The uprisings in the Arab World have changed the Western political landscape dramatically. While the outcome of the changes is not yet clear, the general consent is that the media – particularly social media – has played a pivotal role in mobilizing the masses and bringing down authoritarian rulers. Revolutions are not produced by the media. However, recent events in North Africa and the Middle East have illustrated that digital applications such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others have become decisive tools of political empowerment and mass mobilization.

We have invited a group of bloggers from the Arab World to join us at the Global Media Forum. They will share their personal experiences and discuss the importance of the media and particularly social media in the recent uprisings. We will also ask them to share their views on the role of the media in promoting and safeguarding freedom and human rights and what role, if any, the outside world (and particularly Europe) should play in these crucial times.

Our guests will be citizen journalists who blog about political and social issues in Arabic from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Bahrain.

Moderation:
Ronald Meinardus
Regional Director Middle East and North Africa, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty, Kairo

2.00 p.m.
The Role of Bloggers in Promoting Freedom and Democracy in the Arab World

Panelists:
Rachid Filali
Algeria

Suhail al Gosaibi
Bahrein

Basem Fathy
Egypt

Mustafa Saad
Iraq

Mohammad Al Qaq
Jordan

Tarik Nesh-Nash
Marocco

Monder Al Jaghoub
Palestine

4.00 p.m.
Strategies to Promote Democracy and Human Rights in the Arab Worldb _ The Role of the (Social) Media and the International Community

Panelists
Markus Löning
Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid

Marc Koch
Editor in Chief DW-Radio/DW-World.de

Basem Fathy
Egypt

Monder Al Jaghoub
Palestine