Head, MA Program in Political Communication
Head, MA Program in Political Communication

Prof. Motti Neiger

Email
motti.neiger@biu.ac.il
Office
Building 109, office 12
Fields of Interest

Journalism Studies and Political Communication: news narratives, digital platforms, media temporalities, journalism during conflicts; politics and journalistic storytelling; media ethics, and journalists' freedom).

Mediated Collective Memory: Holocaust commemoration on social networks and traditional outlets.

VR-based Emotional Training as a Tool to Boost Empathy: As the founder of OtheReality, a startup aiming to promote Empathy in the Healthcare, corporate, and education market, my current project aims to investigate how technological platforms can leverage the power of VR storytelling.   

The Mediation of Elite and Popular Culture: On the one hand, the book publishing industry and literary supplements; on the other hand, Reality-TV narratives, language & storytelling on digital media.  

 

 

 

    CV

    Motti Neiger is an Associate Professor at the School of Communication at Bar-Ilan University. His academic interests include Journalism Studies and Political Communication (news narratives, digital platforms, media temporalities, journalism during conflicts; politics and journalistic storytelling; media ethics and journalists' freedom); Mediated Collective Memory (Holocaust commemoration on social networks and traditional outlets); Popular Culture (reality TV narratives, language & storytelling on digital media); The Mediation of Elite Culture (books' publishing industry, literary supplements; literary internet forums). Neiger is the Founder, CCO & R&D of OtheReality. This startup boosts empathy in various sectors (corporates, medical, and education) by taking advantage of VR technology's most compelling feature: allowing users to walk a mile in someone else's shoes.

    Neiger published more than 40 articles, including top journals such as the "Journal of Communication," "Communication Research," "Media, Culture & Society," and "Journalism." He also published four books and volumes, including "Communicating Awe: Media Memory and Holocaust Commemoration" (2014) and the edited volume "On Media Memory: Collective Memory in a New Media Age" (both books were published with Oren Meyers and Eyal Zandberg). Neiger served as the Chairman of the Israel Communication Association (2006-2009) and the Founding-Editor of the peer-review journal "Media Frames: Israel Journal of Communication."

    Research

    Current Research Projects

    1. Webs of Remembrance: Holocaust Memory in the Social Media Age (2019-2023)

    The mass media are a prominent collective memory agent, providing knowledge regarding the Holocaust and serving as a platform for experiencing its commemoration. Since the dawn of the 21st century, the internet has become a significant arena for shaping Holocaust memory in Israel and across the globe. In continuation of my previous research project that explored the commemoration of the Holocaust in print, radio, and television media, the main goal of this project will be to identify, characterize, and analyze Holocaust discourse in online news outlets and social media. Grant, The Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology, 2019-2023, with Prof. Oren Meyers (U of Haifa) and Prof. Anat Ben-David (Open U).

    2. Worlds of Journalism study WJS (2021-2023)

    Mapping journalism's hostile environment: The third wave of the Worlds of Journalism Study is currently underway. Researchers from more than 120 countries are surveying representative samples of journalists, this time focusing, among other topics, on journalists' safety, deteriorating editorial freedom, influences on news production, the impact of technology, and increased precarization of journalistic labor. With Prof. Keren Tenenboim-Weinblatt, Hebrew U.  

    3. Virtual Reality-Based Emotional Training as a Tool to Promote a Sense of Empathy, Satisfaction, and Quality in Healthcare (2022-2025)

    Neiger is the Founder, CCO & R&D of OtheReality. This startup boosts Empathy in various sectors (corporates, medical, education) by taking advantage of VR technology's most compelling feature: allowing users to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. In the Healthcare sector, lack of Empathy is a root cause of many challenges, such as staff burnout and low patient adherence. Neiger is involved in a few research projects that provide clinical evidence that Virtual Reality can boost Empathy and that recurring VR-based training can indeed improve the quality of care and providers' satisfaction in a measurable, personalized, and scalable manner.  

