Media in the Syrian conflict

This is a discussion of a Zoom interview to be recorded 2025-01-13 with Professor Doctor Bulgarova Bella Akhmedovna[1] about the role of the media in the conflict in Syria. A 29:00 mm:ss podcast excerpted from the companion video will be posted here after it is released to the fortnightly "Media & Democracy" show[2] syndicated for the Pacifica Radio[3] Network of over 200 community radio stations.[4]

It is posted here to invite others to contribute other perspectives, subject to the Wikimedia rules of writing from a neutral point of view while citing credible sources[5] and treating others with respect.[6]
Professor Doctor Bulgarova Bella discusses the role of the media in the evolution of conflict in Syria including the psychology of war reporting. 29:00 mm:ss extract from interview recorded 2025-01-13 with Professor Doctor Bulgarova Bella regarding the role of the media in the evolution of conflict in Syria.

Professor Doctor Bulgarova Bella[1] discusses the role of the media in the evolution of conflict in Syria and the current situation there with Spencer Graves.[7] Professor Bulgarova supervises Russian and international scientific projects[1] at Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, also known as RUDN University (Russia, Moscow). She has an extensive publication record including many with her students dealing with various aspects of the media.[8] One such publication was with Z. Hassan (2023) giving an "Analysis of media coverage of the war in Syria and its impact on the political process".[9] She is interviewed by Spencer Graves.

Hassan and Bulgarova note that, "Many Syrian news organizations have been closed, with many journalists being killed. This has led to a lack of diverse viewpoints [and] has made it difficult for outside observers to get an accurate, balanced and complete picture of the conflict. ... The mainstream media in the West has largely presented the Syrian government and its allies as aggressors, while ignoring or downplaying the role of foreign powers in fuelling the conflict. ... The media coverage has also played a role in shaping the policies of international actors such as the United States, Russia, and Iran."[9]

## The threat

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Internet company executives have knowingly increased political polarization and violence including the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar, because doing otherwise might have reduced their profits. Documentation of this is summarized in Category:Media reform to improve democracy.

## Discussion

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[Interested readers are invite to comment here, subject to the Wikimedia rules of writing from a neutral point of view citing credible sources[5] and treating others with respect.[6]]

## Notes

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bulgarova Bella Akhmedovna, Wikidata Q131737349
2. ↑ Media & Democracy, Director: Spencer Graves, Pacifica Radio, Wikidata Q127839818`{{citation}}`: CS1 maint: others (link)
3. ↑ Pacifica Radio, Wikidata Q2045587
4. ↑ list of Pacifica Radio stations and affiliates, Wikidata Q6593294
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 The rules of writing from a neutral point of view citing credible sources may not be enforced on other parts of Wikiversity. However, they can facilitate dialog between people with dramatically different beliefs
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wikiversity asks contributors to assume good faith, similar to Wikipedia. The rule in Wikinews is different: Contributors there are asked to "Don't assume things; be skeptical about everything." That's wise. However, we should still treat others with respect while being skeptical.
7. ↑ Spencer Graves, Wikidata Q56452480
8. ↑ E.g., elibrary.ru (2023) is a collection of student papers, 18 of which are with Bulgarova.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Hassan and Bulgarova (2023).

## Bibliography

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* elibrary.ru (2023), The multipolar world in the mirror of contemporary youth media communication, eLibrary.ru, Wikidata Q131737655
* Z. Hassan (April 2023), Analysis of media coverage of the war in Syria and its impact on the political processes, Wikidata Q131737605