Academia, Media, and the City: Civic Discourse Preceding the Establishment of a City University in Tel-Aviv.

What were the conditions that encouraged the opening of the civic university in Tel-Aviv? What is the part of public opinion in reshaping the higher education system? This article explores the relationship between different interpretive concepts on institutions of higher education in the first decade of Israel's existence. Analysis of the media discourse around the foundation of the university in Tel-Aviv, points out that it is an essential context for understanding the formation of public opinion. More specifically, it helps to understand the paths as an innovative idea spread from marginal and insignificant newspapers to become a dominant strategy that was adopted by the municipality. By this we want to emphasize and to clarify the important and crucial role of the civic society that was raised against the power of the government and hegemonic university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]