A SHOCKING LOSS OF MEDIA NERVE: Locked out of Gaza
By Paul D. Boin (Jan. 8, 2009) A Blog for Media Justice
Jointly sponsored by the Media Justice Project & Rabble)
Regardless of where you stand on the current Mideast crisis between
Since the crisis broke out on December 27th, I have been collecting and reading all the editorials published by the major mainstream North American newspapers (New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, Globe and Mail, National Post, and Toronto Star). In these numerous media outlet opinion pieces that carefully detail their official stances on the current crisis, only the New York Times (January 6th editorial, yet still not enough) mentioned a word about the fact that their organizations were being prevented from doing their primary job – being a witness and recorder of world events for the publics they are supposed to be serving.
When one recalls how numerous and ferocious these same media outlets have issued their ‘brave’ editorial positions against being blocked from the courtrooms of a sexy murder case, the hypocrisy is unbearable. During these far less important events, the editorials vehemently blather forth about “The public’s right to know!” and how “A free press is the first and most important measure of a democratic society”. Two weeks after being blocked from covering the most important story in the world at this moment, and five of these six (and all three Canadian) mainstream media popinjays still have not issued a word in protest? Why are there not dozens/hundreds of lead editorials protesting this blatant crime against media freedom?
What makes this even worse is that these very same media organizations have their own brave journalists at the fence of the scene of this critical story just chomping at the bit to get in and do their jobs . The corporate masters and official editorial writers of the major mainstream media organizations are not only letting down the people of the world, and the civilians (on both sides) being killed and maimed, they are letting down their own journalists.
“All the news that’s fit to print.” “
“We have defaulted on our profession,” said Helen Thomas upon reflecting on how her mainstream media journalist colleagues covered the lead-up to the
The disgraceful and cowardly game is up mainstream media. Your hypocrisy has now been laid bare for all the world to see. Will you mainstream media decision-makers summon up enough nerve to honour your profession and your journalists, and to truly serve the public? Will you finally take a real stand for media freedom and the public’s right to know? The world, the victims of this crisis, and your future await your decision.
Dr. Paul Boin (pboin@uwindsor.ca) is an assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Windsor, founder of the Media Justice Project and a member of the Campaign for Democratic Media
January 8th, 2009 at 12:32 pm And yet lots of footage, photography and reporting has come out of Gaza. If the press did go in with the Israelis, wouldn’t they be under the physical control of the Israeli military. I’m quite satisfied that the full story is coming out.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:07 pm to me “press freedom” means being unembedded.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:50 pm It’s been along time since reporters had free movement on a battlefield. This piece lacks an awful lot of context. What is the norm now? What is different here compared with the Lebanon incursions, Iraq and Afghanistan, let alone conflicts like the Ethiopian incursion into Somalia or the recently-completed Sri Lankan conquest of the Tamil Tigers? Can Western reporters function inside Hamas-controlled areas of Gaza? Does monitoring editorial comment constitute enough research? Certainly, there has been come coverage of Israel’s press curbs. Does this count? What of your blanket condemnation of “mainstreeam media”, as though the media is monolithic? How many media outlets really want to take the risk of sending reporters into a war zone. What are their legal liability issues? Insurance issues? And what of the coverage if reporters were there? What exactly do you think we are missing? Would we get substantial reporting or just posing and short film segments with lots of explosions but little real substance?
January 8th, 2009 at 7:10 pm It certainly is possible for reporters to refuse to be escorted/embedded in battlefields if they choose. The CBC refused to be embedded in Iraq (not to mention that no other battlefield has such complete border control as Israel does of Gaza). In the context of my clearly defined parameters (evaluating the editorials on the current crisis in Gaza by the 6 major North American papers I listed) it does indeed constitute a thorough analysis. And they do represent a major/influential portion of the North American mainstream media. And the call amongst the rest of mainstream media for opening Gaza to the press has been virtually nonexistent. As for what information/stories might be gained by reporters being allowed to enter Gaza we’ll never know until they’re allowed in.
January 12th, 2009 at 7:25 pm Dr Boin, I commend you for raising this important issue. In November of last year, various international media organizations, including CTV, wrote Israel’s Prime Minister to contest the decision to ban them from Gaza, (see “Global Media Executives Protest Gaza Press Ban” at http://ap.org/pages/about/whatsnew/wn_111908b.html). Part of the letter reads, "We are gravely concerned about the prolonged and unprecedented denial of access to the Gaza Strip for the international media." Clearly, the letter’s signatories deplored the media blockade. However, by choosing a publicly subdued stance on the issue, they are effectively normalizing the notion that it is acceptable. I have observed this to be particularly the case in Canada. Perhaps a valid reason exists for this stance that is yet to be known. In the absence of a compelling explanation, I wonder if there is a convenience inherent in acceptance here. Perhaps on many levels, they find it safer to watch from the sidelines. Leila Kayali
November 24th, 2009 at 12:52 am Related Article from Index On Censorship: Israel: Press anger over continued censorship 08 Jan 2009 Frustration is growing over Israel’s refusal to allow journalists into the Gaza Strip. Padraig Reidy reports The Foreign Press Association in Israel has expressed anger over the Israeli government’s continued refusal to allow foreign journalists into Gaza. Glenys Sugarman, Executive Secretary of the Foreign Press Association in Israel, told Index on Censorship that the Israeli government was still not allowing six journalists into Gaza, despite a ruling from the Supreme Court that journalists on a list compiled by the FPA must be allowed into the area. Israeli authorities have claimed the FPA has not finalised the list of journalists. ‘We have not changed the list, despite these claims,’ said Sugarman. ‘The government has the list of reporters we supplied a week ago.’ Sugarman said there is only one entry point where journalists can access Gaza. ‘The Erez checkpoint is the only Israeli checkpoint which will deal with international passports,’ she said. ‘There is no other way in to Gaza. Attempting to cross from Egypt means applying to the Egyptian authorities, which can take up to six weeks.’ Director of the Israeli government press office Daniel Seaman told Index on Censorship: ‘The Supreme Court ruling states that journalists could only be allowed into Gaza if conditions permitted. Conditions since the ruling have gotten worse, and there hasn’t been an opportunity to let journalists into Gaza. The army cannot guarantee security at the moment.’ A BBC cameraman yesterday gained access to Gaza, embedded with an IDF unit. Originally Posted at: http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2009/01/israel-press-anger-over-continued-censorship/