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Photojournalists’ Social and Economic Rights in Lebanon

Nadine Moubarak

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 58 pp.

"The study addresses four key research questions: What are the social and economic rights of photojournalists in Lebanon? To what extent are these rights currently provided? What are the main challenges faced by photojournalists and their Syndicate? What recommendations can be made to enhance the le ... gal framework for photojournalists in Lebanon? To answer these research questions, a mixed data collection approach was used, combining both qualitative and quantitative data. A total of 19 interviews were conducted with photojournalists working in Lebanon, using the same questionnaire, and led by the Samir Kassir Foundation (SKF) team. One of the most significant findings from these interviews is that some photojournalists who work as employees are not allowed to work as freelancers due to exclusive agreements with their employers. Additionally, some full-time employees do not have the time to take on freelance work. Furthermore, some respondents reported that photographers are not receiving the same salary adjustments as other journalists in media institutions, which has led to a disparity in pay. Out of the 19 respondents, only seven reported receiving payment in United States dollars, while the majority (63%) received payment in Lebanese pounds, or a combination of both currencies at a certain rate. The study also found that 60% of respondents use their personal equipment while working. Given that protective gear such as helmets and anti-bullet vests are expensive in Lebanon, most photojournalists do not use such equipment for their safety during their coverage. Only two respondents reported receiving a safety kit from their institution. Furthermore, 42% of respondents do not have private insurance, which is concerning given the risks and dangers that photojournalists face in their work. During the interviews, one respondent emphasized the need to protect the dignity of photojournalists who have dedicated years to their work. They suggested providing social security and retirement benefits for photojournalists who have given their wholehearted effort to their institutions. The respondent also pointed out that photojournalists often work in multiple roles, such as technicians of light and sound, drivers, and equipment carriers, and may be unable to continue working due to physical injuries. According to the study, 68% of the respondents reported experiencing discrimination in their work. Of the Lebanese respondents, 73% reported experiencing discrimination, with seven citing sectarian and regional discrimination and one reporting discrimination by a state authority. Among foreign respondents, 50% reported experiencing discrimination, with one citing a state authority as the perpetrator. Additionally, 40% of respondents reported not having a written contract with their employer or client. Of the nine who reported having a written contract, eight mentioned not having a copy of it. One respondent who did not have a written contract explained that they were afraid of being dismissed and left jobless, feeling constantly threatened and unable to demand more. The study highlighted the crucial role that photojournalists play in the media industry, with the majority of respondents acknowledging their importance. However, one respondent noted during an interview that despite the reliance on photo and video visuals, photographers are often the weakest link and are blamed for any errors or mistakes. Two other respondents echoed this sentiment. One major issue that the Photojournalists’ Syndicate faces is that its internal regulation is outdated (from 1994) and there are no professional regulations for photojournalists. In response to the question of whether the Syndicate plays a major role in protecting photojournalists’ rights in Lebanon, 58% of the respondents answered “No”. Many of those who said “No” explained that the issue is not with the Syndicate itself, but with the government in general, its corrupt system, and the fact that the authorities do not allow the Syndicate to do its work." (https://www.skeyesmedia.org) more

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Media Viability: The Global Versus the Local

Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) (2023), 6 pp.

"In all cases, the need for better coordination and collaboration across the sector was emphasised. The challenges brought about by an unregulated approach to the advertising market and private sector were also shared across the three countries [ = Lebaonon, Namibia and Tunisia]. There was a demonst ... more

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Digital Political Cultures in the Middle East Since the Arab Uprisings: Online Activism in Egypt, Tunisia and Lebanon

Dounia Mahlouly (ed.)

London: Tauris (2023), vii, 198 pp.

"This book offers a ten-year perspective on ongoing and evolving practices of digital activism across the Middle East and North Africa, drawing on interviews and ethnographic evidence collected between 2012 and 2022. It examines the shifting narrative around digital activism in the region, from the ... more

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Human Rights and Freedom of Expression: Identifying Allies and Opponents

Nadine Moubarak

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 60 pp.

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WhatsApp 360: A Look into the WhatsApp News Ecosystem in Lebanon Focusing on Misinformation and Hate Speech

Ralph Baydoun et al.

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 39 pp.

"1. Expansive reach and influence of WhatsApp groups: The study findings indicate that WhatsApp groups have a remarkably wide reach, potentially connecting with three quarters of WhatsApp users in Lebanon. These groups are part of larger networks, which enhances the dissemination of content. Moreove ... more

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Mis- and Disinformation: Media Perception and Consumption of Fake News in Lebanon

Nidal Ayoub

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 20 pp.

"Participants in the study take a snapshot of a variety of news channels and social media platforms to get their news, evaluating their truthfulness and attempting to “figure out the truth.” Across different focus groups, there is a shared lack of trust in news channels, and no media outlet is p ... more

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Lebanon’s Presidential Candidates in the Social Media Debate: No Place for Policy

Karim Safieddine, Jad Safwan, Jad Hani

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 22 pp.

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Reimagining Civil Society Collaborations in Development: Starting from the South

Margit van Wessel, Tiina Kontinen, Justice Nyigmah Bawole (eds.)

London; New York: Routledge (2023), xv, 348 pp.

"At a time when uneven power dynamics are high on development actors' agenda, this book will be an important contribution to researchers and practitioners working on innovation in development and civil society. While there is much discussion of localization, decolonization and 'shifting power' in ci ... more

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Fairwork Lebanon Ratings 2023: Platform Work in Times of Crisis

Oxford; Berlin: Fairwork (2023), 35 pp.

