New York Times Israel Correction Needs a Correction
A New York Times correction calls the Israeli settlement of Gilo a “development in Jerusalem.” That could use a correction.
Richard Engel and U.S. Aid to Egypt
Since Engel’s point was that things must stay as they are, it’s not likely that the NBC reporter’s words will cause much controversy–certainly things would be different if he’d have given an equally impassioned rationale for cutting off aid to Egypt’s military government.
CBS Gives Iran Nuclear Fearmongering a Voice
CBS Face the Nation gave Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu yet another chance to make dubious claims about the threats posed by Iran’s supposed weapons.
David Brooks Applies His Mental Equipment to the Egypt Coup
David Brooks lacks the mental equipment for informed, nuanced commentary on the politics of a Middle Eastern society.
Hey, Remember That IRS Tea Party Scandal?
Not too long ago there was a massive scandal clogging up the front pages of the papers and the cable news airwaves: The IRS was either denying or delaying tax-exempt status to right-leaning “Tea Party” groups. But now things are starting to look a little different.
FAIR TV: The IRS & Obama’s Scandal Trifecta, Matthews Praises Reagan, Newseum Scandal
What should we make of the so-called “trifecta” of scandals hitting the Obama White House? And what questions should we ask about the IRS/Tea Party story? Also this week: Chris Matthews wants Obama to take charge–just like the union-busting Ronald Reagan. And the Newseum decides two Palestinian journalists shouldn’t be considered part of their tribute […]
Dead Journalists and the Newseum Scandal
A memorial for journalists who died while reporting the news wouldn’t seem to be the kind of thing that would attract controversy, but that’s exactly what’s happened with an exhibit at the Newseum.
What’s the Standard on Reporting Israeli Airstrikes?
The claims made about Israeli airstrikes against Syria could be true, or not. What is certain is that the assessments of the airstrikes are being shared anonymously by governments involved in carrying them out, a scenario that cries out for more skepticism.
Misreporting Israel/Gaza Cease-Fire
An Israeli airstrike on Gaza yesterday is being reported as a breach of the cease-fire agreement that was reached after violence last November between the Israeli military and Hamas forces. But the new accounts are misleading: They give the impression that Israel hasn’t regularly violated the agreement already.
How to Read Stories About Israel in the NY Times (Hint: Very Carefully)
Some days the Newspaper of Record says a lot–not always in ways you might expect. Today (3/21/13) a story by Mark Landler and Rick Gladstone about allegations of chemical weapons in Syria includes something you see often–anonymous government sources. That can often be a bad thing; but today it’s pretty useful: Two senior Israeli officials, […]
Two Peoples, Two Pictures
There was a pair of pictures on the front page of USA Today today, meant to illustrate a story about President Barack Obama’s visit to Israel and the Occupied Territories. It actually illustrated the very different ways Israelis and Palestinians are depicted in U.S. media.
‘What Palestinians Said Was Israeli Aggression’: The Death of Omar al-Masharawi
A new report from the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights tallies the extent of the death and destruction from Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip last November. But the headlines generated by the report focused on one child in Gaza, 11-month-old Omar al-Masharawi, and the claim that he was not killed by Israelis.
SoundBites March 2013
If It Weren’t for Those Meddling Iranians “This demonstrates the ever pernicious Iranian meddling in other countries in the region.” —unnamed U.S. official complaining to Reuters (1/28/13) about Iran allegedly sending arms to Yemen, where the U.S. is conducting a secret drone war Extreme Weather, Unexplained NBC Nightly News (1/13/13) asked a serious question, […]
PBS Goes to Israel and Palestine–Mostly Israel
When NewsHour anchor Gwen Ifill said, “We will hear more from Margaret [Warner] as she travels through Israel, the West Bank and Gaza over the next week and a half,” That sounded like it could be be an interesting opportunity for TV viewers to get a glimpse of Palestinian life. But that’s not what PBS chose to put on the air.
FAIR TV: Big Papers Withhold News, Curious ‘Confirmation’ of Israeli Gov’t Claims, 60 Minutes Plays Softball
This week on FAIR TV we take a look at the the “informal arrangement” between several media outlets–including the New York Times and the Washington Post– to not report news about a CIA drone base.
We also talk about the curious standard for “confirming” news from Israeli government officials, and we take a look at the 60 Minutes softball interview with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
When ‘Confirmed’ Means ‘An Official Told Me So’
NBC’s Richard Engel report that “what we’ve been able to confirm” is that a Syrian convoy attacked by Israel “was packed with fairly sophisticated Russian anti-aircraft missiles.” It is highly doubtful that Engel could “confirm” any such thing–unless by “confirm” he means that NBC is confirming that government sources are claiming what they are claiming.
FAIR TV: France vs. Spain, NYT Erases West Bank Occupation, Wall Street Journal’s Tax Graphic
On the new FAIR TV: The Washington Post says France had better slash wages and benefits in order to be more like Spain. Why would they want to do that? The New York Times erases a headline referring to the occupation of the West Bank. And when the Wall Street Journal wanted to show what […]
Are Israeli Arabs ‘Apathetic’–or Second-Class Citizens?
For a variety of reasons, Arab citizens of Israel don’t seem all that excited about voting in next week’s elections. And, for some reason, this strike the New York Times’ Jodi Rudoren as “apathy.” But the Arab sentiments she reports sure don’t sound like apathy.
NYT Rewrites Accurate Occupation Headline
Non-violent protesters came up with a novel way to protest Israeli plans to build more settlement colonies in the occupied West Bank: They occupied the land themselves. The New York Times reported the news on Saturday. But the most remarkable thing is what they did with the headline.
Chuck Hagel, Dove?
Barack Obama nominated Republican ex-Senator Chuck Hagel to be his next Defense secretary today. The story can seem a little bit confusing–often because of misleading recaps of Hagel’s career, which can make him sound like more like Dennis Kucinich than like the Republican who voted in favor of the Iraq War.
