Media bias ensures Hamas is always going to win PR battle

[shira]

Why are terror groups so very good at PR?

Because people who don’t ask a lot of hard questions allow themselves to be taken in by them. It happened here. And it is happening now in the Middle East. We used to talk in these parts about visiting commentators being seduced by the whiff of cordite. Never mind that the ‘freedom fighters’ exuding gun smoke and hype were murdering fascists whose main victims were their own community.

They’d portrayed themselves as the underdogs — the oppressed. And that, temporarily anyway, was PR gold. It still is ?

Today, according to the broad brushstroke coverage of the crisis in Gaza, Israelis are the mindless, inhumane bully boys of the Middle East. The raids on Gaza we’re told, are purely about ‘revenge’. Not about trying to end a truly intolerable situation where hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians have been living in fear of being killed by totally indiscriminate bombing by Qassam rockets.


more:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/lindy-mcdowell/media-bias-ensures-hamas-is-always-going-to-win-pr-battle-14131210.html

[bemildred]

1. What bullshit.

It's the nasty pictures coming out of what has been done, that's the problem, not the clever lies. And what about this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x253766

How is that "losing the PR battle"?

[oberliner]

2. Your link is to an article about a survey in the US

I think this article is talking about the rest of the world (It's from an Irish newspaper).

I'm pretty confident that the responses in other countries to that CNN poll would not mirror the US results.

[bemildred]

4. And I'm arguing that the results are not because of some PR campaign.

The rest of the world got a much clearer picture of what was going on.

[oberliner]

5. You think the US media was biased but the media in other countries was not?

I don't think that media outlets outside the US are immune to bias.

[bemildred]

6. No, I think the US media did not show a lot of gory pictures.

We're too sensitive here for that sort of thing.

[shira]

8. What happened with Dan Rather and his career

does not tend to happen overseas in Europe, for example.

Whether the situation with Rather was fair or not, the US seems more committed to honest and accurate journalism than most other foreign media. People believed Dan Rather lied and that he should have fessed up. He didn't and he was fired. Right or wrong, heads roll here in the USA due to advocacy journalism that is fast and loose with the facts.

The European media doesn't work this way at all.

Read here:
http://www.astonesthrow.ch/analysis_rather.htm

The point being, US media is more committed to accuracy while foreign media is more commited to advocacy. Hence, the difference in opinions between Americans and Europeans polled on the I/P conflict.

The influence of media is scary. And most people either do not have the time or inclination to to do any fact-checking on all that is I/P. They trust their media to do all that for them.

[shira]

10. media intimidation by the PA leads to heavy anti-Israel bias

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2000/10/Coverage%20of%20Oct%2012%20Lynch%20in%20Ramallah%20by%20Italian%20TV

For allowing an Italian broadcast of the Ramallah lynching in Oct 2000 to hit Israeli airwaves and TV, this is the letter of apology addressed to Yassir Arafat (which Arafat made public and boasted about):

"My dear friends in Palestine. We congratulate you and think that it is our duty to put you in the picture (of the events) of what happened on October 12 in Ramallah. One of the private Italian television stations which competes with us (and not the official Italian television station RAI) filmed the events; that station filmed the events. Afterwards Israeli Television broadcast the pictures, as taken from one of the Italian stations, and thus the public impression was created as if we (RAI) took these pictures.

We emphasize to all of you that the events did not happen this way, because we always respect (will continue to respect) the journalistic procedures with the Palestinian Authority for (journalistic) work in Palestine and we are credible in our precise work.

We thank you for your trust, and you can be sure that this is not our way of acting. We do not (will not) do such a thing.

Please accept our dear blessings.

Signed,
Ricardo Christiano
Representative of RAI in the Palestinian Authority
(the official Italian station)

[shira]

11. Advocacy trumps ethics: European Journalists support Enderlin's fraudulent al-Dura footage

http://www.debriefing.org/26489.html

APPEAL
For Charles Enderlin
NOUVELOBS.COM | 04.06.2008 | 15:39

Seven years. It’s now seven years that an obstinate and hateful campaign has tried to tarnish the professional dignity of our colleague Charels Enderlin, correspondent for France2 in Jerusalem. For seven years the same individuals have attempted to present as a “hoax” and a “series of staged scenes” his report showing the death of Mohammed al-Doura, 12 years old, killed by fire coming from the Israeli position on the 30 of September 2000 in the Gaza Strip during a confrontation between the Israeli army and armed Palestinians.

On the 19 of October 2006, the correctional tribunal of Paris had judged the principle animator of this campagne, Philippe Karsenty, guilty of defamation.

The decision rendered on the 21 of May by the appeals court of Paris, invoked by Philippe Karsenty recognizes that the claims made by him “unquestionably struck at the honor and professional reputations of the information professionnels” but admits, curiously, that the “good faith” of Philippe Karsenty, who “exercised his right to free criticism” and “did not transgress the limits of free speech.” This decision which exonerates Philippe Karsenty both surprises and worries us.

