Tunisia in the Media: foreign reporting and national discourse on the Sousse attack

In the minutes and hours following attack transpired the ungracious diffusion on Instagram and Twitter of victims lying lifeless between beach chairs and parasols; dramatized headlines announcing the “beach resort massacre” and innumerable variations recounting the scene … But after the initial shock of and Western media’s knee-jerk reaction to one of three attacks which occurred on June 26, mainstream news reports on terrorism in the country are relatively more substantial and worth contemplating than was the case several months ago.

Blogs Tjebbe van Tijen 02 July 2015

“I WILL COME TO TUNISIA THIS SUMMER” a too simple social-media slogan turned around by terrorists

“I WILL COME TO TUNISIA THIS SUMMER” a terrorist ‘détournement’ (twist) of a campaign most probably started by the Tunisian tourism authorities as an answer to the negative effects of the Bardo Museum attack in Tunis on March the 18th this year. A campaign that had quiet a success in social media. In “Je Suis Charlie” style people had themselves photographed with a handwritten statement pledging to come this summer to Tunisia. In response ISIS issued the same statement but now illustrated with a Kalazhnikov and a pistol…

Created in 2004, Nawaat is the pioneer of alternative journalism in Tunisia and the region and provides Tunisia-centered news and analysis. As a multi-award-winning online media and print magazine, Nawaat established itself as trusted provider of coverage specialized in topical news, particularly focusing on democracy, transparency, accountability, justice, civil liberties and rights. With a healthy and qualitative video production, our media is distinguished by its audacity, its independence, its innovation and its alternative accounts of Tunisia’s current affairs. In recent years, Nawaat has begun producing highquality video productions unmatched by most other independent media actors in Tunisia or the region. In January 2020 Nawaat lunched its quarterly Print Magazine, and, in mid 2020, Nawaat has increased its efforts to further develop its multimedia platform through collaborations with artists, multimedia technicians, designers and journalists, particularly through its Innawaation media incubation program. And starting from April 2021, Nawaat launched its yearly 3-days festival to showcase its media production work to the general public. (Read more about Nawaat.)

Tunisia in the Media: foreign reporting and national discourse on the Sousse attack

“I WILL COME TO TUNISIA THIS SUMMER” a too simple social-media slogan turned around by terrorists

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