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October 2007 - Posts

Arab Heritage Month in Illinois "begins" ... and sporadically across the country

November is Arab Heritage Month in Chicago, and unofficially in Illinois. (I pause now for the mandatory 20 minutes of silence as the tumbleweeds race across the quiet streets and defeaning silence. There ate tumbleweeds in Chicago. We call them Aldermen,
posted by RayHanania | 2 Comments

Arab American Journalism Media Watch launched

One of the things we are doing at NAAJA, the National Arab American Journalist Association, is to launch a Media Watch group that can address professional journalism issues involving Arab Americans and the Middle East. Of course, our first concern is
posted by RayHanania | 2 Comments

Latest issue of Arab American Affairs/News Circle Magazine is out; Media Bias

The News Circle magazine, published in Glendale, California, celebrates its 35th year of publication this year. The first issue was a newspaper broadsheet and the front page included a story, in June 1972, about whether Jim Abourezk would get elected
posted by RayHanania | 4 Comments

New Book from Arab Journalist Ahmed Soliman, and other ramblings

Ahmed Soliman has been a host on the new and growing Bridges TV cable network and is a columnist with the Arab Writers Group (www.ArabWritersGroup.com) and he just published a book about his experiences as a young Arab and Muslim in journalism. Prior
posted by RayHanania | 1 Comments

Which is more fashionable, "Facism" or "Fascism?"

I didn't realize until retired 60s "peace" activist David Horotwitz launched "IslamoFascism Week" that there are two spellings for Facism. But, I guess maybe I should assume if anyone knows about Fascism, Horowitz would be the guy at FrontPageMag.com.
posted by RayHanania | 1 Comments

Loads of misunderstandings about Arabs, Muslims, Ramadan and, well, everything

Don't get me started. A Hijab is not a Berqa, the latter being an oppressive tradition and the former being a symbol of religious pride for many Muslim women. Not all Arabs are Muslims and most Muslims are not Arab. Of the estimated 7 million Muslims
posted by RayHanania | 1 Comments

When does journalism cross the line of ethics?

Debbie Almontaser was supposed to head a new school in New York to teach the Arabic language to students. Afterall, with the rise of interest in the Middle East and the need for more people to speak and understand Arabic, it seemed like the logical thing to do. But, Almontaser is a Yemeni Muslim woman, and the New York media and some notorious columnists targeted her and subjected her to a barrage of criticism. Here's the story and her response to her forced dismissal.
posted by RayHanania | 0 Comments

Not enough to be a part of the mainstream media, apparently

I entered journalism indirectly. First as an effort to overcome failing high school grades in English: my English teacher encouraged me to write a column in my junior year on my favorite topic, playing lead guitar and rock music, and the following year
posted by RayHanania | 1 Comments

Welcome to the new Blog of the SPJ Arab American journalists

"Al-Sahafiyeen" is the Arabic word for "journalists" or "the journalists." Arab American journalists, through the National Arab American Journalists Association, are working closely with SPJ to help encourage Arab American journalists to
posted by RayHanania | 0 Comments