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Sam Lehman-Wilzig

Peres Academic Center, Communications Program, Academic Head

Bar-Ilan University, Communication, Faculty Member

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In Oct. 2023, I started a new position as Academic Head and Faculty member at Peres Academic Center (Rehovot, ISRAEL).
Retired from Bar-Ilan U (but still researching/writing) as professor of New Media and former Chair of the School of Communications (2014-2016). Also served (2004-2007) as Chair of the Political Science Dept. at Bar-Ilan U (Israel). As of 2023, I have 44 published journal articles, 27 book chapters, and 5 full-length scholarly books. Latest book: (Dec. 2021, Springer Nature):
VIRTUALITY AND HUMANITY: Virtual Practice and Its Evolution from Pre-History to the 21st Century
https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811665257#aboutBook
Free reads of every chapter individually at that site.
SYNOPSIS: This is a pioneering study of virtuality through human history: ancient-to-modern evolution and recent expansion; expression in many fields (chapters on Religion; Philosophy, Math, Physics; Literature and the Arts; Economics; Nationhood, Government and War; Communication); psychological and social reasons for its universality; inter-relationship with "reality." The book's thesis: virtuality was always an integral part of humanity in many areas of life, generally expanding over the ages. The reasons: 1- brain psychology; 2- virtuality's six functions — escape from boredom to relieving existential dread. Other questions addressed: How will future neuroscience, biotech and "compunications" affect virtuality? Can/should there be limits to human virtualizing?
Supervisors: I supervised 20 PhD dissertations and 61 M.A. theses in my career.
Phone: +972-52-3410163
Address: 3/2 Yitzchak Sadeh St.
Kfar Saba 4423918

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Books by Sam Lehman-Wilzig

WILDFIRE: Grassroots Revolts in Israel in the Post-Socialist Era

The entire scanned book is online at the link above.

Papers by Sam Lehman-Wilzig

Digital Promotion of Suicide: A Platform-Level Ethical Analysis

by Raphael Cohen-Almagor and Sam Lehman-Wilzig

Journal of Media Ethics , 2022

This article utilizes Aristotelian and Kantian philosophies to probe the social responsibilities ... more This article utilizes Aristotelian and Kantian philosophies to probe the social responsibilities of internet intermediaries that in one way or another assist and promote suicide. Striking a balance between freedom of expression and social responsibility, it is argued that several actors should be involved in restricting or eliminating live-streaming suicide, sites that encourage and facilitate suicide, and insult forums that drive people, especially adolescents, to take their own lives. The remediating actors are: commercial social media/website owners through their moderators; voluntary, non-profit, NGO "public defenders"; internet platform providers; regulatory agencies based on legislative authority, and advertisers. Practical remedies are suggested for each of these actors, noting as well important exceptions and caveats regarding the respective solutions.

Digital Promotion of Suicide: A Platform-Level Ethical Analysis

Journal of Media Ethics

This article utilizes Aristotelian and Kantian philosophies to probe the social responsibilities ... more This article utilizes Aristotelian and Kantian philosophies to probe the social responsibilities of internet intermediaries that in one way or another assist and promote suicide. Striking a balance between freedom of expression and social responsibility, it is argued that several actors should be involved in restricting or eliminating live-streaming suicide, sites that encourage and facilitate suicide, and insult forums that drive people, especially adolescents, to take their own lives. The remediating actors are: commercial social media/website owners through their moderators; voluntary, non-profit, NGO &quot;public defenders&quot;; internet platform providers; regulatory agencies based on legislative authority, and advertisers. Practical remedies are suggested for each of these actors, noting as well important exceptions and caveats regarding the respective solutions.

