Podcasts and political plurality in MENA: Finding the [ephemeral] voice of the Arab street

Abstract

Podcasting presents itself as an innovative platform, one that is able to deliver media content by means of audio files. As a communication format in the MENA region, it has become an alternative pathway to project politically driven content that otherwise is not often discussed in the media sphere. In so doing, many Arab producers aim at gathering audiences willing to discuss and engage with topics and issues that are normally not touched on by traditional legacy media nor covered on digital native websites. When understanding the role of podcasting, radio, and audio in general in Arab societies, we need to consider the ephemeral nature of orality, which makes it more difficult for authorities to track and control, at least in the minds of those who produce the content. Thus, this article argues that they provide a greater degree of political diversity than their more traditional legacy media counterparts.