    Previous Research Projects (a selection)

    1. On Media Memory - The Future of Mediated Collective Memory in an Age of Changing Media Environments (2009-2013)

    A grant for the Israel Science Foundation (2009-2013) with Oren Meyers and Eyal Zandberg).

    Publications from the project:

    Meyers, O., Zandberg, E. &, Neiger, M. (2014). Communicating Awe: Media Memory and Holocaust Commemoration. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Neiger, M., Meyers, O., & Zandberg, E.  (Eds.) (2011). On Media Memory: Collective Memory in a New Media Age. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Meyers, O., Zandberg, E., & Neiger, M.  (2009). Prime time commemoration: An analysis of television broadcasts on Israel's Memorial Day for the Holocaust and the Heroism. Journal of Communication, 59: 456-480.

    Neiger, M., Zandberg, E., & Meyers, O. (2010).  Communicating critique: Towards a conceptualization of journalistic criticism. Communication, Culture and Critique, 3(3): 377-395.

    Neiger, M., Zandberg, E., & Meyers, O., (2011). Tuned to the nation's mood: Popular music as a mnemonic cultural objectMedia, Culture & Society. 33(7): 971-987.  

    Meyers, O, Neiger, M  & Zandberg, E. (2011). Structuring the sacred: Media Professionalism and the Production of Mediated Holocaust Memory. Communication Review, 14(3): 123-144.

    Zandberg, E., Neiger, M., & Meyers, O. (2011). Past Continuous: Newsworthiness and the Shaping of Collective MemoryCritical Studies in Media Communication, 29(1): 65-79.

     

    2. Journalism and the challenge of time: A comparative study of news temporalities (2014-2018)

    A grant for the Israel Science Foundation (2014-2017), with Keren Tenenboim-Weinblatt, Hebrew U.

    Papers published from the project:

    Tenenboim-Weinblatt, K. & Neiger, M. (2015). Print is Future, Online is Past: Cross-Media Analysis of Temporal Orientations in the News. Communication Research, 42(8): 1047-1067.

    Neiger, M. & Tenenboim-Weinblatt, K. (2016). Understanding Journalism through a Nuanced Deconstruction of Temporal Layers in News Narratives. Journal of Communication, 66(1): 139-160.

    Tenenboim-Weinblatt, K., & Neiger, M. (2018). Temporal affordances in the news. Journalism, 19(1), 37-55.

    3. Israel's Publishing Industry: The Cultural History of Hebrew Publishing in Israel 

    Publications: Neiger M. (2017). Publishers as Culture Mediators: The Cultural History of Hebrew Publishing in Israel (1910-2010)Jerusalem: MN Publishing (ISBN: 978-965-91977-0-5), 702 pp. [in HEB]. [Link to the whole book

    • Awarded – Best Academic Book in Media Studies Prize 2019 (Awarded by the Israel Communication Association)
    • Prof. Israel Bartal (former Dean of Humanities, Hebrew U.) opening remarks on the book before its presentation at the Hebrew Literature Dep. Colloquium as the respondent and moderator of the presentation.

     

     

     

     


     

    Courses

    Years

     

    Name of Course

    Type of Course

    Degree

    Num.  of

    Students

    2001-2008

    Introduction to Mass Communication Theory

    Introductory course

    BA

    50-120

    2004-

    Critical Reading in Reality TV Shows

    Elective course, Seminar

     

    BA, MA

    30

    2003-

    Journalists in Conflict

    Seminar & elective course

    BA

    25

    2001-2008

    Introduction to Journalism

    Introductory course

    BA

    50-120

    2001-2005

    Language & communication

    Introductory course

    BA

    80-120

    2006-2008

    The Arab-Israeli Conflict & the Media

    Seminar & elective course

    BA

    25

    2004-2008

    The Mediators of Culture

    Seminar & elective course

    BA

    25

    2001-2008

    Communication as Culture

    Introductory course

    BA

    60-120

    2011-2016

    Journalism in the Digital Age

    Introductory course

    BA

    30-50

    2013-2016

    Media Institutions and ethics

    Introductory course

     

