AUC Publishes the 39th Issue of Arab Media &society on “Media Management & Economics”

Arab Media & Society, the Scopus-indexed, open-access biannual journal published by the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism at the American University in Cairo (AUC), has released its 39th issue on the subject of “Media Management & Economics.” 

The media landscape in the Arab World is undergoing a rapid and profound transformation, shaped by technological advancements, shifting consumer behaviors, and evolving business models. Digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and content creators are redefining the media ecosystem, influencing economic structures, managerial strategies, and regulatory frameworks. As media organizations, content producers, and digital platforms adapt to this changing environment, new challenges and opportunities emerge for sustainable business models, ethical considerations, and innovative revenue streams.

The articles in this issue highlight the dynamic intersections of media management, economics, and digital transformation across the Arab World by offering new scholarship on media management and economics in various Arab countries. It examines the managerial and economic factors shaping science journalism in Qatar, explores the viability of sustainable business models for Omani newspapers, and sheds light on the marginalization of Hijabi journalists in Moroccan newsrooms.

The issue also addresses YouTube media framing and its relationship to Islamic soft power during the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the emergence of digital platforms for visual content production in Yemen, and the rise of digital influencer economies in Algeria. In addition, it considers how the attention economy directs Egyptian audiences toward specific digital content through social media platforms, addresses the connection between the attention economy and the steering of Egyptian audiences toward consuming specific digital content via social media platforms, and examines the use of digital platforms by non-state actors during wartime. Moreover, the issue analyzes how source credibility and user commentary influence news-sharing behaviors among Arab audiences in the United Arab Emirates.

"This issue comes at a critical moment for media in the Arab world, where rapid technological change is not only reshaping how content is produced and consumed, but also redefining the very foundations of media management and economics,” said Hussein Amin, professor of Journalism and Mass Communication and director of the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism. Amin added that the contributions gathered in this issue reflect the urgency of understanding these transformations - from evolving business models and digital platform economies to questions of ethics, representation, and influence. “By bringing together diverse case studies from across the region, this issue underscores the complexity and significance of the current media landscape, while offering timely, research-driven insights into how media institutions and actors can navigate and shape this period of profound change."

You can read this issue in its entirety at https://www.arabmediasociety.com/post_issue/issue-39-winter-spring-2025/.