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Teaching journalism, convergence and the Arab spring: Reflections from Oman

Susan O’Rourke AUT University New Zealand susan.orourke@aut.ac.nz

OMAN ﻥﺎﻣﻋ

The Oman Project

A collaboration between the New Zealand Tertiary Education Consortium (NZTEC) and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) in the Sultanate of Oman Four New Zealand universities prepared teaching materials to be delivered in English for degrees in:

Art and Design Information Technology Business and Communication

New Zealand BCS Omani BSc 3 years Foundation year plus 4 years 8 majors 5 majors Digital Media Digital Media Journalism Journalism Public Relations Public Relations Creative Industries Media Management Advertising Creativity International Communication Radio Television Professional Communication

Relevance to conference theme

In an increasingly globalised world, projects like this are likely to become more common for New Zealand higher education institutions Convergence from an international higher education viewpoint

Meta-issues in delivering appropriate learning materials

Ability in use of English and different language style (especially in Journalism) Contextualisation to Omani society Sensitivity to cultural and social mores

General issues in re-versioning a Media Studies degree for Oman

Ability in English Introducing western values into an Arab society No previous Media Studies curriculum Limited media industries No Advisory Committee or internships Obtaining appropriate teaching resources

Journalism major

Year Paper (8 papers in total) Year 1, Semester 1 None Year 1, Semester 2 Introduction to Public Relations and Journalism Year 2, Semester 3 None Year 2, Semester 4 None Year 3, Semester 5 Journalism Year 3, Semester 6 None Year 4, Semester 7 Public Affairs Reporting Editing and Design News Reporting Year 4, Semester 8 New Media Journalism Radio Journalism Television Journalism

Specific concerns for journalism

The “flowery” and almost sycophantic prose in Omani newspapers Providing sufficient Omani examples Comparison with international examples Practical convergence in NMJ, Radio and TV Journalism papers successful

Discussing the undiscussable

Omanis will argue and debate in private but very conventional in public Thinking analytically is daunting News reporting difficult Satellite links with world but Skype forbidden and censorship prevalent in newspapers

The difficulties encountered by journalism staff in preparing work for Oman

Survey questions

The changes you had to make to teaching material and why you made them The difficulties you encountered in preparing the work for Oman Whether you think our style of Journalism would work in Oman (given what you have seen in Omani newspapers).

Journalism staff concerns

Language suitability and the number and type of changes required Contextualisation to Oman involved many hours of research trying to find Omani examples Cultural sensitivity to both Oman society and Islam

Further concerns

Simplifying material, especially in final year papers, for the language level of the students Difficulties with particular tasks such as subbing and writing headlines; and Not knowing whether Omani staff would be experienced journalists

Still more concerns

Western content Gender Year 3 papers not linked to previous material, especially Radio and Television Journalism “My biggest issue was trying to devise a paper that addressed such things as the public's right to know, privacy, human rights, press freedom etc for a country that does not acknowledge such things as it is not a democracy.”

Specific examples

Omani journalism supports status quo

“All that can be hoped for is that gradually as Omani society opens up, its journalism will be an integral part of that and reflect the process as well.”

Lack of political and social issues Objectivity missing in favour of positive messages about identity and

• ther Arab states

The Arab Spring in Oman

A random selection of comments from Muscatdaily.com, Times of Oman and Oman Observer showed a number of common themes as well as particular editorial policies being played out

Oman Observer :complimentary stance towards the Sultan and the benefits that he had brought to the Oman Times of Oman reported the protests after they were finished with an emphasis on punishment Muscatdaily.com was prepared to deal with the reasons for the protests and criticise the government and protesters alike

What do we want? 28 February 2011

Protesters’ demands

An end to corruption and influence More jobs Higher wages Lower prices for water and electricity Better healthcare Better education

We want accountability

12 March 2011

Changing people in authority does not mean changing the system He advocates for adopting a western style social welfare system Negotiating a compromise between sensible government policy and some

• f the protesters’ more personal and,

in his opinion, illogical demands.

Reform and freedom of expression

13 March 2011

Freedom of expression The blocking of a controversial blog The writer defends the blogger’s right to express his opinion Entreats the government to not block any more websites, especially as the content will just re-surface elsewhere.

A new Oman

15 March 2011

“Discovering that the government will tolerate our protests is unbelievable, but I suppose with recent events in the Middle East they have no other choice” Positive responses from the Sultan

More jobs Sacking ministers Raising benefits and wages

Conclusion

“As a young Omani woman, I don’t know how to react to these changes

• r what to think. In fact, I don’t think

anyone knows really. The only thing I know for sure is that Oman will never be the same again, and it sure is exciting to be here to witness it!” (15 March 2011)

Further information

O’Rourke, S. (2011). Curriculum development for Oman 2006 to 2011: Implications for offshore education and challenges for intercultural communication within New

• Zealand. Communication Journal of New Zealand He

Kohinga Korero, 12(1), 42-56. O’Rourke, S.(2011). Teaching journalism in Oman: Reflections after the Arab Spring, Pacific Journalism Review, 17(2), 109-129. O’Rourke, S., & al-Bulushi, H. A. (2010). Managing quality from a distance: A case study of collaboration between Oman and New Zealand. Quality in Higher Education, 16(3), 197-201. O’Rourke, S., & Johnson, R. (2011). Internationalising a media studies degree in Arab higher education: A case study arising from an agreement between New Zealand and Oman. In T. Sabry (Ed.) Arab cultural studies: Mapping the field. London, UK: IB Tauris.