Lebanon Youth Launch Newspaper Challenging Politics and Media (VIDEO)
In Lebanon, where divisions dominate both the political and media spectrum, a new and independent youth newspaper, is shaking up the status-quo.
Sawt Ashabab, which translates to "Youth Voice" in Arabic, began as part of a media literacy project, but has evolved into the successful launch of an independent media organization challenging the country's polarized media landscape.
The newspaper was founded by Dima Saber, a professor of media studies at Lebanon's Notre Dame University, and David Munir Nabti, CEO of RootSpace, an organization that works towards a sustainable, knowledge-based economy and society in Lebanon.
The first edition was launched to coincide with Lebanon's recent highly anticipated elections, pitting the US and Saudi backed March 14 bloc (which won) against the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance backed by Syria and Iran.
In a matter of a just a few weeks, Saber had gathered dozens of young volunteers from across Lebanon - many under Lebanon's 21-year-old voting age - who represent Lebanon's political, ethnic and religious divided.
The paper offers a sometimes cynical, though, informed commentary on Lebanese politics and society and the first edition was distributed in more than 50,000 copies of the two leading dailies, Al Akhbar and Al Nahar - each on opposite sides of the political spectrum.
Sawt Ashabab taps into the frustration that many young Lebanese have with their standard of living, rampant unemployment and the cyclical nature of dirty politics.
The newspaper, written in Arabic and English, challenges all parties, mocking campaign ads, and even criticizing the parties' voter outreach initiatives which included flying in thousands of Lebanese citizens living abroad to participate in the elections.
While the future of Sawt Ashabab and Lebanon's political scene remains unclear, the successful launch of the newspaper reflects the possibility of change when determination and diversity is celebrated.
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This is an incredibly concise & timely piece, on a hopeful topic- FINALLY-out of the middle East-
The video segment really illustrates what a strong and nuanced voice these students have...
keep them coming!
Can you spell C- I - A funding?
Totally dead wrong, these are the new generation of Lebanese that want a change from the same politicians that have been around since the early 70's that keep coming back and offering the same dead-end ideas that keep them in power. Frankly people are waking up to the fact that Barack Obama's theme of "Change" is feasible and attainable.
About time!
Awesome.
You ROCK!!
Brilliant youth movement.
One student said, "...were not interested in the gossip of politics."
If only our media could learn from that...
Sounds like a combination of "Democracy Now" and the "Daily Show".
Good for them.
Maybe college newspapers will replace the MSM in the US. College students don't need a paycheck and can do the research and investigations. They're also young enough to potentially have a moral compass.
I hope the reporter of this piece goes back and finds out whether or not these brave young people even exist anymore.
Just curious. Why might they not "even exist"??
Because ignorant people think "middle east" zomg taliban, ahmadinajad and Islamist beheadings.
No one really knows Lebanon, or the middle east for that matter.
yes they do exist in fact you can go any where in lebanon freely and see sites that will totally amaze you and eat food that any culture would be proud of.
http://www.therootspace.org/site/sawtashabab
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sawt_ashabab/
Best of luck to them. Such idealism and activism gives me hope.
That's is awesome to read about... good for them! It's time fresh ideas and voices are heard everywhere.
This is certainly a promising bit of news. It is in the hands of the future, after all.
Mabruk! I visited Lebanon 10 years ago and absolutely loved it. I truly truly hope this is finally the turning point for them and that they no longer fall victim to all of the aggressive players surrounding this tiny but wonderful country. They've had a very harsh several decades--they deserve a change.
with a neighbour like Israel on its boarder its just a matter of time before the IDF come rampaging back to commit atrocity after atrocity. Lebanese are still being killed by Israeli cluster bombs from the last attack. Unfortunately the psycopathy of Israel does not allow for peaceful prosperous neighbours - they only feel safe with their neighbours in smoking ruins, poverty and opression.
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