2022 AJSH&C Special Issue: Sport and Communication in the MENA Region and Beyond

2022 Special Issue: Sport and Communication in the MENA region and beyond

Aims & Scope of the Special Issue:
The purpose of this special issue is to provide an overview of the key developments in sport, media, broadcasting, and communication in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The sport media and communication landscape in the region has undergone significant transformation, marked by a shift from state control to a proliferation of channels and communication platforms. This evolution has been driven by technological advancements, including the rise of the internet, satellite broadcasting, and the increasing commercialization, transnationalization, and liberalization of the media. While the state remains a prominent and often dominant actor in mediated sport, new non-state actors have also emerged, operating both legally and, at times, illegally within and beyond national borders. This special issue aims to explore how broader societal changes and key political-ideological concerns in the MENA region are reflected in mediated sport, focusing on how sports media navigates the complexities of state control, commercialization, gender dynamics, and identity formation.

Guest Editor:
Dr. Mahfoud Amara – Department of Sport Management, College of Sport Sciences, Qatar University, Qatar