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The Faculty of Mass Communication at Ain Shams University organized a seminar titled “Awareness and Combating Rumors in Light of Regional Challenges,” under the patronage of Prof. Rami Maher Ghali, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, and the supervision of Prof. Heba Shaheen, Dean of the Faculty, and Prof. Salwa Soliman, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs. The seminar was attended by faculty members and witnessed wide participation from students across different academic years.

The seminar hosted writer and media professional Nashwa El-Houfy, Director General of Cultural Publishing at Nahdet Misr Publishing House and member of the National Council for Women. She began by emphasizing the importance of leaving a positive impact on societal awareness, explaining the concept of fourth-generation warfare and its tools, and highlighting how media has become a key arena for influencing public opinion.

She referenced several intellectual models, including French thinker Gustave Le Bon and his book The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind, noting his analysis of collective behavior and herd mentality. She stressed that while media can enhance public awareness, it can also become a tool for misinformation if accuracy and professional standards are not maintained, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and verifying information.

El-Houfy also discussed theories related to the influence of elites and decision-makers on shaping public opinion, warning of the risks of manipulating awareness through directed media messages. She called for developing analytical skills and informed understanding of current events, supported by regional and international examples. She further recommended strengthening multidisciplinary studies within media faculties to prepare more knowledgeable media professionals capable of understanding regional and global contexts.

The seminar witnessed active engagement from students through discussions and questions. The faculty administration expressed its appreciation to the guest speaker for her valuable intellectual contributions to enhancing students’ awareness.