12 Jan 09 | Uncategorized
Is the BBC’s quest for balance actually distorting its coverage of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza? Index on Censorship Chief Executive John Kampfner thinks it might be:
‘Language, as any propagandist knows, is the most important tool. Hamas fighters are called “militants”. That, I am told, is a halfway house between “terrorist” and more sympathetic labels such as “guerrillas”. The Israeli army is often referred to by its formal title, the Israel Defence Forces. The bombardment of Gaza has regularly been described as “the Israeli operation”. Such language denudes coverage of impact.’
Read the rest at Media Guardian
09 Jan 09 | Comment, Middle East and North Africa
Coverage of events in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli media has rarely transcended propaganda, writes Dimi Reider
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08 Jan 09 | Middle East and North Africa, News and features
Frustration is growing over Israel’s refusal to allow journalists into the Gaza Strip. Padraig Reidy reports
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07 Jan 09 | Uncategorized
…so says Daniel Seaman of the Israeli government press office.
Writing in the New York Times, Ethan Bronner postulates that this attitude may have its roots in Israel’s 2006 conflict with Hezbollah. Then, domestic and international journalists were given pretty much free reign, and now many in the IDF see this as a contributing factor in the failure of the campaign.
The IDF should, in theory, be allowing some journalists in to Gaza. An agreement was reached with the Foreign Press Association in which six randomly selected foreign reporters would be allowed across the border (as well as two selected by Israel). However, despite the arrangement, no-one has been allowed through. This morning, Israel’s ambassador in London, Ron Prosor, claimed the delay had been due to ‘infighting’ in the FPA, a charge the association strongly denies.
