Session C: “Image of the Arab citizen after recent popular uprisings” - Baniyas Grand Ballroom
Tuesday, 17 May 2011 04:00 PM – 05:30 PM
APCO Worldwide, a public affairs and strategic communication firm, has recently concluded an opinion study with a sample size of 300 noteworthy international personalities. The survey seeks to explore the thought leaders’ vision and perception of Arab nations following the recent region-wide political shifts. The outcomes of the survey will be released at Arab Media Forum 2011, ahead of the main session titled “Image of the Arabs in the Aftermath of the Public Revolutions”. It will be presented by Mark Benson, Strategic Counsel of APCO Worldwide and Chairman of APCO Insight, the global opinion research unit of APCO Worldwide.
The popular Western media image of Arabs has ranged from that of a people who are violent, betraying, backward-thinking, and women’s rights-snubbing, to that of a people who reject modernity and all its components. Some international dictionaries and encyclopaedias continue to define the phrase ‘Arab’ as a ‘barbarian or vulgar person who resists modern culture’.
However, the recent political and social developments in the Arab world have resulted in a major transformation in the way Arabs are now portrayed by the same Western media.
The recent events have shown that Arabs have the same aspirations and needs as people all over the world. A testimony to this is the way in which Arabs have successfully fought to change their lot by demanding their rights and freedom. The entrenched stereotype of the Arab as being inert, submissive and resistant to change has been shattered.
This session seeks to highlight the changing image of the Arab in the global media through discussion with international media personalities and regional experts.
Topics:
- Why were the stereotypes of Arabs portrayed in the Western media so negative?
- Have these stereotypes really changed, or is it too early to judge?
- How has the Western media covered recent developments in the Arab world?
Moderator:
Speakers:
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