User:Crtew/Shaam News Network

Assigned Shaam News Network which uses citizen journalists to cover the Syrian Civil War and disseminates video and news information through digital technologies.
 * A User:Npebertz is writing about citizen journalists killed during the Syrian civil war.

'Shaam News Network', also known by its abbreviation SNN, was formed as a news service whereby citizen journalists reported incidents during the Syrian Civil War for national and international distribution. SNN smuggled satellite phones into Syria for access to web for news releases. Shaam News Network uses citizen journalists to cover the Syrian Civil war and news. The service releases its news reports, photography and video through satellite phone and internet websites.

History
The Arab Spring originally started as a result of the Tunisian Revolution. On March 15, 2011, it reached Syria. Residents of the small country then took to the streets to protest the torture of students who had put up graffiti relating to anti-government. The Syrian government responded to these occurences with much force resulting in demonstrations of the crime spreading across much of the country. By fall 2012, the country was already in a Civil War. The estimated total of deaths is more than 25,000 followed by thousands of other civilians taken into custody.

In early September 2012, 234,000 Syrian refugees had registered in countries neighboring Syria. Thousands of refugees continue to wait for registration. 2.5 million Syrian people living inside the country needed serious medical attention, 1.2 million of them being domestically displaced. The Syrian government was weak but could prevent total control of certain areas and land. Control of the country's towns and cities had poor organization but were equipped with weapons thus resulting in claiming territory.

Conflict in Syria began to rise month after month but it wasn't until former ally Turkey shelled targets across the boarder in October of 2012 that the fighting became international. Ethnic divisions are said to be complicating Syria's conflict. President Assad's government along with military are capable of putting an end to firepower and other mass weapons, but the protesters are not to be underestimated when compared to the elite. Due to high motivation, the demographics may be in their favor over time.

President Assad was condemned by the U.S. and many other countries around the world who compared him to his father who was a very stern ruler. Syria was then expelled from the Arab League as a result of a peace plan to step up attacks on protesters. In summer of 2012 a group of civilians created a "Free Syrian Army" which led to an increase in weapons, medical supplies and money.

Attacks on SNN staff
Twenty Syrian Journalists have been killed, with confirmed motive, in Syria since the beginning of 2012. Four have been killed without a confirmed motive, resulting in 24 deaths total to date. Twenty of the victims were male and the remaining two were female. Two Syrian Journlaists were killed in 2011 with a confirmed motive. A case that is considered "confirmed" means the death was due to "work related" occurrences. Journalists with confirmed motives were killed as a result of combat/crossfire, murder, and dangerous assignments, ranging from most common in that order. This ranks Syria as the #1 most deadly country in 2012, followed by Somalia and Pakistan.

Notable Reporting and Reactions
A year to the day after the Syrian uprising, S.N.N. broadcasted graphic details of Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad’s emails that were exposed by opposition hackers. The emails included secret information about the regime's security plans, the state of Syria's economy, and President Al-Assad's shameful shopping addiction. As a result, over the past year and a half, Syrian opposition satellite channels and Gulf-financed news networks have argued with Syrian regime’s broadcasters and those owned or funded by Iraq. Professional and amateur journalists have went head-to-head and both traditional and new media have been argued. Internet cyber warfare has been committed by both sides. Side one being simplified as the "moderate" Arab states and the opposing side being the "resistance axis".

Awards
Shaam News Network is noted for their accurate reporting through YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media networks to inform the public around the world of occurances in Syria. With millions of views on YouTube and thousands of likes on Facebook, S.N.N. stands out against other reporting competitors for bringing raw facts and emotions to the surface. S.N.N. is also recognized for their hard hitting stories and devastating happenings in which they reveal. Although argued it is inhumane to release such graphic footage and details, S.N.N and others argue people around the world are entitled to know the truth of what is happening in Syria. Many reporters working for S.N.N. have lost their lives in their quest to get information concerning millions of anxious people. They continue to be honored for their devotion and determination.