    BA

    30-50

    2012-2015

    Communication Theory

    Introductory course

    MA

    30

    2011-2013

    Media, Myths and Narrative

    Seminar & elective course

    MA

    25

    2001-2004

    Israeli Publishers and Publishing Houses

    Seminar, Ben Gurion U., together with Prof. Haim Beer

    MA

    20

    2017-

    Freedom of the Press

    Introductory course

     

    BA, MA

    150

    2019-

    Media Ethics and Politics

    Introductory course

    BA

    50

    Publications

    Doctoral Dissertation

    Neiger, M. (2000).  The Literary Supplements and the Shaping of Israeli Culture:  The Literary Supplements in the Israeli Press (1948-1995), Ph.D. Dissertation, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  (Advisers: Yitzhak Roeh (Dept. of Communication and Journalism, Hebrew University) and Ruth Karton-Bloom (Dept. of Hebrew Literature, Hebrew University).  Awarded April 2000.  

    Authored Books

    Meyers, O. PI, Zandberg, E. PI &, Neiger, M. PI (2014). Communicating Awe: Media Memory and Holocaust Commemoration.  London: Palgrave Macmillan.  The book is part of the "Palgrave Macmillan Memory Studies Series" (Series editors: Andrew Hoskins and John Sutton).

    Neiger M. (2017).  Publishers as Culture Mediators: The Cultural History of Hebrew Publishing in Israel (1910-2010).  Jerusalem: MN Publishing (ISBN: 978-965-91977-0-5), 702 pp. [in Hebrew] [Link to the whole book]  

    Awarded – Best Academic Book in Media Studies 2019 (Awarded by the Israel Communication Association); Mentions - Prof. Israel Bartal (former Dean of Humanities, Hebrew U.) opening remarks on the book before its presentation at the Hebrew Literature Dep. colloquium as the respondent and moderator of the presentation; Reviews: Prof. Rafi Mann (Ariel U.) - review of the book (journal: Media Frames, 2019); Prof. Uzi Eliada (Haifa U.) - review of the book

    Edited Volumes

    Neiger, M., Blondheim, M., & Liebes, T. (Eds.) (2008). Telling Media Stories – Reflections on Media Discourse.  Jerusalem: Magnes & Smart Institute, Hebrew University.  (380 pp.).  [in Hebrew]

    Neiger, M., Meyers, O., & Zandberg, E.  (Eds.) (2011). On Media Memory: Collective Memory in a New Media Age.  London: Palgrave Macmillan.  The volume is part of the "Palgrave Macmillan Memory Studies Series" (Series editors: Andrew Hoskins and John Sutton).   

    ReviewsA. Christine Lohmeier's review in Media, Culture & Society; B. Ingrid Volkmer's review in Journal of Communication; C. Hilde Van Den Bulck's review in Historical Journal of Film, Radio, and Television; D. Debi Withers' review in Memory Studies; E.  Robert E. Gutsche's review in Journal of Communication Inquiry; F. Amanda Lagerkvist's review in Nordicom-Information (in Swedish)

     

