those who trust information from clerics [95%CI:(1.25–1.82)] were more likely to believe in COVID-19 myths and false information. University graduates [95%CI:(0.25–0.51)] and those who trust information from government [95%CI:(0.65–0.89] were less likely to believe in myths and false information. Those who believe in COVID-19 myths and false information [95%CI:(0.25–0.70)] were less likely to engage in critical social media posting practices. Only those who underwent media literacy training [95%CI:(1.24–6.55)] were more likely to engage in critical social media posting practices. Conclusion Higher education and trust in information from government contributed to decreasing belief in COVID-19 myths and false information. Trust in news from social media, interpersonal communication and clerics contributed to increasing belief in COVID-19 myths and false information, which in turn contributed to less critical social media posting practices, thereby exacerbated the infodemic. Media literacy training contributed to increasing critical social media posting practices, thereby played a role in mitigating the infodemic.

Using media to impact health policy-making: an integrative systematic review

Implementation Science, 2017

Introduction: Media interventions can potentially play a major role in influencing health policie... more Introduction: Media interventions can potentially play a major role in influencing health policies. This integrative systematic review aimed to assess the effects of planned media interventions-including social media-on the health policy-making process. Methods: Eligible study designs included randomized and non-randomized designs, economic studies, process evaluation studies, stakeholder analyses, qualitative methods, and case studies. We electronically searched Medline, EMBASE, Communication and Mass Media Complete, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the WHO Global Health Library. We followed standard systematic review methodology for study selection, data abstraction, and risk of bias assessment. Results: Twenty-one studies met our eligibility criteria: 10 evaluation studies using either quantitative (n = 7) or qualitative (n = 3) designs and 11 case studies. None of the evaluation studies were on social media. The findings of the evaluation studies suggest that media interventions may have a positive impact when used as accountability tools leading to prioritizing and initiating policy discussions, as tools to increase policymakers' awareness, as tools to influence policy formulation, as awareness tools leading to policy adoption, and as awareness tools to improve compliance with laws and regulations. In one study, media-generated attention had a negative effect on policy advocacy as it mobilized opponents who defeated the passage of the bills that the media intervention advocated for. We judged the confidence in the available evidence as limited due to the risk of bias in the included studies and the indirectness of the evidence. Conclusion: There is currently a lack of reliable evidence to guide decisions on the use of media interventions to influence health policy-making. Additional and better-designed, conducted, and reported primary research is needed to better understand the effects of media interventions, particularly social media, on health policy-making processes, and the circumstances under which media interventions are successful.

Shape Shifting in the Conflict Zone

Journalism Studies, 2016

Block Her Entry, Keep Her Down and Push Her Out

Journalism Studies, 2014

Media exposure, mediated social comparison to idealized images of muscularity, and anabolic steroid use

Health communication, 2015

This study examined the association between anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use and dominant so... more This study examined the association between anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use and dominant sociocultural factors, specifically media exposure to idealized images of male muscularity, and mediated social comparison trends among a sample of young Arab adults. The study found evidence that participants more exposed to content that promotes muscularity and those who idealize images of muscularity and perceive them as motivators for achieving muscularity are more likely to be AAS users. It also found that a significant percentage of participants used at least one kind of dietary supplement and that the level of AAS use among health club participants indicates it is a significant public health problem in Lebanon. The study suggests that dealing with this problem requires a unique approach, beyond the typical awareness of risks strategy, since some users were well aware of the risks yet continue to use AAS, and their motivations pertain more to body image and sexuality. A stronger appr...

The interplay of politics, economics and culture in news framing of Middle East wars

Media, War & Conflict, 2014

The Palgrave International Handbook of Women and Journalism, 2013

Global media and brand Dubai

Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 2012

Abstract In the past two decades, Dubai has built a globally resonant place brand image out of an... more

Television News and the State In Lebanon

This dissertation studies the relationship between television news and the state in Lebanon. It u... more

Helping Arab Digital and Media Literacy Blossom. Three years of the Media and Digital Literacy Academy of Beirut (MDLAB)

The International Clearinghouse on Children, Youth and Media , 2016

Realizing the importance of educating youth about ubiquitous media systems and messages that surr... more Realizing the importance of educating youth about ubiquitous media systems and messages that surround every aspect of their lives, many countries across the globe have embraced media and information literacies as core components of university curricula, and in some cases middle- and high-school programs. Unfortunately, the Arab region has been a latecomer to this realization (Melki, 2009, 2011).