We are surprised, because it grants the same credibility to a journalist known for the seriousness and rigor of his work, who exercises his profession in sometimes difficult conditions, and to his detractors, engaged in a campaign of negation and discrediting, who ignore all the realities of the terrain and have no experience of reporting from a conflict zone.

It worries us, because it gives permission in the future for a “permission to defame” journalists, which would permit anyone, in the name of “good faith” and “the right of free criticism,” to strike with impunity at the “honor and reputation of information professionals.”

At a time when the freedom of action of journalists is the object of repeated attacks, we invoke our attachment to this fundamental principle, pillar of democracy and we renew our support and solidarity with Charles Enderlin.

Paris, 27 of May 2008

[shira]

3. Pilar Rahola's latest

http://www.pilarrahola.com/3_0/PRESENTACIO/default.cfm?IDIOMA=ENG

Why don’t we see demonstrations against Islamic dictatorships in London, Paris, Barcelona? Or demonstrations against the Burmese dictatorship? Why aren’t there demonstrations against the enslavement of millions of women who live without any legal protection? Why aren’t there demonstrations against the use of children as human bombs where there is conflict with Islam? Why has there been no leadership in support of the victims of Islamic dictatorship in Sudan? Why is there never any outrage against the acts of terrorism committed against Israel? Why is there no outcry by the European left against Islamic fanaticism? Why don’t they defend Israel’s right to exist? Why confuse support of the Palestinian cause with the defense of Palestinian terrorism? An finally, the million dollar question:Why is the left in Europe and around the world obsessed with the two most solid democracies, the United States and Israel, and not with the worst dictatorships on the planet? The two most solid democracies, who have suffered the bloodiest attacks of terrorism, and the left doesn’t care.

And then, to the concept of freedom. In every pro Palestinian European forum I hear the left yelling with fervor: “We want freedom for the people!” Not true. They are never concerned with freedom for the people of Syria or Yemen or Iran or Sudan, or other such nations. And they are never preoccupied when Hammas destroys freedom for the Palestinians. They are only concerned with using the concept of Palestinian freedom as a weapon against Israeli freedom. The resulting consequence of these ideological pathologies is the manipulation of the press.

The international press does major damage when reporting on the question of the Israeli-Palestinian issue. On this topic they don’t inform, they propagandize. When reporting about Israel the majority of journalists forget the reporter code of ethics. And so, any Israeli act of self-defense becomes a massacre, and any confrontation, genocide. So many stupid things have been written about Israel, that there aren’t any accusations left to level against her. At the same time, this press never discusses Syrian and Iranian interference in propagating violence against Israel; the indoctrination of children and the corruption of the Palestinians. And when reporting about victims, every Palestinian casualty is reported as tragedy and every Israeli victim is camouflaged, hidden or reported about with disdain.

And let me add on the topic of the Spanish left. Many are the examples that illustrate the anti-Americanism and anti-Israeli sentiments that define the Spanish left. For example, one of the leftist parties in Spain has just expelled one of its members for creating a pro-Israel website. I quote from the expulsion document: “Our friends are the people of Iran, Libya and Venezuela, oppressed by imperialism, and not a Nazi state like Israel.”

In another example, the socialist mayor of Campozuelos changed Shoah Day, commemorating the victims of the Holocaust, with Palestinian Nabka Day, which mourns the establishment of the State of Israel, thus showing contempt for the six million European Jews murdered in the Holocaust. Or in my native city of Barcelona, the city council decided to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel, by having a week of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Thus, they invited Leila Khaled, a noted terrorist from the 70’s and current leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a terrorist organization so described by the European Union, which promotes the use of bombs against Israel. And so on and so on.

This politically correct way of thinking has even polluted the speeches of president Zapatero. His foreign policy falls within the lunatic left, and on issues of the Middle East he is unequivocally pro Arab. I can assure you that in private, Zapatero places on Israel the blame for the conflict in the Middle East, and the policies of foreign minister Moratinos reflect this. The fact that Zapatero chose to wear a kafiah in the midst of the Lebanon conflict is no coincidence; it’s a symbol.

Spain has suffered the worst terrorist attack in Europe and it is in the crosshairs of every Islamic terrorist organization. As I wrote before, they kill us will cell phones hooked to satellites connected to the Middle Ages. An yet the Spanish left is the most anti Israeli in the world.

And then it says it is anti Israeli because of solidarity. This is the madness I want to denounce in this conference.

Conclusion:

I am not Jewish. Ideologically I am left and by profession a journalist. Why am I not as anti Israeli as my colleagues? Because as a non-Jew I have the historical responsibility to fight against Jewish hatred and currently against the hatred for their historic homeland, Israel. To fight against anti-Semitism is not the duty of the Jews, it is the duty of the non-Jews.

