Papers by Basyouni Hamada
Javnost - The Public
Despite the various attempts to de-Westernise journalism studies and profession, the dominance of... more Despite the various attempts to de-Westernise journalism studies and profession, the dominance of Western theories and practices remains absolute. This article seeks to develop a hybrid Islamic/Western worldview that represents a comprehensive, flexible and multicultural paradigm that emphasises sharing rather than imposing one’s heritage and view. The article particularly reflects on resolving the existing ontological, epistemological and methodological issues as a crucial task in overcoming obstacles and stagnation related to the hybridisation of theory-building efforts. This article demonstrates how the proposed normative paradigm can be grounded in the realistic context of journalistic practice by examining two research issues: media and democratisation and the globalisation of journalism ethics.
Journalism Practice
Scholars have repeatedly expressed concern about the societalconsequences of negative media cover... more Scholars have repeatedly expressed concern about the societalconsequences of negative media coverage toward publicinstitutions and political actors. Yet, there remains a lack ofsystemic understanding about the determinants of this cynicalattitude. To examine this issue, we combine aggregate data onpolitical and economic performance with Worlds of JournalismStudy (WJS) survey data on journalists’institutional trust,watchdog and loyalty roles, editorial autonomy, professionalexperience, and news media ownership. Derived from interviewswith 27, 657 journalists from 67 countries included in the secondwave of the WJS (2012–2016), results show that democracy andpress freedom are negatively correlated with journalists’institutional trust. Quite notably, autonomous and watchdogjournalists are less trusting than loyal journalists. Thefindings alsosuggest that corruption levels, annual economic growth, and typeof media ownership are essential determinants in this regard.
The Journal of International Communication, 2016
There seems to be an internationally shared consensus that search for a universal journalism ethi... more There seems to be an internationally shared consensus that search for a universal journalism ethic has often ended with the attempt to import traditional and underlying Western free-press values, such as objectivity and an adversarial platform forged in Enlightenment philosophy. There is also a universally shared consensus on the dilemma of how to invent a universal journalism ethical framework that sustains the universal solidarity of human being and recognises cultural, religious and ideological differences. The central argument of this article is that the Islamic worldview offers a modern journalism ethical model that both protects and limits universal pluralism in a multicultural society. It favours pluralism to the extent that it does not threaten unity of the universe or create the state of anarchy. It, therefore, establishes universal values that human beings share without transcending local cultures. The suggested model is based on four guiding principles: respecting pluralism and cultural diversity, freedom of expression, justice and moderation.
Social Media and Journalism - Trends, Connections, Implications, 2018
Social media are growing drastically representing a further step in the ongoing deterioration of ... more Social media are growing drastically representing a further step in the ongoing deterioration of journalism profession and ethics. The lines between professional journalists and amateurs have been blurred; consequently, the structure of news media has substantially changed affecting the core traits of the profession and its ethics. This phenomenon has challenged the already disputed concepts of journalism as profession and journalists as professionals. While this challenge is tremendous, research on its implications to journalism identity and ethics is scant. The existing literature focuses on new or digital media usage, newsgathering, production, dissemination, and consumption, with little emphasis on journalism ethics or the profession itself. This chapter seeks to examine how social media contribute to the ethical dilemmas off and online journalism encounter and how this transformation puts the profession at risk.
Journal of International Communication, 2001
The purpose of this study is threefold. First is to investigate the image of Arabs in the minds o... more The purpose of this study is threefold. First is to investigate the image of Arabs in the minds of western image-makers and the consistency between the image and the attitude they have towards Arabs. Second is to identify the situation within which western image-makers perceive the Arab image and the interests that image serves. Third is to examine the overlap between the images of Arabs. Muslims and that of Islam and whether an image shift has occurred.
Journalism Practice, 2021
The present study is an attempt to examine how objective structural political forces and subjecti... more The present study is an attempt to examine how objective structural political forces and subjective perception of political influences determine journalists’ autonomy and safety. The evidence is ba...
The Global Journalist in the 21st Century, 2020
To cite this Article Hanitzsch, Thomas , Hanusch, Folker , Mellado, Claudia , Anikina, Maria , Be... more To cite this Article Hanitzsch, Thomas , Hanusch, Folker , Mellado, Claudia , Anikina, Maria , Berganza, Rosa , Cangoz, Incilay , Coman, Mihai , Hamada, Basyouni , Elena Hernández, María , Karadjov, Christopher D. , Virginia Moreira, Sonia , Mwesige, Peter G. , Plaisance, Patrick Lee , Reich, Zvi , Seethaler, Josef , Skewes, Elizabeth A. , Vardiansyah Noor, Dani and Kee Wang Yuen, Edgar(2011) 'MAPPING JOURNALISM CULTURES ACROSS NATIONS', Journalism Studies, 12: 3, 273 — 293, First published on: 15 November 2010 (iFirst) To link to this Article: DOI: 10.1080/1461670X.2010.512502 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2010.512502
Worlds of Journalism, 2019
Population receptive field (pRF) analysis with functional Background: magnetic resonance imaging ... more Population receptive field (pRF) analysis with functional Background: magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an increasingly popular method for mapping visual field representations and estimating the spatial selectivity of voxels in human visual cortex. However, the multitude of experimental setups and processing methods used makes comparisons of results between studies difficult. Here, we compared pRF maps acquired in the same three Methods: individuals using comparable scanning parameters on a 1.5 and a 3 Tesla scanner located in two different countries. We also tested the effect of low-pass filtering of the time series on pRF estimates. As expected, the signal-to-noise ratio for the 3 Tesla data was Results: superior; critically, however, estimates of pRF size and cortical magnification did not reveal any systematic differences between the sites. Unsurprisingly, low-pass filtering enhanced goodness-of-fit, presumably by removing high-frequency noise. However, there was no substantial increase in the number of voxels containing meaningful retinotopic signals after low-pass filtering. Importantly, filtering also increased estimates of pRF size in the early visual areas which could substantially skew interpretations of spatial tuning properties. Our results therefore suggest that pRF estimates are Conclusion: generally comparable between scanners of different field strengths, but temporal filtering should be used with caution.
