ALBAHITH ALALAMI

This study aims to determine the extent to which Palestinian elites use digital diplomacy to confront the Israeli narrative by exploring the motives for usage, patterns, essential digital diplomatic tools, and achieved satisfactions. The study adopted a survey methodology and employed a questionnaire distributed to a sample of 110 Palestinian political and media elites.
The study arrived at several key findings, including: Palestinian elites allocate a substantial (%67) of their efforts towards employing digital diplomacy as a response to the Israeli narrative. The foremost platforms employed for this purpose are Facebook and Twitter. The primary motivation for utilizing these digital platforms is to present the Palestinian perspective to a global audience, while the central objective is to debunk the false Israeli narrative, which relies heavily on targeted propaganda.

This study investigates self-perception and self-branding on Instagram among young Arab women in the UAE, focusing on how they curate, negotiate and perform their digital identities and whether their digital self-presentation in any way compromises their sense of authenticity. The study is based on 11 interviews with young women in the UAE, between the ages of 20 and 30, in addition to online observation to follow the participants’ activities on Instagram. The study demonstrates that while social and digital media platforms may play a role in “empowering” Arab women, women tend to set their boundaries of authenticity shaped according to their audience’s expectations and their in-groups. This confirms the role of collectivistic culture in the Arab cultural context, where women may feel more scrutinized than men.

This research aims to identify the means and forms of interactive communication concerning Iraqi topics on the websites of global radio stations, namely Sawa and Monte Carlo. It also seeks to uncover the editorial and artistic interactions related to Iraqi topics on the selected websites chosen as the research sample, comparing them with the editorial interaction within the Iraqi context between the Radio Monte Carlo and Sawa websites.
The research yields several conclusions, including the following:
Iraqis focus their interaction with topics related to Iraq on Facebook for both Radio Monte Carlo and Sawa; Arabs show higher levels of interaction on Twitter with Radio Monte Carlo; Participants on the websites of both Radio Sawa and Monte Carlo distribute themselves concerning Iraqi topics as supporters, neutral observers, and protesters. In comparison to comments and sharing, 'liking' is the predominant form of communication used for interacting with topics related to Iraq on both the Radio Monte Carlo and Sawa websites.

The research focuses on the withdrawal of the United States from the nuclear agreement signed between the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the Islamic Republic of Iran concerning its nuclear program. This withdrawal has caused disruption in the official media discourse of the concerned countries. Therefore, the main question can be posed: Are there differences in the positions of countries related to the nuclear agreement, as well as those countries affected by it, before and after the official withdrawal of the United States on May 8, 2018?
The research aims to shed light on the trends in media discourse of the countries that signed the nuclear agreement and those affected by it before and after the U.S. withdrawal. It aims to uncover differences in official statements and their impact on exacerbating international crises. The researcher employed a survey method and content analysis tool to analyze official media discourses gathered from online news sources and reliable social media platforms.
The research yielded several results, including: The official media discourse was not consistent with the positions of countries regarding the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear agreement. Most of the countries included in the study affirm Iran's commitment to the agreement but support additional economic and military sanctions against it.

This research delves into the role of satirical television programs in shaping the image of Iraqi politicians. The research problem is summarized in the main question: How does satire featured in television programs influence the portrayal of Iraqi politicians? This research adopts a descriptive approach and employs a survey methodology. The primary data collection tool is a questionnaire, complemented by observation and measurement techniques. The study draws upon the framework of cultural cultivation theory as a guiding theoretical foundation. A total of 430 questionnaires were disseminated among respondents who regularly watch satirical programs, selected through a multi-stage random sampling procedure.
The researcher arrived at several key findings, including: A majority of the surveyed audience perceives the image crafted of Iraqi politicians through satirical programs as predominantly negative. A smaller portion of respondents believe that satirical programs do not offer a clear image of Iraqi politicians. Additionally, most respondents point to the portrayal of Iraqi politicians' inability to deliver services to citizens as a prominent negative trait accentuated by satirical programs. These programs tend to omit any portrayal of positive attributes or the stances of politicians who prioritize upholding the Iraqi constitution.

This research seeks to explore the impact of notifications on enhancing user engagement with websites, primarily through user subscriptions and their interaction with notifications on these websites. The significance of this study lies in its implications for crafting compelling headlines that capture users' attention, streamline their access to journalistic content, and align with the objectives and editorial policies of news websites. It sheds light on the factors influencing users' preferences for specific notifications and their engagement with content based on their individual interests, motivations, and the satisfaction derived from such interactions.
The researcher has reached several key findings, including the observation that the judicious use of notifications leads to increased website utilization, especially when the daily notification frequency remains constrained. Furthermore, summary notifications emerge as the most appealing notification type for users.

The research aims to determine what a photograph intends to convey as a visual text. Photographs are not captured randomly, especially those of politicians. Each photograph carries a message, even if interpretations of that message vary from person to person. The research adopts a methodology based on semiotic analysis, applying Laurent Gervero's model to analyze a photograph of the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi's visit to Fallujah on the anniversary of the victory over ISIS. The photographs in question constitute a visual language built upon a sequence of iconic symbols and signs. These elements coalesce to give rise to an image centered around a particular theme, one designed to convey a precise message to the intended audience. Additionally, they serve as a window into the photographer's ideology, as they make deliberate choices regarding which aspects of the event to capture through their camera lens.
The research yields several results, including: The ideas and meanings contained in the photograph, both in form and content, fall within the framework of political marketing for the personality of the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, highlighting him as a strong and sharp personality. The rhetoric of the photograph emphasizes unity, rejection of sectarianism and nationalism. The diversity and functional progression of Al-Kadhimi's career in journalism and historical documentation helped him gain experience in the art of appearance and influence on the recipient, in addition to his previous work in the sensitive field of intelligence.

This research aims to investigate the approaches adopted by Iraqi newspapers in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Employing a descriptive methodology and survey technique, the study conducts content analysis on articles published in three prominent newspapers: Al-Sabah, Al-Mada, and Tareeq Al-Shaab. A multi-stage sampling method was employed, encompassing 260 issues of the aforementioned newspapers. Data collection involved the use of a content analysis questionnaire, with the "How it was said?" method utilized to determine analysis categories.
The results showed that Al-Sabah newspaper adopted a positive approach in addressing COVID-19-related topics, while Al-Mada newspaper remained neutral, and Tareeq Al-Shaab newspaper had a negative approach. Additionally, the study underscores a preference for internal sources and actors as primary information providers within the newspapers' COVID-19 coverage.
Based on these findings, it can be concluded that Al-Sabah newspaper took a positive stance towards the COVID-19 crisis, while Al-Mada remained neutral, and Tareeq Al-Shaab was negative in their treatment of these topics. The results indicate that the renowned trusted newspapers attached great importance to internal sources in their pandemic coverage.