As part of the academic interest in studying the transformations taking place in digital media and their impact on shaping public awareness and attitudes toward regional and international issues, the Faculty of Mass Communication at Cairo University hosted the defense of the doctoral dissertation submitted by researcher Rofeida Hatem El-Shazly, entitled “The Role of Social Media Platforms of Foreign and Arab Channels in Shaping Arab Public Knowledge and Attitudes Toward the Credibility of Media Coverage”.
Major General Dr. Samir Farag participated in the dissertation defense committee, expressing his honor at taking part in this academic work, which addresses one of the important topics in the field of media and communication, particularly in light of the growing role played by digital platforms in transmitting news and information and directing public attention toward major issues and events.
The study derives its importance from its connection to the events in Gaza in 2023 and the extensive international media attention they received. Social media platforms operated by Arab and foreign news channels have become one of the main platforms through which Arab audiences follow developments on the ground, as well as political and humanitarian developments. This has made the study of media coverage credibility and its impact on public knowledge and attitudes particularly important.
Study Methodology and Research Sample
The researcher relied on two complementary research approaches. The first was an analytical study aimed at identifying the nature of the media coverage presented by the official pages of the news channels under study regarding the events in Gaza in 2023. The second approach was a field study aimed at identifying the role of these pages in shaping Arab public knowledge and attitudes toward the credibility of their media coverage.
The analytical study population included the official Facebook pages of Arab and foreign news channels. The researcher selected a purposive sample comprising four channels: BBC and CNN, in their Arabic-language versions, representing foreign news channels, and Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya, representing Arab news channels.
A total of 2,167 posts were subjected to analysis, comprising both visual and textual content. Video clips accounted for the largest proportion, at 59.3%. This required considerable research effort in monitoring, transcription and detailed analysis of more than two thousand posts to ensure that the findings were based on clear scientific foundations.
As for the field study, it targeted Arab audiences who rely on the official pages of Arab and foreign news channels to obtain information about the events in Gaza in 2023. It was conducted using an available random sample of 500 individuals who followed the pages under study.
Key Findings of the Study
The analytical study findings showed that Arab channels accounted for the largest share of posts, at 82.9%, compared with 17.1% for foreign channels. The findings also revealed that comments by audiences across all Arab and foreign channels were predominantly oriented in favor of the Palestinian side, accounting for 75.9%.
At the field study level, the findings revealed a high level of audience engagement with Arab channels, with Al Jazeera ranking first. Emotional effects recorded the highest averages, with sympathy for affected children and women ranking at the forefront of these effects.
The findings also showed that the level of credibility attributed by the audience to Arab channels was higher than that attributed to foreign channels. This reflects differences in how audiences evaluate media sources according to the nature and content of coverage and the extent to which it corresponds with their perceptions and the reality of events.
Scientific Conclusion of the Study
The study concluded that there were substantial differences in news coverage of the events in Gaza in 2023 across social media platforms. It attributed these differences to the editorial policies and political and geographical contexts of each media outlet.
The study findings indicated that Al Jazeera adopted the Palestinian narrative, while Al Arabiya’s coverage was characterized by greater restraint, according to the analysis. Meanwhile, foreign platforms’ coverage was influenced by the Western perspective, which the study described as adopting a formal balance while demonstrating bias in favor of the Israeli side.
These differences were reflected in the audience’s perception of the credibility of media sources and contributed to the emergence of a trust gap in favor of Arab channels compared with their foreign counterparts.
The study confirmed that the formation of media credibility during crises is not based solely on abstract professional standards, but is also influenced by cultural and value-based affiliation and the extent to which coverage corresponds with the reality of events. It also highlighted the transformation of digital platforms into active spaces for expressing public positions rather than merely channels for receiving information.
These findings indicate that Arab audiences possess critical awareness that drives them to evaluate media sources, compare their narratives and distinguish between different patterns of coverage. This reflects the importance of the role played by digital media in shaping knowledge and attitudes during international crises.
Defense Committee and Academic Distinction
The defense committee was chaired by Professor Dr. Ashraf Galal, Dean of the Faculty of Mass Communication at Suez University. Its members also included Professor Dr. Safaa Fawzi and Professor Dr. Hadeer Abdullah from the Faculty of Mass Communication at Cairo University, alongside Major General Dr. Samir Farag.
At the conclusion of the defense, researcher Rofeida Hatem El-Shazly was awarded the doctoral degree with the grade of Excellent with Honors, in recognition of her research efforts in addressing an important media issue related to the role of modern communication tools in shaping Arab public knowledge and attitudes, as well as their level of trust in media coverage during crises and major international events.
Discover more from المنتدى الدولى للصحافة والإعلام GFJM
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
