Bullets and Bulletins: Media and Politics in the Wake of the Arab Uprisings

In 2010-2011, the Middle East witnessed unprecedented revolutionary changes that set the region on a new and uncertain course. What added significantly to the amplification of demands and grievances in Arab streets and squares was the dovetailing of an increasingly indignant population–ignited by years of economic and political marginalization–with high rates of media literacy, digital connectivity, and social media prowess. This combination of political activism and mediated communication turned popular street protests into battles over information, where authorities and activists wrestled with each other over media messages. Bullets and Bulletins offers original insights into the role of traditional and new media in what is undoubtedly a critical period in contemporary Middle Eastern history. It takes a sobering look at the intersections between media and politics before, during, and after the Arab uprisings. Drawing on in-depth case studies from throughout the Middle East and North Africa region, the book explores how the uprisings were accompanied by profound changes in the roles of traditional and new media, and how these changing dynamics played out during the region’s uneasy transition.