Religious Protest and Police Reaction in a Theo-Democracy: Israel, 1950-1979

Journal of Church and State, 1983

The problem of religion and state has been one of the longest lasting issues in the relatively sh... more

Downloaded from

The natural life cycle of new media evolution: Inter-media struggle for survival in the internet age

The Tower of Babel vs the Power of Babble

New Media & Society, 2000

Since the dawn of human history, language differences have served as a barrier to full intercultu... more Since the dawn of human history, language differences have served as a barrier to full intercultural and international communication. The recent advent of synchronous, automatic translation systems (SATS), incorporated into the internet, are but the first sign of a communications revolution as profound as the invention of print. This article briefly surveys the following: (1) text/speech recognition and translation problems; (2) current developments in machine translation (MT) and artificial intelligence (AI) devoted to resolving these problems; and (3) potential future SATS technological developments and uses. The second half of the article is devoted to a wide-ranging analysis of several potentially profound future political, economic and cultural consequences of SATS. The main conclusion points to a paradox: although (perhaps because) SATS will lead to greater linguistic (and external-cultural) differentiation, the overall impact will be centripetal - greater integration among th...

The natural life cycle of new media evolution

New Media & Society, 2004

This article analyzes the evolution of the internet, with special emphasis on its impact on older... more This article analyzes the evolution of the internet, with special emphasis on its impact on older media in their struggle to survive. The analysis is based on a 6-stage, natural life cycle model of new media evolution, comprising birth (technical invention), penetration, growth, maturity, self-defense, and adaptation, convergence or obsolescence. Our universal model melds several elements of previous theories and analyses from disparate fields such as media history, marketing, technological diffusion and convergence, while adding a few new aspects as well. The model’s three contributions lie in expanding the scope –quantitatively and qualitatively –of new media’s development stages (beyond the three or four stages noted by others); emphasizing the interaction and struggle between old and new media; and analyzing ‘functional-life after appliance-death’of media transformed/co-opted into something old/new. Applying this model to the internet enables us to better understand its future e...

Digital Promotion of Suicide: A Platform-Level Ethical Analysis

by Raphael Cohen-Almagor and Sam Lehman-Wilzig

Journal of Media Ethics

This article utilizes Aristotelian and Kantian philosophies to probe the social responsibilities ... more This article utilizes Aristotelian and Kantian philosophies to probe the social responsibilities of internet intermediaries that in one way or another assist and promote suicide. Striking a balance between freedom of expression and social responsibility, it is argued that several actors should be involved in restricting or eliminating live-streaming suicide, sites that encourage and facilitate suicide, and insult forums that drive people, especially adolescents, to take their own lives. The remediating actors are: commercial social media/website owners through their moderators; voluntary, non-profit, NGO "public defenders"; internet platform providers; regulatory agencies based on legislative authority, and advertisers. Practical remedies are suggested for each of these actors, noting as well important exceptions and caveats regarding the respective solutions.

The media campaign: The negative effects of positive campaigning

Israel Affairs, 1997

The title of this essay involves a conundrum while constituting a play on words as well. In addit... more

Non-Systemic Factors Underlying Rapid Change in Gender-Biased Media Framing of Female Politicians

The Psychology of Political Communicators

Scholars have usually suggested that biased media representation of female politicians is an indi... more Scholars have usually suggested that biased media representation of female politicians is an indication of deep socio-cultural and historical conceptions of gender. The present study calls this into question, offering another possibility: Essential changes in media portrayals of female politicians might also be an outcome of circumstantial and election-specific developments. To test this, a content analysis was conducted of 1,572 news items from two Israeli newspapers, examining their coverage of two female candidates for prime minister during the 2009 and 2013 Israeli elections: Tzipi Livni (both years) and Shelly Yachimovich (2013). The findings revealed that the 2009 campaign coverage was much more gender-biased than in 2013, especially due to “coincidental” changes in the gender-political situation. First, in the 2013 campaign both Livni and Yachimovich ran for the office of prime minister; therefore, the “novelty” element was weaker. Second, it was Livni’s second campaign in a row, so unlike 2009, this time she was presented as an experienced leader. Third, the 2009 elections were more personally-oriented, with two major parties as main electoral alternatives, while in 2013, the situation of multiple parties led to a more partisan/collective media discourse that tended to be less gender-centered.

