Flags and Barriers: Essays on Reporting from Israel and Palestine
Vienna: International Press Institute (IPI) (2014), 35 pp.
"In the following short essays, journalists from Palestine and Israel were asked to reflect on how local media covers the conflict and other news. These pieces have been organized here into four broad sections. The first chapter explores different ways in which the news is skewed, especially Israeli and Palestinian coverage of the Arab uprisings. The second chapter looks at the tension between being a patriot and a good journalist. The third section describes some of the day-to-day restrictions that hinder reporting and build frustration. In the last section, the authors suggest ways that Israeli and Palestinian journalists can minimize the impact that these hindrances, both psychological and physical, have on their work." (Introduction)
I. SKEWED NEWS
Challenging the Army’s Narrative of Events in the West Bank and Gaza / Lisa Goldman, 8
On Not Depicting the Other Side in Coverage of the Arab Spring / Lara Habash, 9
The Earth is Shaking in Egypt / Gal Berger, 10
Israeli Media Serving the Official Narrative / Muhammad Yunus, 12
About Women / Anat Saragusti, 13
II. THE JOB OF JOUNALISTS
Identity Crisis: Being a Journalist in a State of War / Uri Blau, 16
Autoimmunity / Wadea Awawdy, 17
Distractions: Wag the Dog / Lily Galili, 18
Missing the Point in Arab Spring Coverage / Yana Suryadnaya, 19
Israeli Media Can’t Imagine a Partner for Peace / Anonymous, 20
The Power of Pictures / Danny Rubinstein, 21
III. OBSTACLES
The Role of the Arab Revolutions in Press Freedom / Anonymous, 24
Slow Down, Stop… There is a Checkpoint Ahead / Anonymous, 25
Getting Across to the Seventy Percent / Anonymous, 26
Freedom of Movement and its Effect on Media Coverage / Lara Habash, 26
IV. STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Cooperation to Bypass Barriers, Censorship and Silencing / Danny Zaken, 30
Unprofessional Media Terminology Strengthens the Culture of Hate / Anonymous, 31
Israeli Journalists Should Defend Press Freedom for Their Palestinian Colleagues / Lisa Goldman, 32
Time for New Voices in Israeli-Palestinian Peace Negotiations / Ruth Eglash, 33
A Modest Suggestion for a Simple Guide / Yoel Esteron, 34
Challenging the Army’s Narrative of Events in the West Bank and Gaza / Lisa Goldman, 8
On Not Depicting the Other Side in Coverage of the Arab Spring / Lara Habash, 9
The Earth is Shaking in Egypt / Gal Berger, 10
Israeli Media Serving the Official Narrative / Muhammad Yunus, 12
About Women / Anat Saragusti, 13
II. THE JOB OF JOUNALISTS
Identity Crisis: Being a Journalist in a State of War / Uri Blau, 16
Autoimmunity / Wadea Awawdy, 17
Distractions: Wag the Dog / Lily Galili, 18
Missing the Point in Arab Spring Coverage / Yana Suryadnaya, 19
Israeli Media Can’t Imagine a Partner for Peace / Anonymous, 20
The Power of Pictures / Danny Rubinstein, 21
III. OBSTACLES
The Role of the Arab Revolutions in Press Freedom / Anonymous, 24
Slow Down, Stop… There is a Checkpoint Ahead / Anonymous, 25
Getting Across to the Seventy Percent / Anonymous, 26
Freedom of Movement and its Effect on Media Coverage / Lara Habash, 26
IV. STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Cooperation to Bypass Barriers, Censorship and Silencing / Danny Zaken, 30
Unprofessional Media Terminology Strengthens the Culture of Hate / Anonymous, 31
Israeli Journalists Should Defend Press Freedom for Their Palestinian Colleagues / Lisa Goldman, 32
Time for New Voices in Israeli-Palestinian Peace Negotiations / Ruth Eglash, 33
A Modest Suggestion for a Simple Guide / Yoel Esteron, 34
