Media coverage under spotlight at UU conference

Media coverage of conflict and its impact on children came under the spotlight at a special University of Ulster conference on Monday.

‘Media, Children and the Experience of Divided Communities: Ireland, Israel and Palestine’, which was organised jointly by the Centre for Media Research and School of Psychology, gave media analysts and psychologists a chance to share and discuss their research.

Organiser Professor Máire Messenger Davies of the University of Ulster's Centre for Media Research said: “There has been a great deal of research among Media Studies scholars on the impact of the media on young minds, particularly the effects of fictional violence. Psychologists on the other hand have carried out a great deal of research into the impact of conflict and division on children and young people.

“This event gave leading authorities on several key areas a better understanding of the role of the media in shaping young minds.”

Contributors to this yesterday’s event included internationally renowned academics such as Dr Jean Whyte, Senior Research Fellow, The Children's Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin and Professor Sami Adwan, Faculty of Education at the University of Bethlehem, Palestine and Co-Director of the Peace Research Institute in the Middle East.

(MB/SP)