Screen Media for Arab and European Children: Policy and Production Encounters in the Multiplatform Era

Abstract

The rapid uptake of mobile technology worldwide (see Kemp 2020) has led to an unprecedented number of households owning and using a multitude of screen devices, both conventional (radio, television) and new (laptops, smartphones or tablets) to access media content. Being brought up in a media saturated society, children too have become accustomed to using multiple screens for a numerous activites, at home and at school. While it is true that some television programmes are still preferred by children, it also true that children's viewing habits are increasingly changing, with children largely watching and accessing media content on mobile devices (Ofcom 2019). As children’s media and viewing practices are changing, a burgeoning interest in understanding the practice of producing content that reaches younger audiences has emerged. Sakr and Steemers’ ‘Screen Media for Arab and European Children: Policy and Production Encounters in the Multiplatform Era’ is one of a growing number of works, that explore children’s screen media production, distribution and policy. The unique nature of the book, however, lies in the fact that it offers a compelling synthesis of the crosscultural connections in the process of sourcing, creating and disseminating screen content for children; examining screen productions from two parts of the world that are not typically addressed together, namely the Arab regions and Europe. In doing so, the book aims to raise awareness of the current challenges of producing screen media for children, whilst at the same time stimulate dialogue and enhance collaboration between Arab and European countries. Furthermore, as the authors put it: