A tapestry of associations that we are part of
There was a time when travelling from Ghala to Ruwi would take at least an hour. People would travel on the back of open pick-ups to reach their offices. Going to Madinat Sultan Qaboos was like going...
Serious journalism should no longer be ignored
What is going on? Are people more relaxed with the increase in violence against journalism? Are people more relaxed with the decline of reportage on important issues to society? Are we being seriously...
Content critical to how media influences children
here are times when it feels as if we still need to teach how to lit a fire using stones while most people are already using laser. All because a little girl, named Mona, who is turning three years’...
Social media stars are influencers or endorsers
What an amazing time we are experiencing with social media. Anyone can become a virtual celebrity or make bucks by just posting a video, text or a photo of a product or even expressing an opinion....
A pinch of spice on interpretations
Public opinion in the 18th Century France takes me on a journey of reflections in search of parallels in the 21st century. In her book, Arlette Farge reminds me that words have meaning, particularly...
Natural disaster reporting a complex task
There is no ‘news’ on the fact that the temperature is getting higher; that climate change is affecting economies, health, communities, and a myriad of other factors. Droughts will intensify, heat...
Journobots: where are we going to fit in the future?
A media student and I were talking about artificial intelligence, on thinking out of the box, and talking computers. He was showing me one of his bot projects. A bot is a software application...
Spammers play tricks: watch out... !
Sonia Ambrosio - soniambrosio@gmail.com - Spam phone calls are a nuisance. It is time-consuming, it is annoying and it is a massive threat to privacy. Besides, it can be dangerous. Why do we...
Silver screen: A peep into local cinema culture
Cameras are rolling in several parts of Oman: from Mutrah, Barka, to Sur, Musandam and Jebel Akhdar. Oman is officially positioning itself as a top filming destination — not just for Hollywood but...
The internet of money and social media
Just received a gift: a small piece of paper that can be used for digital money transactions. On the back of the paper — which looks like a torn-off part of a page of a newspaper — are...
Unpack your thoughts, it’s time for self-examination
Sonia Ambrosio - soniambrosio@gmail.com - When 2017 started, it was like a new notebook. Empty. The pages were to be filled with whatever we had in mind. One could write stories, poems, and draw...
Unauthorised: the world through pink lenses
Sonia Ambrosio - soniambrosio@gmail.com - Hard to know what is real or fake these days. Not long ago, the real fake was limited to unauthorised copies of brand merchandise such as handbags, clothes...
Social media re-defines values in the society
Sonia Ambrosio - soniambrosio@gmail.com - It is time to face that information technology and social media are affecting ethics and etiquette. Social and moral behaviour are in turmoil. Though ethics...
Snaps: the diminutive capsules of news
Sonia Ambrosio - soniambrosio@gmail.com - Young journalists and digital publishing are the future. They are here to stay, and there is no escape or turn around. New communication practices are...
New social health experience: online peers’ influence
SONIA AMBROSIO - soniambrosio@gmail.com - I have looked on the Internet on how to treat ingrown nails. As I was searching for it, I got distracted with an advert on how to use vitamin C to reduce...
The role of media in economic development
As most political anniversaries, every achievement — small or big — is a step forward. This is a time when patriotic reporting strength the sense of nation cohesion and identity. As part of the...
Why this obsession with the social media?
Sonia Ambrosio - soniambrosio@gmail.com - Have you been feeling a decreased level of patience? Low attention span? Road rage? These are some of the most common effects of social media addiction. Ok,...
A call for media education in school curriculum
Sonia Ambrosio - soniambrosio@gmail.com - I am a strong advocate of education. It is not just about learning how to write and read, but to develop knowledge and skills in order to have a...
Need for honest dialogue as fake news gains ground
Sonia Ambrosio - soniambrosio@gmail.com - The spread of fake news brings an extra concern to the already loaded press freedom dialogue. Even though it is not a new phenomenon, it is now spreading...
Fixing the boundaries of journalism ethics
Sonia Ambrosio - soniambrosio@gmail.com - To set the standards for journalism practice in a changing media environment is not an easy task. More than to discuss attitudes within the profession on...