THE DEBATE ON GAZA COVERAGE CONTINUES IN DOHAG-20 CAN”T ITS SH*T TOGETHERWASH POST CUTS BUSINESS SECTIONThe Al Jazeera Forum I attended in Doha came to a close on Monday. One of the final panels focused in on coverage of Gaza. I tried to blog it live:
Wadah Khanfer, the General Manager of Al Jazeera closed the conference with references to how ethnic differences can be used to divide people and journalists. He calls for more balance within the region , and that we have to look at societies from the inside and to aspire for journalism of depth. We have to look at reality as it is. The debate is no longer about objectivity or subjectivity We need to interpret the reality we see to promote understanding, and not offer disconnected facts. The speakers:
Speakers:
* Robert Fisk - Middle East correspondent, ‘The Independent’* Alain Gresh - deputy director, ‘Le Monde Diplomatique’* Ahmed El Sheikh - editor-in-chief, Al Jazeera Satellite channel* Ayman Mohyeldin - Gaza correspondent, Al Jazeera English channel [was at CNN, AJE- NBC, DC—Doha, moved to AJ ; set up office in Gaza]
Robert Fisk: We fail to give Palestinian history—we erase their land. The reporting of yhe Middle East is incomprehensible. We speak of disputed land, not occupied land. We hear about Jewish neighborhoods, not lands that were occupied. We speak of a fence or security barrier not a WALL. One of the most important things is to reject accusations that coverage is anti-semetic.
Alain: French media was more split in France. There is a tradition of covering the Middle East in France. The coverage only spoke of the attacks by bombs. There was no reference to the cease fire, and that Israel broke it. The Arab opinion is not strong in most media except Al Jazeera. Israel is perceived now as a part of the Western world, not a as a conflict within the Arab world. The conflict is thus perceived between the Western world and the Islamic world.
Ahmad Sheik: Tells a story about opening a bureau in Kabul. They want us to ask questions that avoid the realities of war. We knew the war was coming. We expected atrocities. We covered the casualties in the hospitals. We were accused of running indecent images…The bombardment was not a headline; the “lull for a a few hours Was. After the war there was no coverage. Who banned journalists from Gaza—Israel!
You can’t just show pictures. Justice and honesty have to prevail! Dan Rather was interviewed after the Iraq War. He e said that coverage of horror in Vietnam led to public reaction. He said that their coverage of Gaza had a similar impact.
The difficulties we were facing were that we couldn’t reach all sources of information. Our people were in danger, we were afraid for them, we told them not to take risks. Many reporters didn’t want to leave their positions.
Ahman: What were seeing was horrifying We felt a sense of obligation being the only English language people there. That helped us overcome our fears, At the end of the day, we had an obligation We knew we would be scrutinized.
Hibah, Correspondent: What we suffered from is hard to explain. AJ presented the real picture , the real picture of suffering, I am proud to have been part of it. I was crying while working. I cried when I saw the suffering of the children and parents, I saw Gaza slaughtered The people were resisting
Impact of Israeli Lobby on the coverage?
All the western journalists standing on a hill wearing flak jackets even though they were not in danger was obscene. We had a Palestinian correspondents who reported on the death of his father. He didn’t cover the war.
Shareen Tablis was there. There was a psychological war from Israel. They told people to flee but they closed the borders so they couldn’t flee. Eveyone felt like a target in Gaza. We had to telll the story, Israel psychological warfare units TEXTED reporters
Alain: It was prepared by Israel prepared it for months—organizing visits to Sidot, launching propaganda in Europe. They had a line: “We must respond to rocket attacks.” Their strategy failed because the was was so disproprtinate. This was the first defeat of the propaganda war. Israel framed the war as East to West. Journalists in France said “Israel is fighting for us” It was portrayed as war against Islamic terrorism.
Israel lobby is very active
Aidan White: Israel lost media war. They had a three prong strategy To control media inside Gaza To limit media access to Gaza and multi0media campaign in the west Israel targetd media in Gaza. Difference between Arabic coverage and English Lang coverage?
Sheilk: Coverage was Balanced! Israel wouldn’t let us travel to the places hit by Hamas rockets.
Fisk opposed the idea of Balance as 50/50—Journalists should be neutral and balanced on the side of the victims. We need as journalists to stand and say this is about injustice
Ayman: Western media chose not to have a presence in Gaza. They could have come in earlier. ..Western media failed to tell the story of people being choked to death …
Fisk cited the story of Al Jazeera crews sending our satellite pictures of massacres by British Tv who were told by news organizations in London who said they could never run it because it would offend viewers. But then it was said that they couldn’t do it because it would be unfair to the dead. And yet these people were not being covered when they were alive.
Atwan: Criticizes President Obama compared his children to Israeli journalists under attack but not Palestinian children.
Fisk: Says he believes Obama will not make any difference. You are not going to get anything from Obama.'
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