Editorial: MTSU Professor Larry Burriss looks at the effectiveness of media and changing people's core beliefs, citing skepticism towards the impact of a recent interview between Tucker Carlson and Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was argued that despite the outcry from some pundits, airing such interviews shouldn't be seen as a threat to public opinion. Burriss expressed faith in an individuals' ability to critically evaluate information and suggested that genuine changes in beliefs are rare, even when exposed to opposing viewpoints. With today's media commentary, here is Dr. Burriss...

About Dr. Burriss - Larry Burriss, professor of journalism, teaches introductory and media law courses. At the graduate level he teaches quantitative research methods and media law. He holds degrees from The Ohio State University (B.A. in broadcast journalism, M.A. in journalism), the University of Oklahoma (M.A. in human relations), Ohio University (Ph.D. in journalism) and Concord Law School (J.D.). He has worked in print and broadcast news and public relations, and has published extensively in both academic and popular publications. He has won first place in the Tennessee Associated Press Radio Contest nine times. Dr. Burriss' publications and presentations include studies of presidential press conferences, NASA photography, radio news, legal issues related to adolescent use of social networking sites, legal research, and Middle Earth.

Dr. Burriss has served as director of the School of Journalism, dean of the College of Mass Communication and president of the MTSU Faculty Senate. He was appointed by Gov. Phil Bredesen to serve on the Tennessee Board of Regents. He was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and served on active duty in Mali, Somalia, Bosnia, Central America, Europe and the Pentagon.