CEO Brand Equity – Implementation of a Conceptual Model: Comparing CEO Brand Equity during Successful and Crisis Periods

International Journal of Strategic Communication

Religion and the Supernatural

Virtuality and Humanity

This essay examines relationships between religious beliefs and a version of naturalism labeled &... more This essay examines relationships between religious beliefs and a version of naturalism labeled &quot;pragmatic naturalism.&quot; Its conclusion is that institutionalized religions as interpreters of sacred texts use a form of language which fulfills social purposes of promoting hope, feelings of self-worth and importance, reinforcement of moral codes, and a sense of cultural identity. Philosophy can perform the useful role of describing relationships and overlaps between this form of discourse and those used by the institutions of science, politics, and the law. In performing this role, it serves as a vital integrative force in society.

A Facebook post is born: exploring the process of generating MPs’ social media presence

The Journal of Legislative Studies

ABSTRACT Research on political communication between MPs and the public has focused on the role, ... more ABSTRACT Research on political communication between MPs and the public has focused on the role, activities and perceptions of the members of parliament (MPs) themselves. However, the authors’ prior research demonstrated that in fact social media necessitate a new prism through which to study such communication. The contribution of the present study is to look at this relationship through the heretofore under-researched prism of those who in fact are doing much of the actual communication (at least in Israel): the parliamentary assistants (PAs). Whereas other studies tend to focus on the communicative contents, the present research deals mainly with the behind-the-scenes processes that produce such content. In this study 26 PAs were interviewed in Israel’s Knesset regarding three central questions: What are the goals of the MPs’ activities on Facebook? What are the key obstacles perceived by the assistants while maintaining MPs’ Facebook presence? What are the main professional dilemmas that PAs run into during their Facebook activity on behalf of MPs? By addressing these questions, the paper contributes to generating a more comprehensive picture of the ways political Facebook posts are born, and of the processes through which MPs’ social media presence is generated.

Wildfire: grassroots revolts in Israel in the post-socialist era

Choice Reviews Online

... York Press, State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246 Production by MR Mulholland Marketing by... more

Mass Media in Israel

Mass media in the Middle East: A comprehensive …, 1994

Political ill-health coverage: professional-ethical questions regarding news reporting of leaders' ailments

Journal of health communication, 2003

Information processing of advertising among young people: The Elaboration Likelihood Model as applied to youth

… RESEARCH-NEW YORK-, 2007

Based on previous research findings that vtertismg effectiveness is different for : youngest age ... more

European Journal of Communication, 2003

■ The study reported in this article is a survey of 16 female and 25 male editors in seven Israel... more

The natural life cycle of new media evolution

New Media & Society, 2004

Defining Virtuality

Virtuality and Humanity

WILDFIRE: Grassroots Revolts in Israel in the Post-Socialist Era

The entire scanned book is online at the link above.

Digital Promotion of Suicide: A Platform-Level Ethical Analysis

by Raphael Cohen-Almagor and Sam Lehman-Wilzig

Journal of Media Ethics , 2022

This article utilizes Aristotelian and Kantian philosophies to probe the social responsibilities ... more This article utilizes Aristotelian and Kantian philosophies to probe the social responsibilities of internet intermediaries that in one way or another assist and promote suicide. Striking a balance between freedom of expression and social responsibility, it is argued that several actors should be involved in restricting or eliminating live-streaming suicide, sites that encourage and facilitate suicide, and insult forums that drive people, especially adolescents, to take their own lives. The remediating actors are: commercial social media/website owners through their moderators; voluntary, non-profit, NGO "public defenders"; internet platform providers; regulatory agencies based on legislative authority, and advertisers. Practical remedies are suggested for each of these actors, noting as well important exceptions and caveats regarding the respective solutions.

