Listening Post - Libya: Shining a light into a media black hole

The media's role in the historic Arab uprisings has so far been celebrated and feared, with the collaboration between new media and satellite TV too powerful for dictators to withstand. But that has all changed in Libya. Muammar Gaddafi appears to have learnt some media lessons from the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia and quickly responded to protests in his country by shutting out foreign journalists, jamming TV transmissions and cutting off the internet and phone networks. The absence of professional journalists has meant that the job has been left to citizen journalists and the world has been able to follow the story through the often horrific and violent videos that have been leaked out of the country. This week we look at new media's role in shedding light on an otherwise information black hole.

Category:

News & Politics

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• listeningpost
• libya
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• gizbert
• uprising
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• revolution
• media
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• aljazeera

[micahgee]

@oceanbound222

SHUT UP

[Graham6762]

Al jazeera is on fire overthrowing these regimes.

[lightingever]

Praying for Libyan

[think3hytsang]

" Because the medium is not the message, not anymore, especially when it is state controlled. The media are the message, and the messengers are everywhere. "

[Reghedable]

@yurukov

Oh by no means am I supporting American media. However, even if American media is like Russia Today, which in some cases it definitely is (Faux News), the fact is that Al Jazeera manipulates stories to support Qatari foreign policy and keep temperatures cool in most Gulf states. Notice how they are comparatively ignoring Iran and Saudi Arabia? There's a reason for that.

[yurukov]

@Reghedable and the us media is sooo different is it?

[Reghedable]

The problem I have with Al Jazeera is that they do not criticize countries that Qatar has developed positive relations with. And god forbid they ever criticize Qatar itself!

[SuperEarther]

@Graham6762 no cfr and bilderberg are because the middle east is a target for them.

[SuperEarther]

@micahgee dont you see how many zionist agendas are being implemented in the top levels of society. Zionists = 2% of the populace yet they have real control at the top levels in the courts and political agenda

[SuperEarther]

at first i thought these revolutions were good but now i learn that bilderberg has been wanting control of the middle east. Now with these regime changes they can implement their people and enslave these countries

[castlek33p]

I had to laugh when he said, "The problem is these are amature videos that can't be substantiated." Listen, none of the lies that the Main Stream Media tells us is substantiated. I would rather watch a video uploaded by some nameless civilian who might be telling the truth than watch any of the "major" new outlets who I know are lieing to me.