Al Jazeera Journalism Review
Western Media’s Double Standards on Muslim Women’s Suffering
When an Iranian student publicly protested against security forces by undressing, the moment garnered widespread attention in Western media. Meanwhile, even as 70 percent of those killed in Palestine are women and children, this ongoing violence—including the systematic killing, torture, and detention of Palestinian women—receives minimal coverage. This disparity raises urgent questions: How do Western media represent women’s issues in the Islamic world, and to what extent are such portrayals shaped by double standards?
Latest Articles
Fake Accounts with Arab Faces: "A Well-Organized Cyber Army"
Israel has launched a digital war against Palestinians by flooding social media with fake accounts designed to spread disinformation, distort narratives, and demonize Palestinian resistance. These accounts, often impersonating Arabs and mimicking regional dialects, aim to create fake public opinion, promote division among Arab nations, and advance the Israeli agenda in the digital space.
Citizen Journalism in Gaza: "The Last Witness"
With a phone camera, Abboud Battah appears every day from northern Gaza, documenting the crimes of the occupation in a language that is not devoid of spontaneity that led to his being arrested. When the Israeli occupation closed Gaza to the international press, killed journalists, and targeted their headquarters, the voice of the citizen journalist remained a witness to the killing and genocidal war.
A Survivor Interview should not be Considered a Scoop
Do ethical and professional standards allow for interviewing survivors while they are in a state of trauma? How should a journalist approach victims, away from sensationalism and the pursuit of exclusivity at the expense of their dignity and right to remain silent?
![Workers at Télam mobilise as the Argentine government plans to shut down the state news agency [SomosTelam.com.ar].](/sites/default/files/ajr/2024/Picture1_0.png)
Censorship, Militarisation, and Dismantlement: How Public Media Became a Political Battlefield in Latin America
Public media in Latin America, such as Brazil's EBC and Argentina's Télam, are being undermined through militarisation and dismantlement, threatening their role as public institutions. These actions jeopardise media independence and weaken their ability to serve the public interest, posing a serious risk to democracy.
Independent Syrian Journalism: From Revolution to Assad's Fall
Independent Syrian journalism played a pivotal role in exposing regime corruption and documenting war crimes during the 13-year revolution, despite immense risks to journalists, including imprisonment, assassination, and exile. Operating from abroad, these journalists pioneered investigative and open-source reporting, preserving evidence, and shaping narratives that challenged the Assad regime's propaganda.
Bolivia’s Mines and Radio: A Voice of the Global South Against Hegemony
Miners' radio stations in the heart of Bolivia's mining communities, played a crucial role in shaping communication within mining communities, contributing to social and political movements. These stations intersected with anarchist theatre, educational initiatives, and alternative media, addressing labour rights, minority groups, and imperialism.
Opinion
Shaimaa Al-Eisai
Western Media’s Double Standards on Muslim Women’s Suffering
When an Iranian student publicly protested against security forces by undressing, the moment garnered widespread attention in Western media. Meanwhile, even as 70 percent of those killed in…
Assal Rad
Western Media Has Failed Their Palestinian Colleagues
A 2024 CPJ report revealed that nearly 70% of journalists killed that year were targeted by Israel, yet major Western media outlets largely ignored or downplayed the findings. The muted response…
AJR Contributor
Weaponizing the Law: SLAPPs Against Journalists and Press Freedom
SLAPPs—abusive lawsuits designed to silence journalists and activists—are surging across Southeast Asia, exploiting vague laws and weak protections to punish those who speak truth to power. As…
Diaries
Charged with Being a Journalist in Sudan
Between the barricades of the conflicting parties, sometimes displaced, and sometimes hiding from bullets, journalist Iman Kamal El-Din lived the experience of armed conflict in Sudan and conveyed to Al-Sahafa magazine the concerns and challenges of field coverage in a time of deception and targeting of journalists.
From Journalism to Agriculture or “Forced Unemployment” for Sudanese Journalists
How did the war in Sudan push dozens of journalists to change their professions in search of a decent life? In this article, colleague Muhammad Shaarawi recounts the journey of journalists who were forced by war conditions to work in agriculture, selling vegetables, and other professions.
Testimonies of the First Witness of the Sabra & Shatila Massacre
The Sabra and Shatila massacre in 1982 saw over 3,000 unarmed Palestinian refugees brutally killed by Phalangist militias under the facilitation of Israeli forces. As the first journalist to enter the camps, Japanese journalist Ryuichi Hirokawa provides a harrowing first-hand account of the atrocity amid a media blackout. His testimony highlights the power of bearing witness to a war crime and contrasts the past Israeli public outcry with today’s silence over the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Reports
Western Media’s Double Standards on Muslim Women’s Suffering
When an Iranian student publicly protested against security forces by undressing, the moment garnered widespread attention in Western media. Meanwhile, even as 70 percent of those killed in Palestine are women and children, this ongoing violence—including the systematic killing, torture, and detention of Palestinian women—receives minimal coverage. This disparity raises urgent questions: How do Western media represent women’s issues in the Islamic world, and to what extent are such portrayals shaped by double standards?
Weaponizing the Law: SLAPPs Against Journalists and Press Freedom
SLAPPs—abusive lawsuits designed to silence journalists and activists—are surging across Southeast Asia, exploiting vague laws and weak protections to punish those who speak truth to power. As legal harassment intensifies, journalists face not only imprisonment and censorship but also emotional trauma, exile, and long-term damage to their careers.
Monitoring of Journalistic Malpractices in Gaza Coverage
On this page, the editorial team of the Al Jazeera Journalism Review will collect news published by media institutions about the current war on Gaza that involves disinformation, bias, or professional journalistic standards and its code of ethics.
In The Cross Fire: The Perils of Rural Journalism in India's Conflict Zones
In India’s conflict-ridden regions like Bastar and Manipur, local journalists—especially freelancers and women—risk their lives daily to report on corruption, displacement, and state violence, often without institutional support or protection. Their work, largely invisible to national media, exposes a stark reality where telling the truth can cost them everything, even their lives.
How Media Drives Collective Adaptation During Natural Disasters in Oman
This paper highlights how Omani media, during times of natural disasters, focused on praising government efforts to improve its image, while neglecting the voices of victims and those affected by the cyclones. It also examines the media’s role in warning against and preventing future disasters.
Is India Targeting Independent Media Through Tax Status Revocation?
In a move that’s sent shockwaves through India’s independent media landscape, tax authorities have revoked The Reporters’ Collective's non—profit status, claiming journalism doesn’t serve a “public purpose.” Critics warn this unprecedented action, echoed in similar crackdowns on other outlets, is part of a broader campaign to throttle investigative journalism and stifle dissent financially.
