UOW In Focus: Media & Democracy - from Afghanistan to the Arab Spring

From the 'Facebook revolution' in Egypt to the slow development of public radio in
Afghanistan, both social media and conventional news have played a significant part in
recent uprisings and reconstruction processes. How are new media contributing to
struggles for democracy from Afghanistan to the Arab world? And what are the
challenges for democratising media in the context of war and revolution? In this seminar
experienced journalists and media watchers share insights on possibilities and challenges
for media and democracy in the context of dictatorships and international conflict.

SPEAKERS:
ALI MOHAMMAD HESAMFAR, 29, from Shiraz, Iran, is a morning announcer on
Iranian state radio, IRIB. He is also an acclaimed actor, playwright and producer of radio
drama and documentary in Iran. Ali is a Visiting Fellow at the University of Wollongong
under an Australian government Endeavour Executive Award.

ZAINAB ABDUL-NABI, 27, worked as a television and newspaper journalist in her
native Bahrain, but was blacklisted after reporting on human rights issues. She is an
intern at Dateline, SBS Television, as part of her Master of Journalism at the University
of Wollongong, and was interning at SBS Radio News as the 'Arab Spring' unfolded.

STEVE AHERN, OAM, is an international broadcast training consultant, broadcaster,
author and media commentator. A former director of radio at the Australian Film and
Radio Training School and former manager of ABC metropolitan radio, Steve trains
emerging broadcasters from Asia to Africa, specialising in radio formats, digital media
and multi-platform broadcasting. He has recently returned from Afghanistan, a nation
where only 30% are literate and most communication is via mobile phone technology.

CONVENORS:

Siobhan McHugh,Lecturer, Journalism, Faculty of Creative Arts
Dr Tanja Dreher Lecturer, Media and Communication, Arts.

UOWTV video reporter: Emma Dunn

Category:

Education

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