On Tuesday, Rajab 28, 1438H, the Media Department of the UQU College of Social Sciences organized a lecture on the determinants of international media content. The lecture, which came within the framework of the Department's academic activities, was given at Al-Abdiyah Campus.

The lecture, given by Dr. Salem Ereijah, touched on Herman and Chomsky's Propaganda Model, and the changes made to the news content industry nowadays. Dr. Ereijah tackled the five determinants affecting international media content industry. The first determinant, according to Dr. Ereijah, ownership of media corporations, decline the number of owners of major international media corporations to a bunch of giant media empires, with the effect of impeding reporters' efforts to provide an objective news coverage of the owners. The second determinant, he added, is commercials, being the main source of income for media corporations, which entails that advertisers have influence on media content. The third determinant, Dr. Ereijah went on, is the overt shrinkage of news sources, which are declining to limited groups of spokespersons of public and private institutions, a matter which makes them in control of the provided news material.

He went on to say, the fourth determinant has to do with the negative feedback on journalistic tendencies. Such feedback is received in the form of official complaints and interrogations, regarded as an immense threat to the media industry. It did not escape his notice to mention that the theory emanated from an anti-communism spirit, and recently Islamophobia, thereby endangering journalists, and making them at the risk of prosecution.

The lecture witnessed vigorous interaction from the faculty members, given that Dr. Faisal al-Shemeiri moderated the discussion. Dr. Muhammad Hendiyah, head of the Media Department, made an intervention on the new commercial legislations, and the changes expected to be introduced to new media. Other interventions by Dr. Wadee' al-Azazi and Dr. Al-Ameer al-Sahhah followed.

What is noteworthy that the attendees conceded that the department must cope with the changes and developments taking place on the international arena, prompt boost of scientific output, and develop output of the educational corporations in such a manner that enable them to lead the labor market with its ever-accelerating developments.