118. Name: Mohamed Aref M. Abdallah Title: The Role of Al Jazeera Satellite Channel in Facilitating Political Change in the Arab World: Egypt as a Case Study Institution: An-Najah National University Country: Palestine Date: 2012 Language: Arabic Abstract: This study investigates the role of Al Jazeera in political change in the Arab word, focusing on the Egyptian revolution as a case study. It looks at the effects of the channel’s coverage during and after the Egyptian revolution including the daily activities of protesters. Using a descriptive analytical methodology, the study assumes that Al Jazeera played an important role in supporting the Egyptian revolution by providing an extensive coverage for its events. To measure the channel’s effect, a questionnaire was distributed among a sample of 100 journalists, politicians and academics chosen according the ice-ball method. The findings confirmed the research assumption, affirming that Al Jazeera did play an important role during the Egyptian revolution. However, respondents differed in defining and interpreting this role. Generally, it was found that the channel’s news coverage contributed to forming an Arab and Egyptian public opinion supportive of the revolution and opposing the former regime. The study also concluded that the Egyptian revolution gained a broad momentum sustaining its success due to Al Jazeera’s extensive coverage, which encouraged people to join the protests and oppose Mubarak’s regime.
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