logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
58m 32s

Manufacturing Consent and Fake News | Ma...

AFIKRA
About this episode
In this episode, produced in collaboration with the Qatar Foundation, Marc Owen Jones — Associate Professor of Media Analytics at Northwestern University Qatar — talks to us about this age of disinformation and how it manifests in the context of the Middle East. We discuss regulating social media platforms and try to understand what exactly disinformation is ... Show More
Up next
Aug 24
1001 Nights, the Arab Novel & the Age of Decay That Never Was | Prof. Muhsin al-Musawi
Arabic culture and literature hold a vastly rich classical history that continues to captivate scholars and readers worldwide. Renowned literary critic and Columbia University professor, Dr. Muhsin Al-Musawi, explores the depths of this heritage, from the global allure of the Ara ... Show More
54m 3s
Aug 17
East & East: Arab Craft Meets Japanese Minimalism | Nada Debs: Founder, Studio Nada Debs
A unique personal journey spanning from a third-generation textile merchant family in Japan to a thriving design studio in Beirut serves as the foundation for iconic designer Nada Debs’ universal message of collaboration. The intricate world of Levantine woodwork, the philosophy ... Show More
1h 4m
Aug 10
What Does China Actually Want from the Arab World? | Mohammed Alsudairi
The modern experience of China is often viewed through a western lens, but its complex history and relationship with the Arab world reveal a much deeper story. Dr. Mohammed Alsudairi challenges the dominant narrative of a growing security footprint and intense US-China competitio ... Show More
59m 4s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2023
Digital surveillance in the Middle East
For many of the authoritarian regimes in the Middle East, technology has long been a tool to enable digital repression. These states are increasingly using information technology to suppress the flow of information, censor content, and even surveil citizens. In this episode: Marc ... Show More
27m 11s
Oct 2023
Hearts, minds, and likes
False information about what is happening in Israel and Gaza is taking over social media faster than journalists like BBC Verify’s Shayan Sardarizadeh can check it. That’s exactly how digital propagandists want it, says professor and social media expert Marc Owen Jones. This epis ... Show More
26m 6s
Dec 2023
Israel's Propaganda Machine Exposed
<p>Both Israel and cheerleaders for its onslaught against Gaza are engaged in a sophisticated propaganda war. The brilliant Marc Owen Jones - associate professor in Middle Eastern studies - talks me through the key elements, how it works - and what the impact is.</p><p>Support th ... Show More
20m 24s
Oct 2022
Mahsa Alimardani: Protest, Social Media, and Censorship in Iran
This week on Babel, Jon speaks with Mahsa Alimardani, a scholar at the University of Oxford and a senior researcher with Article19. They talk about the recent protests in Iran and how both protestors and the regime have used social media, the cat and mouse game of online access a ... Show More
44m 6s
Jun 2024
The 'All Eyes On Rafah' Viral Image And How AI Is Turning Us Into Boomers
<p>The past two weeks have seen a new debate arise in the world of online activism - what is the place of AI in conversations around raising awareness of important political issues? In this episode, Ione and Gina ask whether all is fair in getting All Eyes On Rafah or if we need ... Show More
26m 20s
Dec 2019
How we can protect truth in the age of misinformation | Sinan Aral
Fake news can sway elections, tank economies and sow discord in everyday life. Data scientist Sinan Aral demystifies how and why it spreads so quickly -- citing one of the largest studies on misinformation -- and identifies five strategies to help us unweave the tangled web betwe ... Show More
15m 6s
Nov 2025
Building Lovin Dubai & the Future of Digital Publishing with Richard Fitzgerald (Part 2)
<p>💡 <strong>In this episode:</strong><br />• The future of publishing and storytelling in the Middle East<br />• How AI and podcasting are transforming modern media<br />• What brands get wrong about cultural storytelling<br />• The importance of authenticity in a digital-first ... Show More
25m 4s