Coming to the Media Conference?

Fifth Annual David Bar-Illan Media Conference

The College of Judea & Samaria, Israel’s largest public college, is pleased to announce the convening of The Fifth Annual David Bar-Illan Conference on the Media & the Middle East.

The forum is held in memory of David Bar-Illan (ז"ל), former Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief and Director of Communications in the Prime Minister's Office, and is scheduled for Monday, November 13, 2006 from 09:30-17:15 in the Raab Building (Lax Auditorium) on the Ariel campus.

The one-day conference will bring together academics, journalists, media & public relations experts and government officials to discuss how events in Israel and the Middle East are covered by the media and the impact that news reporting has on Israeli, Arab and world public opinion.

Program Details

09:00-09:30 Registration

09:30-09:45 Opening Remarks

Speaker: Prof. Zilla Sinuany-Stern, Vice President, Academic Affairs, CJS

09:45-11:15 The Propaganda War: Israel vs. Hezbollah

Chair: Dr. Ron Schleifer, Mass Communications Dept., CJS

Speakers: Mr. Amir Gissin, Director, Public Affairs Dept., Israel Foreign Ministry
Mr. Steve Linde, Managing Editor, “The Jerusalem Post”

Dr. Mordechai Kedar, BESA Center, Bar-Ilan University, and Israel & Middle Eastern Studies Dept., CJS

Mr. Rafik Halabi, Former Director-General, Israel Channel 1, Journalist & Lecturer, Bar-Ilan University


11:30-12:30 Keynote Address

Chair: Mr. Yigal Cohen-Orgad, Chairman, Executive Committee, CJS

Speaker: Mr. Dan Margalit, Host & Moderator, "Erev Hadash" & "Musaf Hamusafim", Educational Channel, "Moetzet Hahahamim", Channel 10, Columnist, "Ma'ariv" and Author

Topic: The Media during the War in Lebanon: The Advantages & Disadvantages of Direct Reporting from the Battlefield


14:00-15:30 Foreign News Reporting & the 2006 Lebanon War

Chair: Mr. Steve Leibowitz, Editor-in-Chief, IBA TV News

Speakers: Mr. Steven Erlanger, Jerusalem Bureau Chief, “New York Times”

Dr. Ra’anan Gissin, Strategic Consultant and Former Media & Hasbara Adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon

Prof. Stewart Purvis, Television Journalism Dept., City University London, Former Editor-in-Chief, ITN, and Member, Independent Panel Review, BBC Middle East Coverage

15:45-17:00 Political Satire & Its Impact on Israeli Society

Chair: Dr. Galit Ben-Israel, Israel & Middle Eastern Studies Dept., CJS

Speakers: Mr. Uri Orbach, Correspondent, I.D.F. Radio & Yediot Ahranot

Dr. David Alexander, Communications Dept., Haifa University

Mr. Jackie Levy, Correspondent, I.D.F. Radio & Yediot Ahranot

Mr. Ruvik Rosenthal, Columnist, “Ma’ariv”, Author and Lecturer, Open University

17:00-17:15 Closing Remarks

Speaker: Mr. Jeff Barak, Israel Correspondent, “The Jewish Chronicle” (UK), and Former Editor-in-Chief, “The Jerusalem Post”

The media conference is open to the general public, with simultaneous translation (English/Hebrew) available to those in attendance. Round-trip transportation to Ariel from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Ra’anana is provided by the school (free of charge). To register or request more information, please contact: Tel. 972-52-451-4011 or E-mail: anglodtp@netvision.net.il