Airdate: How Facebook Changed The World: The Arab Spring

This weekend BBC World News screens How Facebook Changed The World: The Arab Spring . Presented by reporter Mishal Hussein, it documents the use of social media by ‘Arab Spring’ activists she met while travelling and filming in 5 countries. It was critically acclaimed, with the Observer calling it ‘a remarkable history lesson.’

From Tunisia to Egypt, Libya to Syria, the winds of change are sweeping across the Middle East, with a very modern kind of revolution. For this unique two-part series, BBC presenter Mishal Husain visits the source of the so-called Arab Spring, meeting the young people at the heart of the revolutions. Using video and stills shot by thousands of people on mobile phone cameras, Mishal explores how cyber activism ignited a revolt which led to the fall of the powerful in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt and how the ongoing struggle for political freedom in Syria is being fought in cyberspace.

Besides the role of cyber-activism, the series also examines how the success of these revolutions across the Middle East depends on people taking a stand, facing bullets and tanks, and being prepared to die for their cause.

The programmes will broadcast on BBC World News at the following dates and times (all EDT):

Episode 1: Saturday 29 October at 15.10 and Sunday 30 October at 21:10,
Episode 2: Saturday 5 November at 15:10 and Sunday 6 November at 21:10