| Title |
Arab online news platforms: Innovating language, narratives, audiences and business models. Experiences from Lebanon and Jordan |
| ID_Doc |
75817 |
| Authors |
Sobrino, RG |
| Title |
Arab online news platforms: Innovating language, narratives, audiences and business models. Experiences from Lebanon and Jordan |
| Year |
2021 |
| Published |
Journal Of Arab & Muslim Media Research, 14, 2 |
| DOI |
10.1386/jammr_00037_1 |
| Abstract |
This article analyses the rising relevance of online news platforms in the Arab region, particularly those created after the social uprisings that commenced in late 2010 in Tunisia and spread across the southern Mediterranean basin. As the online environment does not contemplate borders, the article refers to the term 'Arab', as these initiatives aimed at reaching regional audiences. However, the cases addressed in this article are based only in two countries, Jordan and Lebanon. The research focuses on four specific media start-ups: Raseef22 and Daraj in Lebanon, and 7iber and Sowt in Jordan. The selection of these news plat-forms integrated in the research exercise was not a simple task as many initiatives of this type were born in the last years such as Al Jumhuriya, MadaMasr and Inkyfada just to mention a few. The author has decided to follow objective aspects such as audience rates, business consolidation, external support from partners and the ability to reach new audiences, particularly young readers, which were not traditionally engaged in conventional media. The methodology to develop the present article has been based on structured interviews with the editors and/or founders of the analysed news platforms together with an analysis of the content that they produce. Research results demonstrate that despite the challenges and the difficulties to become economically sustainable, as well as the continuous politi-cal pressures suffered, these initiatives have been able to build unique narratives of unprecedented nature and innovative business models based on international agreements with global organizations. Therefore, they are becoming transforma-tive drivers of journalism and critical thinking across the region, something that was unimaginable just few years ago. |
| Author Keywords |
news platforms; media start-ups; freedom of expression; Arab region; transformative; journalism; alternative media |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) |
| EID |
WOS:001018098200007 |
| WoS Category |
Communication |
| Research Area |
Communication |
| PDF |
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