University Of Sharjah College Of Communication

Conference Program

Media and Crises

Stakes and Challenges

December 14 - 15, 2010 - Sharjah

His Highness Sheikh Dr.

Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassemi,

Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah & President of the University of Sharjah

Media and Crises

Stakes and Challenges
Todays global society is characterized by severe complexities in many facets of every day life. To this effect, lots of crises emerge daily, reflecting different types of intricacies. Therefore, scholars are confronted with identifying, solving, and working on various types of crises. Indeed, the recent crises include: the contemporary identity crisis, the socio-economic ones, the political, and lately the environmental crisis. Critically, such types of crises have reconfigured the shape of the global society to the extent that individuals and communities lost control of handling those problems. This is typified in many severe issues like: terrorism, the financial crisis, the mass genocide, mass immigration of communities, and the climate crisis. Hence, crises pave the way for societies to thoroughly consider the strategic solutions in which the collective efforts of all members of the global society help reconfigure a transformational stage of the world. Arguably, the role of the mass media in this regard cant be overlooked or denied. Substantially, the mass media play a quasi-dimensional role either by solving or enlarging the scope of the given crisis. Therefore, there is a need for considering the possible alternatives that can be induced by the mass media. Scholars of communication believe that the mass media, past and present, have an effective impact on the global society. For example, the media serve definite ends in shaping public opinion regarding many issues. Verbally, this is conducted by means of two paradoxical parameters that reflect either the deep analysis or the shallow coverage of the media. In turn, the global audience may be torn between two versions of the story which end in bringing about the crisis. The core issue comes into existence when the concerned parties address the crisis by either overcoming it or snow balling it to serve definite hidden agendas. In this regard, communication scholars found some key questions essential to be addressed such as:

- How far can communication scholars and professionals use the mass media in dealing with the given crisis? - Is there a definite media culture that helps media personnel in this regard? - How can the mass media be operated during the time of the crisis? - Is it the role of professionals or the academicians to solve the crisis? - Do the media consider the crisis irrespective of its nature as being: financial, socio-economic, political, cultural, or sport crisis? - How can the media approach and direct the crisis? - How far is the media role correlated with the current situational conditions? - Do traditional and new media cover the crisis equally? - Does the crisis affect the professional standard role of the media? - How far are the media organized during the time of the crisis? - What are the different patterns of media discourse during the crisis? - Is media objectivity monitored during the time of the crisis? 6

Objectives of the Conference

- To present the different mechanisms of media coverage during the normal and crisis times. - To introduce the audience to the basics and strategies of the media crisis. - To investigate the different types of professional approaches addressing the field of media crisis. - To develop the scientific literature on the relationship between mass media and crises. - To study different types and patterns of media coverage during the times of crisis. - To study news organizations behavioral patterns during crises. - To investigate the journalists professional stands and behaviors during crises. - To analyze and evaluate the role of public relations in managing the crisis. - To describe and examine the role of the new media in dealing with the crisis. - To exchange scholarly and professional experiences regarding crisis management.

- To develop critical thinking about the relationship between the media and crises on the professional, ethical and political levels. - To consider the stakes of the mass media during crises to make use of lessons from the past in crisis management. - To study the present situation of the media and the crisis in the Emirati, Arab, and Islamic societies. - To investigate the major challenges facing media corporations during crises.

- Media coverage of crises in the Arab and Islamic regions. - Media and Wars. - Media and financial crises. - Media and environmental crises. - Media and deadly crises. - Media and social crises. - Media and terrorism. - Media in conflict areas: Palestine, Iraq, Darfur, Afghanistanetc. - The academicians, the professionals and crises: What kind of relations? - Media and crisis management: Cases and lessons. - Public relations and crisis management.

Conference Themes

- Concepts and approaches pertaining to media and crises. - Theoretical models and paradigms of the mass media. - Traditional media coverage of crises. - New journalistic and media patterns of dealing with crises.

