Shinar criticizes media's coverage of war related issues

Dr. Dov Shinar, dean of the School of Communication at Netanya Academic College in Israel, visited Prairie View A&M University as a guest lecturer Tuesday.
 Shinar who also serves as Head of FAIR MEDIA: Center for the Study of Conflict, War, and Peace Coverage spoke on "Media in War and Peace: Contradictions, Dilemmas, and a New Paradigm" and was hosted by the Department of Languages and Communication.
He discussed the problems of journalists, and how media cover war related events and circumstances to its public.
Shinar made it clear the seminar was not about him, but about the importance of understanding the media and the way they operates.
He shared a critical anaylsis of war coverage in media yet shared additional insight into how to fix the problems he presented.
The most significant moment of his presentation was when Shinar discussed the manner in which the media decides to portray their stories to the public.
"Media tend to ignite, rather than appease," he said.
Using the conflict in Rwanda back in the 1980s as a point of reference, Shinar commented on government's role in media.
"The government wants to keep things calm," he said.
He expressed that totalitarian regimes have control over local media.
Thus media are not always the most credible source of information in the face of conflict and chaos.
Dr. Shinar had a lot of information to share but very little time to go more into depth as he wanted to.
Yet many were able to gain a better understanding the media and its role in this world regarding wars.