    Chapters in Books

    1. Neiger M. (1996). The life of the poet and essayist Yeshurun Keshet. In: Yeshurun Keshet – The Lost Treasure (pp. 631-664). Jerusalem: Carmel. [in Hebrew].
    2. Kohn A.  & Neiger, M.  (2007). To talk and to talkback: The rhetoric of the Talk-Back in Israeli online newspapers.  In T. Altshuler (Ed.).  Journalism dot com: online newspapers in Israel (pp. 321-350).  Jerusalem: The Israeli Democratic Institute.  [Citations=31].
    3.  Neiger, M. (2007).  News speculating the future.  In D. Caspi (Ed.).  Media and Politics in Israel (pp. 75-90).  Jerusalem: Van-Leer Institute.  [in Hebrew, Extended version of an article published in Journalism].
    4. Neiger, M. (2008).  How to Read Texts in the Media – A critical model for interpretation of texts. In M. Neiger, Blondheim M. & Liebes, T (Eds.). Telling Media Stories – Reflections on Media Discourse (pp. 41-60).  Jerusalem: Magnes & Smart Institute, Hebrew University.  [In Hebrew]
    5. Neiger, M. PI & Kohn A. PI (2008). A Three-Dimensional Perspective for Cultural Interpretation of Protest Performances.  In Alexander T. (Ed.) Igud – Essays on Jewish Studies and Literature (pp. 227-245).  Jerusalem: The World Union of Jewish Studies.  [In Hebrew]
    6. Neiger, M. (2010).  Real love has no boundaries? - Dating reality tv shows between global format and local-cultural conflicts.  In A. Hetshroni (Ed.) Reality Television: Merging the Global and the Local. Hauppauge (pp. 123-136). NY: Nova Science Publishers.
    7. Neiger, M. (2010).  The trends and the impact of the book's bestseller list. In: Kasel, L. and Hakak Y. (Eds.). The limits of quantifications: Critical perspectives on measuring and grading people, their behaviors and achievements (pp. 247-263).  Beer-Sheva: The Ben-Gurion University and the Israeli Association for Qualitative Research Methods.  [in Hebrew].
    8. Neiger, M., Meyers, O. , Zandberg, E. (2011). On media memory - an introduction. In: Neiger, M., Meyers, O., Zandberg, E. (Eds.). On Media Memory: Collective Memory in a New Media Age (pp. 1-24).  London: Palgrave Macmillan. [Citations=110]
    9. Neiger, M., Meyers, O., Zandberg, E. (2011). Localizing collective memory: regional radio stations in Israel and the construction of "regional memory" In Neiger, M., Meyers, O., Zandberg, E. (Eds.).  On Media Memory: Collective Memory in a New Media Age (pp. 156-174).  London: Palgrave Macmillan. [Cit.=23]
    10. Neiger, M.,  Zandberg, E., & Meyers, O. (2014). "Reversed memory": Journalistic work between traumatic past and triumphal present. In Zelizer B. & Tenenboim-Weinblatt, K. (Eds.). Journalism & Memory.  London: Palgrave Macmillan.  [important collection featuring leading scholars in journalism and collective memory.  Cit=31].
    11. Neiger, M. (2015).  Regimenting the agenda – An insider perspective from the Israel Broadcasting Authority Ethics Committee" in N. Elias, Z. Reich, G.  Nimrod & A.Schejter (Eds.).  Media in Transition.  Tel-Aviv: Tsivonim. [in Hebrew].
    12. Tenenboim-Weinblatt, K. & Neiger, M. (2019). “The Past, Present, and Future of Journalism and Memory” in Wahl-Jorgensen, K. & T. Hanitzsch (eds.) The Handbook of Journalism Studies.  Routledge.
    13. Neiger, M., Berger-Tikochinski, T., Yaler-Tsuria, A. & Manny-Ikan, E. (2020). Walking in someone else's shoes: Virtual reality as a tool for empathy and engagement in social skills education.  In: Blau, I., Caspi, A., Eshet-Alkaley, Y., et al. (Eds.), Learning in the Digital Era (pp. 81-91).  Ra'anana: Open University, Chais center for the study of innovation and learning technologies.  [in Hebrew]
    14. Neiger, M., (2022).  Israel's Media Landscape: Democratic Practice, Constrained Environment.  In P.R. Kumaraswamy (Ed.), Palgrave International Handbook on Israel.  London: Palgrave Macmillan. 
    15. Neiger, M. & Neiger-Fleischmann M. (2023, forthcoming), "A Digital Safe Haven: Six Functions of Social Media for Second-Generation Holocaust-Survivors." In Baumel-Schwartz J.  and A. Shrira (Eds.). Unto Your Children and Your Children's Children – A Multidisciplinary Perspective on Offspring of Holocaust Survivors.  The Finkler Institute for Holocaust Research and Routledge.  Main Contributor