Journalism Studies, 2017
This paper looks at the extent to which journalistic culture in Muslim-majority countries is shap... more This paper looks at the extent to which journalistic culture in Muslim-majority countries is shaped by a distinctive Islamic worldview. We identified four principles of an Islamic perspective to journalism: truth and truth-telling (siddiq and haqq), pedagogy (tabligh), seeking the best for the public interest (maslahah), and moderation (wasatiyyah). A survey of working journalists in Africa (Egypt,
Journalism Studies, 2011
This article reports key findings from a comparative survey of the role perceptions, epistemologi... more This article reports key findings from a comparative survey of the role perceptions, epistemological orientations and ethical views of 1800 journalists from 18 countries. The results show that detachment, non-involvement, providing political information and monitoring the government are considered essential journalistic functions around the globe. Impartiality, the reliability and factualness of information, as well as adherence to universal ethical principles are also valued worldwide, though their perceived importance varies across countries. Various aspects of interventionism, objectivism and the importance of separating facts and opinion, on the other hand, seem to play out differently around the globe. Western journalists are generally less supportive of any active promotion of particular values, ideas and social change, and they adhere more to universal principles in their ethical decisions. Journalists from non-western contexts, on the other hand, tend to be more interventionist in their role perceptions and more flexible in their ethical views.
Journalism is thought by many scholars to have an immense effect in controlling corruption. Howev... more Journalism is thought by many scholars to have an immense effect in controlling corruption. However, they do not know the conditions under which its performance brings about positive results in some countries while serving to protect corrupt policies and corrupt policy makers in some other countries. Journalism combats corruption through its content, freedom, structure, independence, ownership patterns, diversity, ethics, and professionalism, all of which demonstrate significant variations across cultures and nations. As a social institution, journalism does not work in a vacuum. Its impact is heavily determined by a variety of interacting variables characterizing both the nation system and international system in which it operates. The purpose of this chapter is to develop a hierarchical universal theory of journalism-corruption determinants. The theory perceives corruption act as an outcome of a continuous interaction between five hierarchical levels. They are: (1) journalistic level, (2) economic level, (3) political level, (4) cultural level, and (5) international system level. In general, each level has many sublevels interacting with each other to bring about an effect on corruption that could be negative or positive, minor or major, and finally in one domain or multiple domains. The suggested theory is based on a critically assessment revision of the current literature in several disciplines. The ultimate purpose is to create linkages capable to explain corruption, predict it, direct the future studies, and finally contribute to reducing it.
JOURNALISM AND ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
Journalistic roles in Muslim-majority countries
This paper look... more JOURNALISM AND ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
Journalistic roles in Muslim-majority countries
This paper looks at the extent to which journalistic culture in Muslim-majority countries is shaped by
a distinctive Islamic worldview. We identified four principles of an Islamic perspective to journalism:
truth and truth-telling (siddiq and haqq), pedagogy (tabligh), seeking the best for the public interest
(maslahah), and moderation (wasatiyyah). A survey of working journalists in Africa (Egypt,
Sierra Leone, and Sudan), Asia (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Turkey, and the
United Arab Emirates), and Europe (Albania and Kosovo) found manifestations of these roles in
the investigated countries. The results point to the strong importance of an interventionist
approach to journalism—as embodied in the maslahah principle—in most societies. Overall,
however, journalists’ roles in Muslim-majority countries are not so much shaped by a distinctively
Islamic worldview as they were by the political, economic, and socio-cultural contexts.
Towards a global journalism ethics model: an Islamic
perspective†
Basyouni Ibrahim Hamada
Departm... more Towards a global journalism ethics model: an Islamic
perspective†
Basyouni Ibrahim Hamada
Department of Mass Communication, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
ABSTRACT
There seems to be an internationally shared consensus that
search for a universal journalism ethic has often ended with
the attempt to import traditional and underlying Western
free-press values, such as objectivity and an adversarial
platform forged in Enlightenment philosophy. There is also
a universally shared consensus on the dilemma of how to
invent a universal journalism ethical framework that
sustains the universal solidarity of human being and
recognises cultural, religious and ideological differences.
