Media's Evolution Plays Major Role in Political Shifts of the Muslim World, Report Says

The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University has published a report about the intersection of media and policy in the Muslim world, Media, Conflict, and Political Change in the Muslim World. The report is the product of a retreat held at The Pocantico Center in October 2011, which brought together 22 policymakers, ambassadors, journalists, and media development experts from the Middle East, Pakistan, Indonesia, the United States, and Europe. Convened by Lawrence Pintak, Ph.D, founding dean of the College, participants discussed how the evolution of media has played a role in shaping policy in the Arab world, Pakistan, and Indonesia, in distinct ways. Recommendations from the report include more enriched training for journalists, news organizations, and media advocacy groups, and more locally targeted messaging from Western government officials. The report will be used at future international conferences to prompt further discussion.

This report was made possible with support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. The opinions and views of the authors do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Fund.