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Independence, Democracy, and Social Justice: Exploring the Viability of Media Cooperatives in Lebanon

Diala Ahwach

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (2023), 44 pp.

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Journalists' Insurance Coverage in Lebanon

Nadine Moubarak

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 26 pp.

"It is crucial to emphasize that insurance should be a fundamental right for all workers, regardless of the safety and security of their working environment. In Lebanon, journalists who passionately and tirelessly advocate for rights and freedoms, who endeavor to create a better society, and who dil ... more

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Consultation on media viability in Lebanon

Beirut: Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD); Maharat Foundation; Samir Kassir Foundation; UNESCO (2023), 15 pp.

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Lebanon's Information Environment: Exploring Appropriate Responses

Mirna Ghanem

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation; National Endowment for Democracy (NED) (2023), 32 pp.

"The purpose of this study is twofold: to understand how the Lebanese public consumes news published on traditional and alternative media, with a focus on how they perceive and deal with disinformation campaigns and fake news, and to build a comprehensive view of the organizations and initiatives th ... more

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Impact Analysis of UNDP Lebanon Media and Peacebuilding Activities (2020-2022)

Beirut: Triangle Consulting; UNDP (2023), 87 pp.

"The UNDP “Peace Building in Lebanon” project has been working since 2007 on enhancing mutual understanding and social cohesion by addressing the root causes of conflict in Lebanon. The project’s third phase (2014-2022) built on the previous two phases and aimed to address new challenges to c ... ivil peace and peacebuilding in the country. In addition to the Syrian crisis, Lebanon is currently facing a severe socio-political, economic and fiscal crisis. The focus of this evaluation is the second output of the UNDP Peace Building in Lebanon project – the media component – which aimed to empower media to promote balanced and conflict-sensitive media coverage. This project component received funding from KFW and UKAID. Key project activities included countering fake news at national and local levels through a) capacity building and partnerships with media practitioners and b) training on hate speech and fake news for youth and their subsequent local awareness campaigns. The project activities also included providing positive media spaces and promoting rational discourse through a news supplement and its subsequent online platform, Salam wa Kalam. The report covers the projects’ duration from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022. This evaluation relied on several data inputs, comprised of quantitative and qualitative data, analysis, and triangulation. The purpose of this final evaluation, commissioned by UNDP, is twofold. Firstly, assess the project’s performance and results according to the OECD-DAC criteria: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability, cross-cutting and its overall contribution to the UN strategic plan outcome 3.1: “Lebanon has institutionalized mechanisms to promote peace and prevent, mitigate, and manage conflict at national, municipal and community levels”. Secondly, ensure accountability, as well as identify and analyse findings and results to enable the incorporation of lessons learned and prepare recommendations that can be useful for the design of similar projects in the future and for organisational learning. In conclusion, UNDP’s project theory of change was relevant to Lebanon’s need to address the impact of fake news and hate speech on social cohesion. The media component aimed to improve intra-community relationships, including between Syrian refugees and host communities, in line with SDGs and LCRP goals. Lessons learned throughout the project were systematically documented to ensure effective and efficient management. The project adjusted its work plan to adapt to the changing context in Lebanon, such as COVID-19 and the fuel crisis. However, there was a lack of baseline data and defined metrics to measure and assess the project’s impact, especially on communities targeted by local awareness campaigns." (Executive summary) more

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730 Days of Hate: Two-Year Monitoring of Hate Speech in the Lebanese Media and Social Media 2020-2022

Widad Jarbouh, Jad Safwan, Jad Hani

Metn: Samir Kassir Foundation (2023), 45 pp.

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Follow the Money: The Informal Channels of Lebanese Media Funding

Goergia Dagher, Sami Zoughaib, Sami Atallah

Beirut: Samir Kassir Foundation; Policy Initiative (2023), 42 pp.

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Journalism in the Grey Zone: Pluralism and Media Capture in Lebanon and Tunisia

Kjetil Selvik, Jacob Høigilt

Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press (2023), ix, 228 pp.

"Lebanon and Tunisia are two of the freest countries in the Middle East and North Africa, but elites in both countries seek to manipulate media organisations and individual journalists to shore up support for themselves and attack opponents. This book explores the political role of journalism in the ... more

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Digital Maps

British Council (2022), 136 pp.

"Developed and delivered in 2021/2022, the Digital Media Arts for an inclusive Public Sphere (Digital MAPS) programme brought together three universities, a data science and software company, an international Digital Peacebuilding NGO, as well as 18 country-based media-arts initiatives, to explore l ... more

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Media Coverage of Religious Freedom and Diversity: Reception and Perception Qualitative Study from Iraq, Lebanon and Sudan

Jad Safwan, Nidal Ayoub, Montadhar Kadhim Nasser, Rasha Abdallah Al-Awad

Beirut: Samir Kassir Foundation; Internews (2022), 40 pp.

"This qualitative study report primarily details the reactions of local audiences in Lebanon, Iraq, and Sudan and their perception of media content produced by journalist trained by ENQUIRE (Enhancing Quality Information on Religious Freedoms). The content is compared with that of more traditional, ... more

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UNESCO's Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists (MDP) Action in Lebanon: 2018-2021 Quadrennial Report, Country Summaries

Paris: UNESCO (2022), 6 pp.

"The MDP’s response to these urgent needs was twofold: assisting Lebanese media in overcoming the viability crisis caused by the Beirut blasts, and countering the deterioration of freedom of expression and of the safety of journalists, while also maintaining previous efforts to raise awareness on ... more