Global media and brand Dubai

Macmillan Publishers, 2011

In the past two decades, Dubai has built a globally resonant place brand image out of an unknown... more In the past two decades, Dubai has built a globally resonant place brand image out of an unknown location in the context of often negative regional associations. This case study addressed global news outlets ’ role in mediating Dubai ’ s global image and Dubai ’ s long-term ability to capture headlines in Singapore, New York, and London. It also examined the various sources shaping professionals ’ images of Dubai in these three cities. Finally, the study identiﬁed professionals ’
speciﬁc familiarity with recent Dubai headlines. Results indicated that Dubai has experienced tremendous growth in global media coverage. News media served as a source of substantial but varying importance to the surveyed professionals. Participants from all three cities held Dubai images consistent with prominent newspaper headlines about the city. The ﬁ findings discourage the use of aggregated global data for marketing decisions and tempers assumed universality of Dubai ’s image. It urges tying speciﬁ c media channels to the location of the target audience and using former visitors of a place as effective information sources.

Lebanon: Women's Struggle for Gender Equality and Harassment-Free Newsrooms

Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2013

Lebanon has historically been one of the most liberal and progressive countries in the Arab world... more Lebanon has historically been one of the most liberal and progressive countries in the Arab world, with a relatively free media climate and a culture and legal environment largely conducive to gender equality. Censorship in Lebanon remains nowhere near as stringent as in most of its regional counterparts, although journalists and bloggers self-censor for personal safety (Alabaster 2011). The country has a long tradition of press freedom, but nearly all media have ties to political groups (Al-Najjar 2011). Women have legal access to virtually all occupations and professions and enjoy equal constitutional rights with men, despite the persistence of some discriminatory laws and practices. In addition, Lebanese women in most professions face a national trend of underrepresentation in positions of power, especially within the news industry. As was learned in the Global Report on the Status of Women in the News Media (Global Report) study, Lebanese news companies employ twice as many men as women, and the disparity further increases as we go up the corporate ladder (Byerly 2011).

Sowing the Seeds of Digital and Media Literacy in Lebanon and the Arab World

Routledge; 1 edition, 2013

Media literacy education has much to offer Lebanon and the Arab region, yet it remains in its inf... more Media literacy education has much to offer Lebanon and the Arab region, yet it remains in its infancy struggling to afﬁ rm its importance in academe. Decades of conﬂict, rampant corruption, authoritarian rule, and severe restrictions on freedom of expression and the press have turned much of Arab media education into factories that produce and sustain a “sensorial culture” and “prepare generation after generation of semi-educated journalists whose job is to promote the ‘achievements’ of the state” (Amin, 2002, 129). Nevertheless, the past decade has witnessed a revival in media education (Melki, 2011), thanks in part to a revolution in communication technologies and a wave of political and cultural uprising that swept the region and brought digital and media literacy to the forefront, especially in countries like Lebanon.

The Plight of Media Education and Research in Arab Higher Education

Nova Science Publishers, 2012

Arab media studies began at two academic institutions in Egypt in the mid 1930s and slowly began ... more Arab media studies began at two academic institutions in Egypt in the mid 1930s and slowly began spreading to a handful of Arab countries—Tunis, Algeria, Sudan, Iraq and Lebanon—in the subsequent three decades (Abu Bakr, Labib and Kandil, 1985; Al-Jammal, 1991). However, the field remained small until the late 1980s and witnessed a sudden growth in the ensuing decade, immediately following the rapid expansion of Arab satellite and digital media (Ayish, 1998). By the debut of the 21st century, most Arab countries had multiple media studies programs.