Day One - Tuesday, December 14th - 2010

Conference Opening Al Zahri Auditorium M2

9:00 10:45
9:00 - 9:30 9:30 - 10:30
- National Anthem - Verses from the Holy Quraan - Speech by Prof. Samy Mahmoud, Chancellor, University of Sharjah - Speech by Prof. Mohamed Kirat, Dean, College of Communication - Keynote Speech by Prof. Brigitte Nacos, Columbia University, USA. - Opening Exhibition

- Registration

10:30 - 11:00 - Cofee Break

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Day One - Tuesday, December 14th - 2010

Plenary Session
Media Coverage of Crises: Ethical, Professional and Ideological Challenges

Al Zahri Auditorium M2 11:00 12:00

Dean, College of Communication - University of Sharjah

Session Chair: Prof. Mohamed Kirat

Speakers :
- Prof. Muhammad Ayish Strategic Development Advisor, National Media Council, Abu Dhabi. - Prof. Adib Khaddour Damascus University, Syria. - Dr. Abdulazeez Hamid Ali Algibouri Expert, ISESCO Regional Office, Sharjah

Day One - Tuesday, December 14th - 2010

1st. Day Dec. 14th. 2010 Session I : 12:00 13:30 Masoudi Hall M3 Session Chair: Dr. Essam Nasr
12:00 - 12:15 12:15 - 12:30 12:30 -12:45 12:45 - 13:00 13:00 - 13:15 13:15 - 13:30
Emirates Airlines Public Relations Handling of the Volcanic Ashs Crisis. Evaluation of the Emirati Media Performance During Times of Crises: A Case Study of Global Economic Situations. Daily Omani Arabic Newspapers Stands Toward Wars: A Comparative Study of Al-Watan & Oman. Dependence of the Palestinian Elite on Mass Media During Crises. Press Treatment of the Democratic Change Crises in Algeria: From Security Crises to National Reconciliation.
Dr. Khayrat Ayyad University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Amina Aldhaheri & Dr. May Alkhajah UAE University UAE Dr. Abdullah Al-Kindi, Sultan Qaboos University Oman Dr. Nabil Hassan Tahraoui, Aqsa University- Palestine Dr. Naji Abdel Nour Annaba University, Algeria

Discussion 13:30 14:30 Lunch

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Day One - Tuesday, December 14th - 2010

Session II: 14:30 16:00 Masoudi Hall M3 Session Chair: Dr. Khayrat Ayyad
14:30 14:45 14:45 15:00 15:00 15:15 15:15 15:30 15:30 15:45 15:45 16:00
Media and Terrorism: Between Patriotism, the Right to Know, and Exploitation. Audience Perception of the Omani Media Treatment of the Juno Typhoon. Media Silence Towards the Crisis: Content Analysis of Eye on Democracy Program. Dangers Facing Journalists in Iraq and Palestine: A Jordanian Point of View.
Prof. Mohamed Kirat University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Obeid al-Shaqsy Sultan Qaboos University, Oman Dr. Al Moncef el-Ayyari Institut de Presse et Des Sciences de I information, Tunisia Dr. Mahmoud Shalabeya Al Yarmook University, Jordan

The Advertising Discourse and the Philosophy of Dr. Samir Laaradj Delly Ibrahim University, Crisis in the Arab Societies. Algeria

Discussion

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Day One - Tuesday, December 14th - 2010

Session III: 16:00 17:30 Masoudi Hall M3 Session Chair: Dr. Saddek Rabah
16:00 16:15 16:15 16:30 16:30 16:45 16:45 17:00 17:00 17:15 17:15 17:30 17:30 17:45
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Media and Crises: Reading the Conceptual Framework. New Trends in Media Crisis and Environmental Issues. Media and the Social Construction of Crises. Interactive Media and Crisis Management: the Case of the Iranian Elections. The Image as A Journalistic Genre and its Relationship with Crises:From the Image as A Reality to the Anarchy of the Image and Leaping Over the Truth.