     

    Articles in Refereed Journals 

    1. Neiger, M. (2000).  The origins of literary supplements.  Reeh: European journal of Hebrew studies, 4: 55-75.  
    2.  Neiger, M. PI and Roeh, I. (2003). The secular holy scriptures: The role of the holiday literary supplements in the Israeli press and culture.  Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism, 4(4), 477-489.
    1. Neiger, M. PI and Zandberg, E. PI (2004). Days of awe: The praxis of news coverage of violent conflict.  Communications - The European Journal of Communication, 29, 429-446.
    1. Neiger, M. (2004).  When Literature Meets the Press – Trends in the Literary Supplements of Daily Newspapers in Israel, From the 1950s to the 1990 .  Hebrew Studies, 45, 119-131.
    2. Zandberg, E. and Neiger, M. (2005). Between the nation and the profession: Journalists as members of contradicting communities.  Media, Culture & Society, 27(1), 131-141.
    3. Neiger, M. (2007).  Media oracles: The political import and cultural significance of news referring to the future.  Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism, 8(3): 326-338.
    4. Neiger, M. (2008).  The Establishment of the publishing industry in the Land of Israel.  Kesher, 37: 82-92.
    5. Neiger, M. PI, Meyers, O.  & Zandberg, E. (2009). Songs to Remember: Popular Culture, Collective Memory and Radio Broadcasts on Israel's Memorial Day for the Holocaust and the Heroism. Megamot, 46(1-2): 254-280. [in Hebrew]  
    6. Meyers, O., Zandberg, E. & Neiger, M. (2009). Prime time commemoration: An analysis of television broadcasts on Israel's Memorial Day for the Holocaust and the Heroism.  Journal of Communication, 59: 456-480.
    7. Neiger, M. , Zandberg, E., & Meyers, O. (2010).  Communicating critique: Towards a conceptualization of journalistic criticism.  Communication, Culture and Critique, 3(3): 377-395.
    8. Neiger, M. & Abdulahib, N, (2011). The publishing experience: Examining books and internet literary sites publishing processes from the writers' point-of-view.  Kesher, 41: 54-64.  [in Hebrew]
    9. Neiger, M. & Rimmer-Tsory, K (2011). Nationalism and war representations in Israel's newspaper during the Second Lebanon War in 2006.  Israel Studies in Language and Society.  3(2): 86-113 [in Hebrew].
    10. Neiger, M., Zandberg, E.  & Meyers, O. (2011). Tuned to the nation's mood: Popular music as a mnemonic cultural object.  Media, Culture & Society.  33(7): 971-987.
    11. Meyers, O, Neiger, M & Zandberg, E (2011). Structuring the sacred: Media Professionalism and the Production of Mediated Holocaust Memory.  Communication Review, 14(3): 123-144.
    12. Zandberg, E., Neiger, M. & Meyers, O.  (2011). Past Continuous: Newsworthiness and the Shaping of Collective Memory.  Critical Studies in Media Communication, 29(1): 65-79. 
    13. Neiger, M.  (2012).  Cultural Oxymora: The Israeli idol negotiates meanings and readings.  Television and New Media, 13(6): 535-550.
    14. Neiger, M. & Rimer-Tsory K. (2013). The War that wasn't on the News: "In-group nationalism" and "out-group nationalism" in newspaper supplements.  Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism, 14: 721-736.
    15. Tenenboim-Weinblatt, K. & Neiger, M.  (2015). Print is Futur; Onlinee is Past: Cross-Media Analysis of Temporal Orientations in the News. Communication Research, 42(8): 1047-1067.
    16. Neiger, M. & Tenenboim-Weinblatt, K. (2016). Understanding Journalism through a Nuanced Deconstruction of Temporal Layers in News Narratives.  Journal of Communication, 66(1): 139-160.
    17. Neiger, M. (2017).  Media role in Shaping Shared Futures.  Israel Studies in Language and Society.  9(2): 142-163.
    18. Tenenboim-Weinblatt, K., & Neiger, M. (2018). Temporal affordances in the news.  Journalism, 19(1), 37-55.
    19. Neiger, M. (2020).  Theorizing Media Memory: Six Elements Defining the Role of the Media in Shaping Collective Memory in the Digital Age.  Sociology Compass.  14(5).
    20. Neiger, M., Meyers, O., & Ben-David, A. (Forthcoming, 2023).  Tweeting the Holocaust: Social media discourse between reverence, exploitation, and simulacra.  Journal of Communication.  Special issue – The good, the bad, and the ugly of social media.