Digital Promotion of Suicide: A Platform-Level Ethical Analysis

Journal of Media Ethics

This article utilizes Aristotelian and Kantian philosophies to probe the social responsibilities ... more This article utilizes Aristotelian and Kantian philosophies to probe the social responsibilities of internet intermediaries that in one way or another assist and promote suicide. Striking a balance between freedom of expression and social responsibility, it is argued that several actors should be involved in restricting or eliminating live-streaming suicide, sites that encourage and facilitate suicide, and insult forums that drive people, especially adolescents, to take their own lives. The remediating actors are: commercial social media/website owners through their moderators; voluntary, non-profit, NGO &quot;public defenders&quot;; internet platform providers; regulatory agencies based on legislative authority, and advertisers. Practical remedies are suggested for each of these actors, noting as well important exceptions and caveats regarding the respective solutions.

Religious Protest and Police Reaction in a Theo-Democracy: Israel, 1950-1979

Journal of Church and State, 1983

The problem of religion and state has been one of the longest lasting issues in the relatively sh... more

Downloaded from

The natural life cycle of new media evolution: Inter-media struggle for survival in the internet age

The Tower of Babel vs the Power of Babble

New Media & Society, 2000

Since the dawn of human history, language differences have served as a barrier to full intercultu... more Since the dawn of human history, language differences have served as a barrier to full intercultural and international communication. The recent advent of synchronous, automatic translation systems (SATS), incorporated into the internet, are but the first sign of a communications revolution as profound as the invention of print. This article briefly surveys the following: (1) text/speech recognition and translation problems; (2) current developments in machine translation (MT) and artificial intelligence (AI) devoted to resolving these problems; and (3) potential future SATS technological developments and uses. The second half of the article is devoted to a wide-ranging analysis of several potentially profound future political, economic and cultural consequences of SATS. The main conclusion points to a paradox: although (perhaps because) SATS will lead to greater linguistic (and external-cultural) differentiation, the overall impact will be centripetal - greater integration among th...

The natural life cycle of new media evolution

New Media & Society, 2004

This article analyzes the evolution of the internet, with special emphasis on its impact on older... more This article analyzes the evolution of the internet, with special emphasis on its impact on older media in their struggle to survive. The analysis is based on a 6-stage, natural life cycle model of new media evolution, comprising birth (technical invention), penetration, growth, maturity, self-defense, and adaptation, convergence or obsolescence. Our universal model melds several elements of previous theories and analyses from disparate fields such as media history, marketing, technological diffusion and convergence, while adding a few new aspects as well. The model’s three contributions lie in expanding the scope –quantitatively and qualitatively –of new media’s development stages (beyond the three or four stages noted by others); emphasizing the interaction and struggle between old and new media; and analyzing ‘functional-life after appliance-death’of media transformed/co-opted into something old/new. Applying this model to the internet enables us to better understand its future e...

Digital Promotion of Suicide: A Platform-Level Ethical Analysis

by Raphael Cohen-Almagor and Sam Lehman-Wilzig

Journal of Media Ethics

This article utilizes Aristotelian and Kantian philosophies to probe the social responsibilities ... more This article utilizes Aristotelian and Kantian philosophies to probe the social responsibilities of internet intermediaries that in one way or another assist and promote suicide. Striking a balance between freedom of expression and social responsibility, it is argued that several actors should be involved in restricting or eliminating live-streaming suicide, sites that encourage and facilitate suicide, and insult forums that drive people, especially adolescents, to take their own lives. The remediating actors are: commercial social media/website owners through their moderators; voluntary, non-profit, NGO "public defenders"; internet platform providers; regulatory agencies based on legislative authority, and advertisers. Practical remedies are suggested for each of these actors, noting as well important exceptions and caveats regarding the respective solutions.

