PRESS RELEASE: Panels Focus on New Versus Traditional Tools, Role of Women as Eighteenth International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East Continues

The eighteenth International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East continued this afternoon, holding two panel discussions on the topics “New media vs. traditional media: allies or adversaries in furthering the peace process” and “The role of Israeli and Palestinian women in achieving peace and security in the Middle East”

Participants in the first panel raised the point that the information revolution was creating new opportunities and realities, offering access with little or no filter to information and opinion. Such advances had in the past led to great political, social and other changes. New media not available only a few years ago offered endless opportunities to meet and forge links with new people. However, it was important to distinguish the difference between blogging and other forms of new media, and the established media, as the former seemed to erode certain simple principles upon which journalism rested, particularly the need for verification and supporting information. Blogs often lacked that standard.