Digital democratizing & media in the Middle East

An art student paints the Facebook logo on a mural commemorating the revolution that overthrew Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, Egypt on March 30. (AP Photo/Manoocher Deghati)

Hour 2

Never has social media’s role in world affairs been more under the microscope than the Arab uprisings that continue to roil the Middle East. A wave of protests that began in Tunisia and toppled its dictator swiftly spread to Egypt and claimed another dictator, partially on the surprising strength and organizational ability of a new generation of democracy activists adept at social media. Meanwhile, journalism’s challenges and opportunities are swiftly updating as well, as the revolutions may be televised, but they definitely will be Tweeted and posted to Facebook. Joining us to discuss the developments in the Middle East and online are SUSANNAH VILA, director of content and outreach for movements.org, who  recruits and trains digital democracy activists from more than 27 countries; and CHARLES SENNOTT, executive editor and co-founder of GlobalPost, an online journalism operation devoted to international newsgathering for the digital age, and who covered the Egyptian protest organizers for PBS Frontline.

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