Mainbar Bahraini journalist speaks to Scholars students about revolution

Uprising receives minimal coverage in American media By: Kaylee Hillard University of Maryland alumna Nada Alwadi spoke to 65 College Park Scholars students on Tuesday, Oct. 11 in the Cambridge Community Center about her experience as a journalist in Bahrain during the political revolution. She started her presentation by locating Bahrain, a small island in the Persian Gulf. Alwadi emphasized that many Americans are clueless about the turmoil in her country. Conflict and media blackout Alwadi said a Sunni royal family who has ties to Saudi Arabia rules Bahrain, a majority Shiite country. This is one cause of the uprising, in addition to an unfair election system, widespread discrimination and a lack of democracy. For a long time there have been talks about the discrimination, Alwadi said. About 70 to 75 percent of the population is not able to join the army or police. (more) Alwadi locates Bahrain in relation to Saudi Arabia. Photo by: Mapquest.com

On Feb. 14, Alwadi said there was a call on Facebook and Twitter for Bahraini citizens to go out on the streets to protest and ask the government for reform. When one police killed one of the protesters, Alwadi recalled thinking, This is not going away. This is serious. The revolution is gaining force, and the death toll continues to rise to more than 50; however, there still exists what Alwadi called a media blackout in the United States. Media coverage of revolutions in Egypt and Libya is extensive, but stories about Bahrain are absent. The U.S. is highly criticized for its double standards concerning revolutions, Alwadi said. The U.S. government is against political change in Bahrain because it is home to a U.S. Navy base, and U.S. ally Saudi Arabia backs the Bahraini government. Local journalists like myself have been silenced in many ways, she said. Public relations firms and lobbyists control the images portrayed to the outside world. Alwadi said they try to make the public think that in Bahrain, everything is being settled; that the government has open dialogue with the people, but in reality, young people no more than 18 years old are being killed. (more)

Alwadis personal story Alwadi wrote for an independent newspaper in Bahrain. She was not a political activist; she was merely trying to do her job. Last April, police took her and forced her to sign a document that prohibited her from participating in any political activities. She saw journalists around her jailed, tortured and murdered, so she came to the United States. I only recently began to speak with my own name because it is so scary, she said. Alwadis stories captivated Media Nada Alwadi poses at a protest in Bahrain. Photo by: rcnv.org

Scholars students, many of who are journalism and communication majors, and provoked thought about the mainstream media. Sophomore marketing major Sarah Hodian was among these students. I felt that it was unfair and wrong for a country to silence its citizens to protect a reputation, she said. Alwadi says she hopes to return home to a peaceful Bahrain one day, but she does not know when this will be possible. Until then, she will continue to increase awareness in the United States. ###

Sidebar Social media imperative in Middle East revolutions

By: Kaylee Hillard Tunisia, Egypt and Libya all of these countries experienced revolutions in the past year that involved social media, according to a 2011 Mashable article by Chris Taylor. Nada Alwadi, a Bahraini journalist who spoke at the university Tuesday, adds her country to the list. She says a call on Facebook and Twitter for citizens to protest and ask for reform incited the revolution. A social media war began in the country, and Alwadi says that for every Facebook or Twitter account by activists there were 10 more from the government to counter-attack their claims. Social media provides opportunities for activists to organize and communicate with each other and the world. Washington Post writer Jeffrey Ghannam says, Twitter allows users to reach audiences worldwide through the use of hashtags on messages, such as the ones that defined the revolutions #Tunisie, #Sidibouzid, #Jan25, #Egypt and now #Bahrain, #Algeria, #Yemen and #Libya, among others. While political unrest and social media usage are growing, Taylor reminds us, Technology alone doesn't make revolutions. The will of the people is the most vital ingredient. ###

Advancer Bahraini journalist to speak about media and revolution

By: Kaylee Hillard University students will have the opportunity to hear a Bahraini journalist speak about her experience in Bahrain during its recent political revolution. Nada Alwadi will speak to Scholars students at 2 p.m. this Tuesday in the Cambridge Community Center about her experience working for an independent newspaper in Bahrain and the medias overall portrayal of the revolution. Nada Alwadi came to the United States three months ago, after the Bahraini governments crackdown on journalistic activity. Alwadi hopes Americans will learn about her country and its current situation through her awareness campaign. For more information, see the university calendar on www.umd.edu. ###

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Before/During/After Tweets Before: @Bentalwadi Bahraini journalist to speak about covering her countrys revolution at @UofMaryland 2 p.m. Tues. in Cambridge Community Center Char: 140

During: Students are captivated by @Bentawaldi presentation about media and #Bahrain revolution Char: 87

After: A media blackout concerning Bahrain exists in the United States. Nada Alwadi @Bentalwadi Char: 86 ###