As a journalist it is my duty to search for the truth beyond prejudice, lies and manipulations. The truth about Israel is not told. As a person from the left who loves progress, I am obligated to defend liberty, culture, civic education for children, coexistence and the laws that the Tablets of the Covenant made into universal principles. Principles that Islamic fundamentalism systematically destroys. That is to say that as a non-Jew, journalist and lefty I have a triple moral duty with Israel, because if Israel is destroyed, liberty, modernity and culture will be destroyed too.

The struggle of Israel, even if the world doesn’t want to accept it, is the struggle of the world.

[islandmkl]

7. my summation of rahola's 'conclusion':

one does not have to be jewish to be a fervent zionist...

[shira]

9. that's all you got from her article?

pretty sad.

[Madam Mossfern]

12. Sorry to digress from the vital topic

but that's one beautiful dog!

Now, on topic:

Do you think it was a huge mistake for Israel not to let in reporters?

[parkia00]

13. It is not media bias

If it is, then I guess the majority of the worlds media is somehow anti-Israel. Not to get into an non ending argument with tin foil hat fellas about the world being against Israel and how Israel is the shining beacon of light etc...and all that. The basic fact is that no country's propaganda machine can compete with images and videos of large numbers of dead, blown up and mutilated children. Such propaganda can be successful at the home front but much more difficult to implement against outsiders looking in.

The natural human tendency when seeing such images is to react with horror and disgust at the entity that caused the deaths; that being Israel. You can argue that Hamas was hiding behind the children and using them as human shields but anger will be directed to both parties but especially to the party that did the killing. Hamas put the children in danger but it was Israel that directly did the killing and that is why Israel is getting the bad rap. And this gets even worse when Israel tries to justify such deaths as people see Israel put forward multiple reasons why their actions that killed all those innocents were just. People are not going to be impressed.

Israel has failed to understand this issue continiously in its dealings with the Palestinian and Lebanon. Israel's propaganda machine is self defeating and makes the situation worse for itself. They come over as being arrogant, making the same statements over and over again, never really answering questions but always trying to push all blame to the other party, giving half truths knowing that others know full well they are giving half truths and changing their story when it's convenient. Not to mention the often cold stance of Israel's spokesperson. It's like having a press conference with the borg.

Sure Hamas does the same. But Hamas has the trump card they use. They have those images and videos of dead children showing them to reporters who broadcast them worldwide. Israel tries the same thing. They show their side suffering too from the rockets. Then you are faced with a very big problem. The vast disparity in damage and deaths on one side compared to the other side. To the average person looking at the damage and deaths in Gaza to the damage and deaths in Israel because of the rockets. They are going to see the Gaza neighborhoods reduced to rubble, the overfilling hospitals, the blood, the wailing mothers and then they are going to see the Israel side. The slightly damaged homes, the crater in the garden, the car with the blown out windscreen, a funeral for a innocent victim and always; the person treated for shock. These viewers assuming they are neutral are going to say WTF Israel, the rockets are wrong but this justifies all that you are going in Gaza right now?! And guess what? Once a person does this, it's another person that Israel has lost to it's cause and it's side of the argument. And Israel has being doing a lot of that lately.

[Vegasaurus]

14. Fortunately, it is only a crazy group of David Duke skin head types

and faux "progressives" who support terrorists like Hamas.

Most sane people don't trust terrorists like Hamas.

[shaayecanaan]

15. The Belfast tele makes carrot juice look like cabbage water...

its that fucking orange. I have no doubt they empathise with Israel, much as the Irish Times (the main Catolic rag in Belfast) tends to sympathise with the Palestinians. I'll leave you to guess why that might be...

Question for you: do you think the Catholics in NI had more to complain about than the Palestinians?

[shira]

16. IFJ claims Hamas intimidates journalists in Gaza

"The last month has been hell for journalists working in Gaza, "said Aidan White. "It is impossible to properly investigate the media situation in Gaza without considering the difficulties facing journalists, particularly because of the Hamas regime. It is clear that Hamas are no friends of media freedom and have been ruthless in their intimidation and manipulation of the media. The situation of journalists in Gaza was already intolerable without military activity and this latest conflict has not made it any better. The IFJ is particularly concerned by Hamas' attempts to interfere in the work of Palestinian journalists. Now that the violence has stopped, it is time for all sides, including Hamas, to allow journalists to work freely."

The IFJ is working with the Federation of Arab journalists to put in place mechanisms which will support and contribute to the unity among journalists in Palestine.

"Journalists in Palestine have been victims of sectarianism and divisions," said White. "They must stand aside these and forge unity and harmony for the good of journalism in Palestine."

For more information contact the IFJ at [phone]

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 123 countries worldwide

http://www.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-praises-courageous-journalists-as-mission-enters-gaza

[shira]

17. The ICJ protects journalists representing the MSM

but can anyone find articles in the MSM that mention this Hamas intimidation?

There have been plenty of articles in MSM that criticize Israel's media blackout of Gaza....but how about MSM coverage of this?

Anyone?

Bueller?