'Do's' and 'Don’ts': Things I Learned Writing about the Middle East | Ramzy Baroud

[Tace]

Ramzy Baroud -- World News Trust

Jan. 1, 2014

Writing and reporting about the Middle East is not an easy task, especially during these years of turmoil and upheaval.

Following and reporting on these constant changes without a deep and compassionate understanding of the region will achieve little but predictable and lackluster content that offers nothing original, but recycled old ideas and stereotypes.

From my humble experience in the region, I share these “do's” and “don’ts” as to how the Middle East should be approached in writing and reporting.

Question Terminology

To start with, the term “Middle East” is itself highly questionable. It is arbitrary, and can only be understood within proximity to some other entity, Europe, whose colonial endeavors imposed such classifications on the rest of the word.

more

http://worldnewstrust.com/do-s-and-don-ts-things-i-learned-writing-about-the-middle-east-ramzy-baroud