The media campaign: The negative effects of positive campaigning

Israel Affairs, 1997

The title of this essay involves a conundrum while constituting a play on words as well. In addit... more

Non-Systemic Factors Underlying Rapid Change in Gender-Biased Media Framing of Female Politicians

The Psychology of Political Communicators

Scholars have usually suggested that biased media representation of female politicians is an indi... more Scholars have usually suggested that biased media representation of female politicians is an indication of deep socio-cultural and historical conceptions of gender. The present study calls this into question, offering another possibility: Essential changes in media portrayals of female politicians might also be an outcome of circumstantial and election-specific developments. To test this, a content analysis was conducted of 1,572 news items from two Israeli newspapers, examining their coverage of two female candidates for prime minister during the 2009 and 2013 Israeli elections: Tzipi Livni (both years) and Shelly Yachimovich (2013). The findings revealed that the 2009 campaign coverage was much more gender-biased than in 2013, especially due to “coincidental” changes in the gender-political situation. First, in the 2013 campaign both Livni and Yachimovich ran for the office of prime minister; therefore, the “novelty” element was weaker. Second, it was Livni’s second campaign in a row, so unlike 2009, this time she was presented as an experienced leader. Third, the 2009 elections were more personally-oriented, with two major parties as main electoral alternatives, while in 2013, the situation of multiple parties led to a more partisan/collective media discourse that tended to be less gender-centered.

CEO Brand Equity – Implementation of a Conceptual Model: Comparing CEO Brand Equity during Successful and Crisis Periods

International Journal of Strategic Communication

Religion and the Supernatural

Virtuality and Humanity

This essay examines relationships between religious beliefs and a version of naturalism labeled &... more This essay examines relationships between religious beliefs and a version of naturalism labeled &quot;pragmatic naturalism.&quot; Its conclusion is that institutionalized religions as interpreters of sacred texts use a form of language which fulfills social purposes of promoting hope, feelings of self-worth and importance, reinforcement of moral codes, and a sense of cultural identity. Philosophy can perform the useful role of describing relationships and overlaps between this form of discourse and those used by the institutions of science, politics, and the law. In performing this role, it serves as a vital integrative force in society.

A Facebook post is born: exploring the process of generating MPs’ social media presence

The Journal of Legislative Studies

ABSTRACT Research on political communication between MPs and the public has focused on the role, ... more ABSTRACT Research on political communication between MPs and the public has focused on the role, activities and perceptions of the members of parliament (MPs) themselves. However, the authors’ prior research demonstrated that in fact social media necessitate a new prism through which to study such communication. The contribution of the present study is to look at this relationship through the heretofore under-researched prism of those who in fact are doing much of the actual communication (at least in Israel): the parliamentary assistants (PAs). Whereas other studies tend to focus on the communicative contents, the present research deals mainly with the behind-the-scenes processes that produce such content. In this study 26 PAs were interviewed in Israel’s Knesset regarding three central questions: What are the goals of the MPs’ activities on Facebook? What are the key obstacles perceived by the assistants while maintaining MPs’ Facebook presence? What are the main professional dilemmas that PAs run into during their Facebook activity on behalf of MPs? By addressing these questions, the paper contributes to generating a more comprehensive picture of the ways political Facebook posts are born, and of the processes through which MPs’ social media presence is generated.

Wildfire: grassroots revolts in Israel in the post-socialist era

Choice Reviews Online

... York Press, State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246 Production by MR Mulholland Marketing by... more

Mass Media in Israel

Mass media in the Middle East: A comprehensive …, 1994

Political ill-health coverage: professional-ethical questions regarding news reporting of leaders' ailments

Journal of health communication, 2003

Information processing of advertising among young people: The Elaboration Likelihood Model as applied to youth

… RESEARCH-NEW YORK-, 2007

Based on previous research findings that vtertismg effectiveness is different for : youngest age ... more

European Journal of Communication, 2003

■ The study reported in this article is a survey of 16 female and 25 male editors in seven Israel... more

The natural life cycle of new media evolution

New Media & Society, 2004

Defining Virtuality

Virtuality and Humanity

Music, Literature and the Arts

Virtuality and Humanity

Mass Media in Israel'

by Amit M Schejter and Sam Lehman-Wilzig

Mass media in the Middle East: A comprehensive …, Jan 1, 1994