Social Networking, Social Media and Complex Emergencies: an ...

e limited in scope and impact. The study suggests
that the Internet has the capacity for creating and
enhancing political activism.
Harlow, S. & Johnson, T.J. (2011)
‘Overthrowing the Protest Paradigm?
How The New York Times, Global
Voices and Twitter Covered the
Egyptian Revolution’, International
Journal of Communication, vol. 5,
pp. 1359-1374.
Keywords: blogs, Twitter, mainstream
media, Arab Spring.
This study analyses coverage of the Arab protest,
examining whether the ‘protest paradigm’ found in
mainstream media is replicated in social media and
blogs and the impact this has on credibility (p. 1359).
It is submitted that mainstream media often relies
on this ‘protest paradigm’ by focusing on tactics,
spectacles and dramatic actions rather than the
underlying reasons for the protest (p. 1359). Data was
collected through a content analysis of 2011 Egyptian
protest in The New York Times, Twitter feed of Times
reporter Nick Kristof, and citizen media site Global
Voices. Research questions explored the frames
that were employed across the different media, the
portrayal of protesters, the use of citizen versus
official sources, and the role of authors as neutral
observers of analysts/actors
Results indicated that The Times adhered to the
protest paradigm, maintaining an impartial role by
framing the protests in terms of their spectacle,
quoting official sources and devaluing protesters
as reporters. Conversely it is suggested that Global
Voices and the Twitter feed legitimised protesters,
served as commentators and analysts and provided
more opportunity for interaction by readers. These
sources framed the protests in terms of injustice and
expressing sympathy for protesters.
Hofheinz, A. (2011) ‘Nextopia? Beyond
Revolution 2.0’, International Journal of
Communication, vol. 5, pp. 1417-1434.
Keywords: social media, Arab Spring, social
relations, entertainment.
This article represents a plea for a shift in paradigm:
(i) to encourage greater focus on the social and
cultural effects of the Internet and mobile phone use;
(ii) to find out what impact the use of these media
has on conceptions of the individual and their role in
the construction of knowledge and values; and (iii)
to determine how these dynamics are embedded
in more long-term historical developments
promoting a greater role for the individual (p. 1417).
The author argues that due to a preoccupation
on political change the influence of the social and
cultural domains of the Internet has been largely
ignored and promotes a need to take the social
dimensions of social media more seriously. It is
suggested that research should focus on five distinct
levels of analysis investigating how new media
can: (i) transformation of individual attitudes and
willingness to engage in political action; (ii) mitigate
or exacerbate group conflict; (iii) facilitate collective
action; (iv) help regimes to spy on/control their
citizens; and (v) garner international attention
(pp. 1422-1423).
The author argues that it is necessary to investigate
the social constructions of political authority in the
Arab region and explore the role of social media
beyond political activism for maintaining and
extending social relations and for entertainment.
The author argues that this use of social media has
been dismissed as ‘futile’ throughout much of the
literature. The article then proceeds to consider
changes in attitude, particularly in regards to
authority, with social media acting as the medium
or questioning such attitudes. The author calls for
greater research in regards to social media and the
Internet as a means of communication among peers
Social Networking, Social Media and Complex Emergencies:
an Annotated Bibliography
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