In the name of security
When teaching news writing to journalism students, I always make a point of focusing on the areas of business, sports, and a toe in the finance aspects of weather reporting. Great subjects with a lot...
Simply put, comedians are the new intellectuals
Is the tragic death of a tourist by a shark in Egypt a suitable topic for a comedy? Perhaps. Making jokes about people’s misfortune and family grieving is dreadful – I think. But there are those...
Tap your feet... Life is better when you dance
Have you ever thought that dance is a focused activity? Or that dancing is strongly related to problem solving, identifying patterns, and leadership? And more, that dance is a system of communication...
Turn the radio on...
Driving from Ruwi to Al Khoudh in Muscat is so much more interesting when there is a nice programme to listen to or a good soundtrack playing on the local radio. But driving from Muscat to the...
A shift in social behaviour
The “I don’t get it, I’m not interested” approach to news disengagement.News avoidance is on the rise. There are many reasons for such a shift in social behaviour, one of which is a lack of...
Not glamorous but necessary
People rarely talk about sanitation, unless when human waste is treated in the context of a joke or vulgarity. It is not an attractive or photogenic topic, and it is not glamorous to be featured in...
Leadership in AI context
Should we replace our lawmakers with robots? Should we vote for an artificial intelligence candidate over a human candidate? When these questions came across my path, I found them amusing. Then, I...
Have a good sense of humour: It is free
What a pleasure it is to see happy faces, big smiles not only on the lips but also radiating from one's eyes. There is no price for this wonderful essence. Even the most expensive or miraculous...
Stay sane with a digital detox challenge
Have you been feeling tired, tense or grump? What about headaches, eye strain and stiff neck? This is not a medical consultation or a survey but a piece on social media burnout. Frequent Instagram,...
When the flowers will bloom again?
The world appears to be perfect as one looks across fields of sunflowers. Heaven and Earth seem to be in harmony. The birds' tweeting and chirping create a soothing symphony that is devoid of worry...
Social media in warfare
The war in Ukraine teaches us valuable lessons about communication, information and the role of the media. It is all about points of view, interests and target audiences. The weaponised media...
Winning hearts and minds
It would be fascinating to learn what the Greek philosopher Aristotle thought about communication in the digital era. What could be his opinions on how rhetoric is used, particularly the persuasion...
Living on shifting sands: new realities
The little things that used to be a part of life are now sorely missed. Changes and uncertainties have become the norm. One never knows what to expect the next day. There are no significant plans...
Cyberbullying, a growing pandemic
Looking back to the challenges faced in the past eighteen months or more and renewing hopes for a New Year are some sort of cultural routines. There are others, like myself, who take a moment or two...
The polarisation and fragmentation of public opinions
When groups of youth come together to discuss issues affecting society, the grown-ups would do well to listen. Many young people are well- informed and capable of analysing and evaluating everyday...
My mobile became my life...
While evaluating reviews on the book ‘The Digital Cretin Factory’, by Michel Desmurget, the thought that we are wasting precious time and losing our brain to social media and other smart devices...
Optimism is returning, kind of...
Traffic jam, cues, questionable driving attitudes, overcrowded car parking, and big smiles. Life is back on campus. One can feel the vibe. With the return to ‘almost normal life’, it is also time...
Objects as the ultimate happiness...
What money means to people was a hotly discussed topic among a group of friends recently. For most of us, money was defined as the means to a better life, and the capability to purchase exclusive...
Journaling as a therapy
As a detox of the increased levels of stress due to the pandemic, I decided to take notes of some daily events. Oh boy! Perhaps I should not have done so.I had penciled down observations such as...