Prof. Mohamed Zerman Batna University - Algeria Dr. El Sayed Bekheit University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Nasreddine Layadi University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Aisha Al Nuaimi UAE University Dr. Nassir Bouali University of Sharjah, UAE

Discussion Break

Day One - Tuesday, December 14th - 2010

Session IV: 17:45 19:00 Masoudi Hall M3 Session Chair: Prof. Abdel Rahman Azzi
17:45 18:00 18:00 18:15 18:15 18:30 18:30 18:45 18:45 19:00
Terrorism, Counterterrorism and the Media Corporate Reputation and Communication: The Case of Aral Foods and Prophet Muhammad Cartoons. Media and Crisis as Perceived in the U.S Political Communication Discourse. Terrorism, Media and Government
Prof. Brigitte Nacos Columbia University, USA Dr. Khaled Gaweesh University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Wail A. Barry University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Mohamed El Sayed, Bahrain University

Discussion End of Day one sessions

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Day Two - Wednesday, December 15th - 2010

Second Day Dec. 15th 2010 Session V: 9:00 10:30 Masoudi Hall M3 Session Chair: Dr. Abdullah Al-Kindi
9:00 9:15 9:15 9:30 9:30 9:45 9:45 10:00 10:00 10:15 10:15 10:30 10:30 10:45 10:45-11:00
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Public Relations and Crisis Management: A Case Study of The Lebanese Situation. Media and International Conflicts: Analysis of Coverage of Two Arabic UAE Dailies of the Invasion of Iraq in 2003. Managing Communication Crisis Through the Organizations Website. Press Treatment of Social Problems in Two Algerian Newspapers: Al-Shorouk and AlKhabar. Daily Jordanian Newspapers Coverage of Amman Terrorist Blasts Public Relations and Crises Management: The Case of the Jordanian Ministry of Education

Prof. Ali Rizk Abu Dhabi University, UAE Dr. Shabaan A. Nassery Ajman Un iversity, UAE Dr. Ahmad Farouq University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Rahima Aissani University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Hatem Alawneh Yarmook University, Jordan Mohamed Jihad al-Shuriada Yarmook University, Jordan

Discussion Break

Day Two - Wednesday, December 15th - 2010

Session VI: 11:00 12:30 Masoudi Hall M3 Session Chair: Dr. El Sayed Bekheit
11:00 11:15 11:15 11:30 11:30 11:45 11:45 12:00 12:00 12:15 12:15 12:30
Social Media and Crisis Management: Practical Examples. Press Treatment of Diamler-Benz Bribe Scandal. The Phenomenon of Secret Migration in Cinematographic Works : An Analytical Study. Egyptian Press and Internet Protests sites Treatment of Public Protest in Egypt. The Image of French Arabs in the French Press: The Crisis of Paris and Its Suburbs in 2005.
Dr. Saddek Rabah University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Nagwa Abdel Salam University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Mohamed Chettah University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Marwa Shebl Egaizah Ain shams University, Egypt Zoghbi Walid Oum al-Bouaqui University, Algeria

Discussion
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Day Two - Wednesday, December 15th - 2010

Session VII: 12:30 14:00 Masoudi Hall M3 Session Chair: Dr. Nagwa Abdel Salam
12:30 12:45 12:45 13:00 13:00 13:15
Media and Global Discourse Crisis: Critique in Ideological Media. The Algerian Press and the Coverage of the Swine Flu. Challenges Facing Media Crises and Their Impact on Professional Codes. Arab Media and the Sustaining Crisis: The Crisis of Constructing Reality Between State Media and Individuals Media. Media Treatment of the Algerian-Egyptian Crisis: Between Opportunism and Professionalism.
Dr. Abdel Kader Toumi Algeria University, Algeria Dr. Ahmad Amin Fourar Algeria University, Algeria Dr. Maha A. Salah Egyptian Sociological and Criminological Research Center Dr. Abdellah Alhaidari, University of Sharjah, UAE Naserddine Bouziane Mentouri University, Algeria

13:15 13:30 13:30 13:45 13:45 14:00

Discussion 14:00 15:00 Lunch

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Day Two - Wednesday, December 15th - 2010

