The Listening Post Season 9, Episode 40: Syria: Journalism under duress

1

The Snowden saga: Spies, secrets and security

A look back at the biggest media story of 2013 - Edward Snowden and the NSA surveillance programme.

2

Egypt: Journalism under siege?

Listening Post examines how covering the Muslim Brotherhood has become a minefield for the media.

3

South Sudan and the media of conflict

When fighting broke out a month ago in the world's youngest country, South Sudan, the story was framed as just another tribal power struggle coming out of Africa. A more precise analysis is that the conflict is really political in nature - a fallout between the president and the vice president, with some ethnic elements fighting it out on the ground. Those who are critical of the media say that, when it comes to Africa, all too often international news outlets resort to the same formula - reducing just about any conflict to the tribal level, which seems to explain everything without actually telling us anything. Is there a hierarchy of knowledge in reporting about Africa, with more authority given to international journalists?

4

Turkey: The media sub-plot

We examine how news outlets have become part of the story in the recent scandal involving Erdogan's government.

5

Russia's media Olympics

Ahead of Sochi's Olympics, we ask how the Kremlin will handle the news coverage that comes with hosting the games.

6

Egypt's media war

As journalists face arrest, we ask why the media is seen as being either with the army or with the Muslim Brotherhood.

7

Turkey's media pressure points

Amid accusations of censorship, is government pressure creating a climate of intimidation for media in the country?

8

Venezuela's media wrangle

The government and the opposition are fighting it out to make sure it is their version of events that gets reported.

9

Upheaval in Ukraine: The media angles

We examine how the unfolding crisis has led to key media moments in a country with questionable press freedoms.

10

Erdogan: Control, conflict, conglomerates

In a special edition, we unpack the Turkish prime minister's relationship with the media landscape in which he operates.

11

The changing face of news

In a special episode, we explore how technology influences the way news is gathered and shapes the way it is presented.

12

The Cold War narrative

As Russia redraws the map in Ukraine, the media narrative is once again split between the powers of the East and West.

13

Turkey vs Twitter

We look at how Ankara's crackdown on social media is creating a firestorm ahead of a critical presidential election.

14

The state of Egypt's news media

Ahead of the country's May election, we examine the failed promise of the Arab Spring and the impact on journalism.

15

Indian media: Choosing sides?

As the world's largest democracy goes to the polls, we examine claims that news outlets are favouring Narendra Modi.

16

Algeria's election: A fait accompli?

For many, even those in the media, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s re-election is a foregone conclusion.

17

Pakistan: Journalism under fire

As Hamid Mir recovers after being shot by unknown gunmen, we examine the wider backdrop of media killings in Pakistan.

18

The challenge of reporting on Boko Haram

Why has the media struggled to tell the story of Nigeria's mass abductions?

19

Are South Africa's media biased?

Print media and the country's state-owned broadcaster have been accused of slanted coverage of the recent elections.

20

The 'all-out propaganda war' in Ukraine

We analyse coverage of the Ukraine conflict, which has often been marred by a lack of nuance, context and subtlety.

21

The Battle for the World Wide Web

A controversial new set of rules to govern the use of broadband and the Internet has the cyber world blowing a fuse.

22

Thailand: the military and the media

The Kingdom and its media are placed under military control; plus heads roll at Spain's three top dailies.

23

Mapping the media in Sisi's Egypt

Whatever side of the political divide Egyptians find themselves, the media is the one who seems to have suffered.

24

Resetting the net: Snowden and surveillance

One year after Edward Snowden exposed the spying at the NSA, can the internet be re-set?

25

ISIL in Iraq: The image of an insurgency

ISIL is gaining on the ground but who, if anyone, controls the story?

26

Caged in Cairo: Where journalism is a crime

Al Jazeera staff sentenced to jail in Egypt #FreeAJStaff.

27

A divided Iraq and a fractured storyline

Listening Post covers the propaganda war and competing media narratives in Iraq.

28

The information war over Gaza

What is the role of social media in the Israeli-Palestinian battle for hearts, minds and political support?

29

Ferguson and the media

Listening Post examines racial conflict and social divisions in the US and how those issues are reported.

30

James Foley: Journalism or propaganda?

We examine the ethical challenges of reporting the murder of the American journalist by IS.

31

Pakistan's polarised media

Amid Pakistan's latest political power struggle, the country's news channels are fighting a proxy war of their own.

32

Scotland votes: Reporting the referendum

A look at Rupert Murdoch's role in the Scottish independence vote and the media's scramble to catch up with the story.

33

The Murdoch empire: Phone hacking exposed

An interview with Nick Davies, the reporter who exposed the British phone hacking scandal.

34

Journalism in the age of surveillance

A Listening Post special on the 'Snowden effect' and challenges to the media in the age of state supervision.

35

Satire: Mocking news, lampooning power

A Listening special on the evolving role of satire and the satirists who are holding power to account.

36

Gaza: Media, myths and the mainstream

A Listening Post special on the global media battle taking place parallel to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

37

Journalism is the frontline

A special episode to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

38

Kiev vs the Kremlin: A new Cold War?

We examine the latest chapter in the propaganda war that pits Russia against Ukraine and its western allies.

39

Covering Ebola: Facts, Fear and Failures

Sorting out the science from the scare tactics - we examine the Ebola stories coming out of Africa.

40

Syria: Journalism under duress

The media war in Syria is putting truth under pressure. And, Tunisian media's obsession with terrorism.

41

Ferguson: Riots, race and the media

The Listening Post examines the news coverage of race in the US; plus, fonts and the news media.

42

Breaking Google's grip

How the EU takes on Google's monopoly as gatekeeper of information; plus, a look at media under pressure in Hungary.

43

Covering the CIA torture report

Examining the media coverage of the CIA torture report release; plus, the ethics of graphic imagery in the news media.

44

Sydney siege: How not to cover breaking news

A lesson from Australia in how not to cover breaking news; plus, an interview with 'Rogue Reporter' Rich Peppiatt.