Speech Coverage Writing Sample

7/31/2019 Speech Coverage Writing Sample

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Mainbar

Bahraini journalist speaks to Scholars students about revolutionUprising receives minimal coverage in American media

By: Kaylee Hillard

University of Maryland alumna Nada Alwadi spoke to 65 College Park

Scholars students on Tuesday, Oct. 11 in the Cambridge Community Center about

her experience as a journalist in Bahrain during the political revolution.

She started her presentation by locating Bahrain, a small island in the

Persian Gulf. Alwadi emphasized that many Americans are clueless about the

turmoil in her country.

Conflict and media blackout

Alwadi said a Sunni royal

family who has ties to Saudi

Arabia rules Bahrain, a majority

Shiite country. This is one cause of

the uprising, in addition to an unfair

election system, widespread

discrimination and a lack of

democracy.

For a long time there have been talks about the discrimination, Alwadi

said. About 70 to 75 percent of the population is not able to join the army or

police.

(more)

Alwadi locates Bahrain in relation toSaudi Arabia.

Photo by: Mapquest.com


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On Feb. 14, Alwadi said there was a call on Facebook and Twitter for

Bahraini citizens to go out on the streets to protest and ask the government for

reform.

When one police killed one of the protesters, Alwadi recalled thinking,

This is not going away. This is serious.

The revolution is gaining force, and the death toll continues to rise to more

than 50; however, there still exists what Alwadi called a media blackout in the

United States. Media coverage of revolutions in Egypt and Libya is extensive, but

stories about Bahrain are absent.

The U.S. is highly criticized for its double standards concerning

revolutions, Alwadi said. The U.S. government is against political change in

Bahrain because it is home to a U.S. Navy base, and U.S. ally Saudi Arabia backs

the Bahraini government.

Local journalists like myself have been silenced in many ways, she said.

Public relations firms and lobbyists control the images portrayed to the outside

world.

Alwadi said they try to make the public think that in Bahrain, everything

is being settled; that the government has open dialogue with the people, but in

reality, young people no more than 18 years old are being killed.

(more)


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Alwadis personal story

Alwadi wrote for an independent newspaper in Bahrain. She was not a

political activist; she was merely trying to do

her job. Last April, police took her and forced

her to sign a document that prohibited her

from participating in any political activities.

She saw journalists around her jailed,

tortured and murdered, so she came to the

United States. I only recently began to speak

with my own name because it is so scary,

she said.

Alwadis stories captivated Media

Scholars students, many of who are journalism and communication majors, and

provoked thought about the mainstream media.

Sophomore marketing major Sarah Hodian was among these students. I

felt that it was unfair and wrong for a country to silence its citizens to protect a

reputation, she said.

Alwadi says she hopes to return home to a peaceful Bahrain one day, but

she does not know when this will be possible. Until then, she will continue to

increase awareness in the United States.

###

Nada Alwadi poses at a protest in Bahrain.Photo by: rcnv.org


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Sidebar

Social media imperative in Middle East revolutions

By: Kaylee Hillard

Tunisia, Egypt and Libya all of these countries experienced revolutions

in the past year that involved social media, according to a 2011 Mashable article

by Chris Taylor.

Nada Alwadi, a Bahraini journalist who spoke at the university Tuesday,

adds her country to the list. She says a call on Facebook and Twitter for citizens

to protest and ask for reform incited the revolution.

A social media war began in the country, and Alwadi says that for every

Facebook or Twitter account by activists there were 10 more from the government

to counter-attack their claims.

Social media provides opportunities for activists to organize and

communicate with each other and the world. Washington Post writer Jeffrey

Ghannam says, Twitter allows users to reach audiences worldwide through the

use of hashtags on messages, such as the ones that defined the revolutions

#Tunisie, #Sidibouzid, #Jan25, #Egypt and now #Bahrain, #Algeria, #Yemen and

#Libya, among others.

While political unrest and social media usage are growing, Taylor reminds

us, Technology alone doesn't make revolutions. The will of the people is the

most vital ingredient.

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Advancer

Bahraini journalist to speak about media and revolution

By: Kaylee Hillard

University students will have the opportunity to hear a Bahraini journalist

speak about her experience in Bahrain during its recent political revolution.

Nada Alwadi will speak to Scholars students at 2 p.m. this Tuesday in the

Cambridge Community Center about her experience working for an independent

newspaper in Bahrain and the medias overall portrayal of the revolution.

Nada Alwadi came to the United States three months ago, after the

Bahraini governments crackdown on journalistic activity. Alwadi hopes

Americans will learn about her country and its current situation through her

awareness campaign.

For more information, see the university calendar on www.umd.edu.

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Tweet-style

Before/During/After Tweets

Before: @Bentalwadi Bahraini journalist to speak about covering her countrys

revolution at @UofMaryland 2 p.m. Tues. in Cambridge Community Center

Char: 140

During: Students are captivated by @Bentawaldi presentation about media and

#Bahrain revolution

Char: 87

After: A media blackout concerning Bahrain exists in the United States. Nada

Alwadi @Bentalwadi

Char: 86

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Documents

Speech Coverage Writing Sample