    Entries in Academic Encyclopedias 

    1. Neiger M. (2022).  "Time in Journalism." In. G.A. Borchard (Ed).  Encyclopedia of Journalism (pp. 1640-1642).  Thousand Oaks: Sage.  DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781544391199.n409
    2. Neiger, M. (2023, forthcoming).  "Book Production in Israel." In Emile Schrijver (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Jewish Book Cultures, Amsterdam: Brill.                

    Monographs and Research Reports

    1. Neiger M., Zandberg, E., & Abu-Raya, I. (2001).  Israeli Media or Jewish Media? – The Role of Israeli Media in Covering the Clashes between Israeli-Arab citizens and the police on October 2000.  Jerusalem: Keshev – Center for the Democracy.  (40 pp.) [in Hebrew].
    2. Neiger, M.  & Josman, A. (2005). The Illusion of Democratic Choice: How Reality Shows Obtain Audience Cooperation. Tel Aviv: Haim Herzog Institute, Tel-Aviv University. (40 pp.).  [in Hebrew].
    3. Neiger, M., Zandberg, E. & Meyers M. (2007). The Public role of Commercial Media: Television and Radio Broadcasts during Israel's Memorial Day for the Holocaust and the Heroism, 1991-2004.  (97 pp.).  [in Hebrew]
    4. Neiger, M., Zandberg, E. & Meyers M. (2008). The Rhetoric of Criticism: Challenging Criticism, Reaffirming Criticism, and Israeli Journalism during the Second Lebanon War.  The Media in the Lebanon War series, Tel-Aviv: The Rothschild-Caesarea School of Communication, Tel Aviv University.  (52 pp.).  [in Hebrew]

    Other Academic Publications

    1. Neiger, M. (1993).  The mother, the son, and the spirit of postmodernism. Efes-Shtaim, 2, 128-134. [in Hebrew, Editor: Yiegal Schwrtz]
    2. Neiger M. (2002).  Fantasy discourse, the media, and the second Intifada.  Panim, 23, 45-52.
    3. Neiger M. (2003).  The literary supplement as a ritual.  Panim, 27, 12-22.
    4. Neiger, M. (2005).  The Battlefield of Images: The TV reality show "The Ambassador" (HaSagrir) and Israeli myths.  Panim, 31, 75-80.
    5. Neiger, M (2008, January).  The plurality of culture: Poetry in the media.  Society, Poetry, Place (online journal), Issue number 28.
    6. Neiger, M., Blondheim, M. & Liebes, T (2008). Introduction: Telling media stories and the trajectory of Itzhak Roeh. In M. Neiger, Blondheim M. & Liebes, T (eds.). Telling media stories – reflections on media discourse.  Jerusalem: Magnes & Smart Institute, Hebrew University.
    7. Neiger, M. (2013) Fear or hope? - How the media shapes our perceptions regarding the future and solvability of political conflicts.  Discourse, Culture, and Education in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (pp. 4-9). The S. Daniel Abraham Center for Strategic Dialogue and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

     

     

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    Last Updated Date : 27/08/2023