Session VIII: 15:00 16:30 Masoudi Hall M3 Session Chair: Dr. Abdel Raheem Nour El Deen
15:00 15:15 15:15 15:30 15:30 15:45 15:45 16:00 16:00 16:15 16:15 16:30 16:30 16:45 16:45 17:00
Crises Management in Colleges and Departments Dr. Khaled Zaamoum of Mass Communication Curriculum: A University of Sharjah, UAE Comparative Study. Yemeni Youths Information Seeking During Crises. The Printed Arab Media and Environmental Issues: Between Specialists Discourse and Awareness Needs. Treatment of the Egyptian Press of Assaulting Foreigners in Europe: A Case Study of the Crisis of Marwa el-Sherbeenys Murder. Treatment of Jordanian Press of High School Results -Winter 2010. Israeli Media: Cases of Covering Political Crises.
Dr. Bashar Abdul Rahman Mutahar, Sanaa University Yemen
Dr. Hamida El bour Institut de Presse et Des Sciences de I informations, Tunisia

Dr. Adel Saleh Fahmy Sohag University , Egypt Dr. Ali Najadat, Yarmook University, Jordan Bassel al-Nairab, Asbar Center for Media Research, K.S.A

Discussion Break
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Day Two - Wednesday, December 15th - 2010

Session IX: 17:00 18:15 Masoudi Hall M3 Session Chair: Prof. Mohamed Ayish
17:00 17:15 17:15 17:30 17:30 17:45
From iReporter to Oil Reporter: How New Media Can Enhance Civic Engagement and Citizen Reporting during Crisis. A Case Study of the BP Oil Spill The Press Pool system During the Arabian Gulf War 1991-93. Preparedness of PR for Managing Crises in Palestinian Higher Education Institutions. TV News Coverage of the Conflict in Darfur: A Comparative Content Analysis of Aljazeera, CNN and Sudan TV
Dr. Amal Gaber University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Qais al Tamimi UAE University, UAE Dr. Mohamed al Astal University of Sharjah, UAE

17:45 18:00 18:00 18:15

Mohamed Hashem al Kareem Sharjah University, UAE

Discussion

18:15 18:45 End of Conference & Recommendations

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Conference Participants
1. Abdelkader Toumi- Algeria. toumikader@yahoo.fr 2. Abdelrazak Douay - Mohammed V University, Morocco. douayabd@yahoo.fr 3. Abdullah Alhidri, University of Sharjah, UAE. aalhidri@sharjah.ac.ae 4. Abdullah Al-Kindi - Sultan Qaboos University - Sultanate of Oman. kindik@squ.edu.om 5. Adel Saleh Fahmy Sohag University, adel_saleh69@yahoo.com 6. Adib Khaddour, Damascus University, Syria, dr.adibkhaddour@yahoo.com 7. Ahmad Amin Fourar- ahmedamine01@gmail.com 8. Ahmad Farouk - University of Sharjah, UAE. aradwan@sharjah.ac.ae 9. Ahmed Hidas - Higher Institute of Media and Communication, Morocco. ahidass60@hotmail.com 10. Aisha Al Nuaimi - United Arab Emirates University, UAE. Aisha.noaimi@uaeu.ac.ae 11.Ali Nejadat - Yarmouk University, Jordan. nejadat@yu.edu.jo 12. Ali Rizk - University of Abu Dhabi, UAE.Ali.rizk@adu.ac.ae 13. Alsayad Bekhit - University of Sharjah, UAE. sbekhit@sharjah.ac.ae 14. Amal Jaber - University of Sharjah, UAE. aibrahim@sharjah.ac.ae 15. Amina Aldhaheri- United Arab Emirates University, UAE. Aminak2000@uaeu.ac.ae 16. Bashar Abdul Rahman Mutahar - University of Sanaa, Yemen. Bbmutahar@hotmail.com 17. Basil Al Nerab - Asbar Center for Studies and Research, Saudi Arabia. basilnerab@gmail.com 18. Chaabane Al nassery - Ajman University, UAE. s.hamada@ajman.ac.ae 19. Hamida El bour - Institute of Press and Information Sciences, Tunisia. hamidabe@yahoo.fr 20. Hatem Salim Alawneh - Yarmouk University, Jordan. hatemalawneh@yahoo.com 21. Khaled Gawish - University of Sharjah, UAE. kgaweesh@sharjah.ac.ae 22. Khaled Zaamoum - University of Sharjah, UAE. kzamoum@sharjah.ac.ae 23. khayrat Ayad - University of Sharjah, UAE. kayad@sharjah.ac.ae 24. Maha abdelmageed - National Center for Research reformist and criminal. Mmageed3@hotmail.com 25. Mahmoud Shalabieh - Yarmouk University, Jordan. mshalabieh2000@yahoo.com 26. Mai Abd El Ghany. Palestine. maikhall@yahoo.com 27. Marwa shabel agiza - Ain Shams University, Egypt. Magiza_eg@yahoo.com 28. May Alkhajah - United Arab Emirates University, UAE, alkhaja@uaue.ac.ae 29. Mohamed Hashim El-Kareem - University of Sharjah, UAE, 20641026@uos.ae