The central argument of this article is that the Islamic
worldview offers a modern journalism ethical model that
both protects and limits universal pluralism in a multicultural
society. It favours pluralism to the extent that it
does not threaten unity of the universe or create the state
of anarchy. It, therefore, establishes universal values that
human beings share without transcending local cultures.
The suggested model is based on four guiding principles:
respecting pluralism and cultural diversity, freedom of
expression, justice and moderation.
KEYWORDS
Cultural diversity; global
journalism ethics; Western
liberal values; Islamic
perspective; respect of
pluralism; freedom of
expression; justice;
moderation
Overview
Global Journalist in the 21st Century, 2012
Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 87 (1), pp. 5-22, 2010
Surveying 1,700 journalists from seventeen countries, this study investigates perceived influence... more Surveying 1,700 journalists from seventeen countries, this study investigates perceived influences on news work. Analysis reveals a dimensional structure of six distinct domains—political, economic, organizational, professional, and procedural influences, as well as reference groups. Across countries, these six dimensions build up a hierarchical structure where organizational, professional, and procedural influences are perceived as more powerful limits to journalists' work than political and economic influences.
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Papers by Basyouni Hamada
Journalistic roles in Muslim-majority countries
This paper looks at the extent to which journalistic culture in Muslim-majority countries is shaped by
a distinctive Islamic worldview. We identified four principles of an Islamic perspective to journalism:
truth and truth-telling (siddiq and haqq), pedagogy (tabligh), seeking the best for the public interest
(maslahah), and moderation (wasatiyyah). A survey of working journalists in Africa (Egypt,
Sierra Leone, and Sudan), Asia (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Turkey, and the
United Arab Emirates), and Europe (Albania and Kosovo) found manifestations of these roles in
the investigated countries. The results point to the strong importance of an interventionist
approach to journalism—as embodied in the maslahah principle—in most societies. Overall,
however, journalists’ roles in Muslim-majority countries are not so much shaped by a distinctively
Islamic worldview as they were by the political, economic, and socio-cultural contexts.
perspective†
Basyouni Ibrahim Hamada
Department of Mass Communication, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
ABSTRACT
There seems to be an internationally shared consensus that
search for a universal journalism ethic has often ended with
the attempt to import traditional and underlying Western
free-press values, such as objectivity and an adversarial
platform forged in Enlightenment philosophy. There is also
a universally shared consensus on the dilemma of how to
invent a universal journalism ethical framework that
sustains the universal solidarity of human being and
recognises cultural, religious and ideological differences.
The central argument of this article is that the Islamic
worldview offers a modern journalism ethical model that
both protects and limits universal pluralism in a multicultural
society. It favours pluralism to the extent that it
does not threaten unity of the universe or create the state
of anarchy. It, therefore, establishes universal values that
human beings share without transcending local cultures.
The suggested model is based on four guiding principles:
respecting pluralism and cultural diversity, freedom of
expression, justice and moderation.
KEYWORDS
Cultural diversity; global
journalism ethics; Western
liberal values; Islamic
perspective; respect of
pluralism; freedom of
expression; justice;
moderation
Overview
Journalistic roles in Muslim-majority countries
This paper looks at the extent to which journalistic culture in Muslim-majority countries is shaped by
a distinctive Islamic worldview. We identified four principles of an Islamic perspective to journalism:
truth and truth-telling (siddiq and haqq), pedagogy (tabligh), seeking the best for the public interest
(maslahah), and moderation (wasatiyyah). A survey of working journalists in Africa (Egypt,
Sierra Leone, and Sudan), Asia (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Turkey, and the
United Arab Emirates), and Europe (Albania and Kosovo) found manifestations of these roles in
the investigated countries. The results point to the strong importance of an interventionist
approach to journalism—as embodied in the maslahah principle—in most societies. Overall,
however, journalists’ roles in Muslim-majority countries are not so much shaped by a distinctively
Islamic worldview as they were by the political, economic, and socio-cultural contexts.
perspective†
Basyouni Ibrahim Hamada
Department of Mass Communication, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
ABSTRACT
There seems to be an internationally shared consensus that
search for a universal journalism ethic has often ended with
the attempt to import traditional and underlying Western
free-press values, such as objectivity and an adversarial
platform forged in Enlightenment philosophy. There is also
a universally shared consensus on the dilemma of how to
invent a universal journalism ethical framework that
sustains the universal solidarity of human being and
recognises cultural, religious and ideological differences.
The central argument of this article is that the Islamic
worldview offers a modern journalism ethical model that
both protects and limits universal pluralism in a multicultural
society. It favours pluralism to the extent that it
does not threaten unity of the universe or create the state
of anarchy. It, therefore, establishes universal values that
human beings share without transcending local cultures.
The suggested model is based on four guiding principles:
respecting pluralism and cultural diversity, freedom of
expression, justice and moderation.
KEYWORDS
Cultural diversity; global
journalism ethics; Western
liberal values; Islamic
perspective; respect of
pluralism; freedom of
expression; justice;
moderation
Overview