The new issue the Arab Radio Review «Majallat al-Itha’at al-‘arabiya» comes out at a time when the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) concludes the celebration of its 50th anniversary in the founding country, namely Sudan.
ASBU Director General, Engineer Abdelrahim Suleiman, devotes the editorial « Idha’at » to stress the importance of organizing this event in Khartoum, due to the the crucial role this country played in achieving an Arab broadcasters’ dream. Indeed, it took the initiative to sign the ASBU founding convention, then take courageous steps toward its implementation by inviting all Arab countries to attend the founding meeting, headed by Professor Ali Shammoo.
ASBU emerged in Khartoum to be the locomotive in the field of audiovisual media. Prof. Salah Abdel Kader was elected as Secretary General, while the Engineering Center was entrusted to Dr. Ahmed Youssef. That was the starting point for ASBU to establish its technical activities on solid foundations.
The Director General noted in the editorial that the conclusion of the celebration was placed under the patronage of the new leadership in Sudan, represented by the Presidency of the Sovereignty Council and enjoys the support of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers thanks to the effort of the Ministry of Culture and Information to properly organize the events that will accompany it.
He concluded by saying that after extinguishing its 50 candle, ASBU enters a new era in which it will continue to carry out its media, artistic and technological message with a stronger resolve and broader horizons, and secure its role in moving the Arab media scene to the highest ranks and establishing its active presence in the globalized communication space
The main section of the issue is entitled: “New Media, Paths to Transformation and Innovation”. It includes six articles and studies that address the subject from several angles:
New Media: Swift Shifts and Renewed challenges
- Promising beginnings and harmful effects
- Efficient turns
- Television and social media: antagonism or complementarity?
- The impact of social media on the use of language among young people.
-Towards an Arab code of conduct for the use of social networks.
Other Review sections cover the developments in communication technologies
- A study on the promotion of independent audiovisual production in Europe
- Local radio: the case of Algeria.
The issue concludes with a look at the activities of ASBU and the Media Training Academy, as well as follow-up on the Arab satellite scene, including, "The new Season: from covering hot events to continuing typical programs".