By Sharif Hikmat Nashashibi, Arab Media Watch
Introduction
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is often in the news, and violence is one of the most reported aspects of that conflict. As such, how that aspect is covered is extremely important, as it shapes public understandings and perceptions of the peoples involved.
The BBC and Al Jazeera are two of the world's biggest broadcasters. Arab Media Watch monitored how their respective English-language websites reported acts of violence between Israelis and Palestinians for four months, from 1 February to 31 May 2009.
AMW analysed the prominence of each side's viewpoint and version of events by monitoring how many words were devoted to quoting and paraphrasing Israeli and Palestinian sources, and in what order they were reported. AMW also analysed the prevalence with which each side is portrayed as instigating or responding to violence.
The results are startling, not just due to the one-sidedness of BBC coverage, but also because Al Jazeera fared little better.
Summary of Results
- While every BBC article included Israeli sources, 35 per cent had no Palestinian sources.
- While every Al Jazeera article had Israeli sources, 11 per cent had no Palestinian sources.
- 82 per cent of BBC articles containing sources from both sides devoted more words to Israeli sources.
- 69 per cent of Al Jazeera articles containing sources from both sides devoted more words to Israeli sources.
- Of the articles containing sources from both sides, the majority for both the BBC and Al Jazeera reported Israeli sources first: 59 per cent and 53 per cent , respectively.
- When articles contained more words for Israeli sources than Palestinian, the BBC averaged 3.3 times more words for Israeli sources per article, while Al Jazeera averaged 3.4 times more words.
- When articles contained more words for Palestinian sources, both broadcasters averaged 1.8 times more words for Palestinian sources.
- The BBC published four pictures with captions citing Israeli sources. Al Jazeera
- The absence of Palestinian sources and viewpoints, and the predominance of those from the Israeli side, go against the editorial guidelines of both broadcasters.
- Both broadcasters used words that unequivocally portrayed Israeli violence as a direct response to Palestinian violence. The BBC did so six times, Al Jazeera three times. On no occasion did either portray Palestinian violence as a direct response to Israeli violence.
- The BBC and Al Jazeera overwhelmingly reported Israeli violence as following Palestinian violence: 10 times and seven times, respectively. Only once did the BBC report Palestinian violence as following Israeli violence. This was one occasion more than Al Jazeera.
BBC and Al-Jazeera coverage of Israeli-Palestinian violence
Friday, 26 June 2009
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Letter to Britain's Daily Telegraph
Congratulations
Dear Editor,Congratulations for exposing the extent to which MPs of all parties are abusing the spirit, if not the letter, of the parliamentary expenses system, which was designed to help them better represent the British people, not enrich themselves.
Will you now go a step further and expose how agents of a foreign power, the State of Israel, have penetrated into the deepest recesses of the British political system, corrupting political decisions in a manner that is contrary to the British national interest?
(See http://www.redress.cc/stooges/redress20090209)
Thanks to Israel’s agents of influence, politicians and other key figures in the British political system are taking decisions and making policies on behalf of Israel that are not in the British national interest. British politicians elected by the public to represent them and to safeguard British national interests are instead acting as agents of influence for Israel, a foreign power whose behaviour and values are loathsome to the British people.
We salute your courage in risking the wrath of the political establishment by exposing the abuse of the expenses system. We hope that you will now take the even more courageous step of exposing those who are not only undermining British national interests and Britain's international reputation, but also prolonging the festering sore of injustice in Palestine whose repercussions run far beyond the Middle East.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed)
Editor
Redress Information & Analysis
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Redress Information & Analysis is dedicated
to exposing injustice, disinformation and
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interpretations of current affairs.
Friday, 8 May 2009
Saturday, 25 April 2009
London concert for Medical Aid for Palestinians
Benefit Concert not to be missed! Gilad Atzmon performs with his renowned quartet and with special guest Nigel Kennedy.
If that were not enough, someone we love and a true rising star, Sarah Gillespie, will be showcasing her highly-acclaimed debut release. Add to the mix the award winning singer composer Christine Tobin, the incredible accordionist Chico Chagas, multiple award-winning Caroline Bird and the exciting atmosphere of the 606 Club, and there are all the makings of a night to remember!
Thursday 30th April 2009 @ 606 Club 7.30 p.m. £15.00.Gilad Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble with special guest Nigel Kennedy. "Gilad Atzmon, the expat Israeli Saxophonist/clarinetist, combines thrilling jazz musicianship with maverick political intelligence" (The Guardian). Featuring drums prodigy Eddie Hicks on drums, the quartet breaths a renewed spirit into their original repertoire of Arabic-infused bebop, performed with Atzmon's trademark mix of euphoric bluster and heartfelt fragility. With Yaron Stavi (bass), Frank Harrison (piano and electronics), Eddie Hicks (drums) and joined tonight by world famous violinist Nigel Kennedy.
Call 0207 352 5953 to book a table for dinner.
Christine Tobin. "One of the country's finest musicians" (Time Out). Irish born jazz/folk songstress performs an intimate set of groundbreaking original material that won her the 2008 BBC Jazz award for Best Vocalist.
Sarah Gillespie."An incandescent new presence who matches her imposing delivery with superior lyrics” (The Guardian). Singer-songwriter Sarah Gillespie delivers a melting-pot mix of urban-folk and Middle-Eastern blues. Performing original songs from her new album Stalking Juliet, expect emotive ballads and raucous gypsy swing – all with her trademark lyricism that knits everyday banter with raw poetry.
Chico Chagas. Virtuoso accordionist from Brazil performs mesmerizing world jazz, joined here by dynamite Brazilian percussionist Adriano Adewale.
Caroline Bird. Multiple award-winning, critically acclaimed poet combines fairytale fantasy with domestic grit. The overwhelmingly talented prodigy was born in 1986 and is already compared to Dylan Thomas and TS Elliott.
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