Young adults’ perceptions of satellite TV news services in Bahrain

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between university students’ consumption of satellite TV news services and their perceptions of news issues. It examined students’ general news consumption habits and their motives for the choices they make as well as the gratifications they obtain. A survey was administered to a random sample of 325 university students to determine the varying gratifications associated with satellite TV. The findings showed that time spent watching local TV channels was affected by the use of international TV services. Respondents received fewer programmes than they desired from local TV. The data also revealed that entertainment and surveillance needs were the most important gratifications obtained from satellite TV. Interestingly, students have abandoned Al Jazeera TV programmes in favour of other TV services. These findings are discussed in relation to the growing impact of satellite TV services and the emergence of new niche markets in news in Bahrain.

Using Online Platforms for Political Communication in Bahrain Election Campaigns

“…During elections campaigns, mainstream media platforms particularly, social media, perform their duty to persuade the audience and influence their perceptions (Arowolo, 2017;Scheufele, 1999;Ziani et al, 2014). Youssef (2020) indicted that SNS are commonplace to share and disseminate political information directly from the government or political entities.…”

Perceptions of Online Academics’ and Al-Jazeera.net’s News Coverage of the Egyptian Political Transformation 2013-2014

“…Furthermore, Saudi officials, defending their own interests, often complain about Al-Jazeera being used by Qatar as a political tool and about the channel's support for radical movements in Syria, Libya and Egypt (Farhi, 2014). Meanwhile, the Saudi platform, Al-Arabiya, is closer to pro-Western governments such as Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia itself (Abdullah & Elareshi, 2015;Ziani, Fahmy, Al-Jaber, & Elareshi, 2014). Both platforms have demonstrated an interest in providing international live news (e.g., coverage of political affairs, protests), which makes them vital sources of information (Abdullah & Elareshi, 2015;Sultan, 2013).…”