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30. Mohamed Jihad al-Shuriada, Yarmook University, Jordan, mshuriedeh@yahoo.com 31. Mohammad Astal - University of Sharjah, UAE. mastal@sharjah.ac.ae 32. Mohammad Bashr - Emir Abd-el-Kader University of Islamic Sciences (Constantine). bbcha_nac@yahoo.fr 33. Mohammad Chettah - University of Sharjah, UAE. mchettah@sharjah.ac.ae 34. Mohammed Jakib - Shuaib Doukkali University, Morocco. jakibmoh@gmail.com 35. Mohammed Kirat - University of Sharjah, UAE. mokirat@sharjah.ac.ae 36. Mohammed Sayed - University of Bahrain, Bahrain. mediacenter@arts.uob.bh 37. Mohammed Zerman - University of Batna, Algeria. az1959ma@maktoob.com 38. Moncef Ayari - Institute of Press and Information Sciences, Tunisia. ayarimoncef@voila.fr 39. Muhammad Ayish - National Media Council, Abu Dhabi, miaysh@nmcuae.ae 40. Muhammad lagab - University of Algiers, Algeria. lagabm@maktoob.com 41. Nabil Hassan Tahraoui - University of Al-Aqsa. Palestine. nabeelnn@hotmail.com 42. Naji Abdel Nour - University of Annaba, Algeria. nadjiabdenour@yahoo.com

43. Najib Bekhouche - University of Mohammed Khider, Algeria. bekhouche.nadjib@gmail.com 44. Najwa Abdul Salam - University of Sharjah, UAE. nfahmy@sharjah.ac.ae 45. Nasreddine Bouziane - University Salah,Mentouri Constantine, Algeria. nasrojour@hotmail.fr 46. Nasreddine layadi - University of Sharjah, UAE. nlayadi@sharjah.ac.ae 47. Nassir Bouali - University of Sharjah, UAE. nbouali@sharjah.ac.ae 48. Obaid Shaksy - Sultan Qaboos University - Sultanate of Oman, sjoosa@squ.edu.oman 49. Qais Al-Tamimi - United Arab Emirates University, UAE. qaist@uaeu.ac.ae 50.Rahima Aissani - University of Sharjah, UAE. raissani@ sharjah.ac.ae 51. Saddek Rabah - University of Sharjah, UAE. srabah@sharjah.ac.ae 52. Samir Laaradj - University of Dali Ibrahim, Algeria. larsamir@yahoo.fr 53. Taher Benguiza university of Tunis. Tunis. taharbenguiza@yahoo.fr 54. Wail Abdel Barry - University of Sharjah, UAE. wail@sharjah.ac.ae 55. Waild Zoghbi University Oum El Bouaghi . Algeria. walid_zoghbi@yahoo.fr

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