The Press and Palestine: The Bad, The Ugly...and a Shift?
For decades, we have seen an extreme Israeli/Zionist bias in press coverage of Israel/Palestine. Israeli hasbara (propaganda) has been the nearly universal message in mainstream media. How has that been accomplished so effectively? In what ways does the press present a dishonest and unjust depiction of Israeli oppression and Palestinian resistance?
In recent years, we are beginning to see occasional positive changes, where Palestinian perspectives and voices are heard and Israel's crimes are more honestly reported. Where are we seeing these shifting norms and how widespread are they? What factors may have contributed to changes in coverage of Israel/Palestine?
What can we do, as individuals and as a movement, to achieve more honest and justice-oriented media coverage of Israeli colonialism and apartheid and the Palestinian people's liberation struggle?
Mariam Barghouti is a Palestinian-American journalist, and policy analyst based in Ramallah, Palestine. She is the Senior Palestine Correspondent at Mondoweiss. Her reporting and analysis has been featured in the New York Times, the Guardian, Newsweek, The Intercept, CNN, the BBC, Al-Jazeera English, Middle East Eye and others.
Laura Albast is a Palestinian-American journalist, media analyst and activist. She is currently the Senior Editor of Digital Strategy and Communications at the Institute for Palestine Studies-USA in Washington DC, as well as an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement. Her publications and appearances include The Washington Post, The New Arab, Aljazeera, Doha News, TRT World, KPFA, and other outlets.
Resources:
UMKR collection “Ripples of Hope”
Signs of a shift in awareness and attitudes about the Palestinian people and their liberation struggle, in the general public and the press
Articles
By Mariam Barghouti
By Laura Albast
"How media coverage whitewashes Israeli state violence against Palestinians" (with Cat Knarr)
"A business of lies: Shireen Abu Akleh and the New York Times' pro-Israel disinformation"
Landmark NY Times editorial by Michelle Alexander
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