Voices missing: Israeli media’s selective coverageーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

Key Concepts

• Media Coverage Disparity: A significant difference in the amount of media attention given to the hostage issue versus the Gaza famine.
• Channel 14: A conservative Israeli media outlet with rising ratings, known for coverage sympathetic to the government's stance on military action against Hamas.
• Government Influence on Media: The Netanyahu administration's support for Channel 14 through increased ad spending and withdrawal of ads from critical outlets.
• Journalistic Challenges: The difficulties faced by journalists in reporting on the reality of the situation in Gaza due to audience influence and emotional impact.
• Commercial Broadcasting Pressures: The prioritization of ratings and viewer preferences over reporting on humanitarian suffering in Gaza by commercial broadcasters.
• Public Opinion and Media Consumption: The potential impact of media narratives on Israeli public opinion regarding the conflict and humanitarian situation.
• Impartial Journalism: The importance of unbiased reporting for Israelis to understand the global perspective and make informed decisions.

Media Coverage and Public Opinion in Israel

Disparity in Reporting Focus

Over the past two years, major Israeli media networks have focused on the hostage issue five times more than on the Gaza famine. This disparity in reporting is a significant factor that may influence future military actions.

Channel 14: A Conservative Voice

• Growth and Influence: Channel 14, a private conservative broadcaster, has seen its ratings rise by approximately 20% over the last two years, becoming the second most-watched media service in Israel.
• Government Sympathy: The outlet is known for its coverage that aligns with the government's narrative, justifying military action as necessary to destroy Hamas and attributing civilian casualties to Hamas.
• Anchor's Perspective: An anchor from Channel 14 stated, "I don't think we should ignore what's happening there, but putting headlines on it and focusing on it as if it were our own war, that would be wrong."

Government Support and Media Control

The Netanyahu administration actively supports Channel 14. Purchases of airtime for government ad campaigns on the channel have increased by 3.8 times since the military operation in Gaza began. Concurrently, the government has withdrawn advertising from media outlets critical of its policies and has even called for boycotts of some of these outlets.

Public Perception of Coverage

A May survey indicated that 64% of respondents were satisfied with the current balance of media coverage. While some Israelis are critical of Channel 14's reporting, they may also acknowledge the misery in Gaza, suggesting a complex public sentiment.

Challenges for Journalists

Even journalists at media outlets critical of the government find reporting on the reality in Gaza to be challenging.

• Roy Kais, Correspondent for Khan (Public Broadcaster): Fluent in Arabic and experienced in reporting from the Arab world, Kais believes it's essential to report on the Palestinian side. However, he acknowledges that "our viewers are Israelis and that inevitably influences how we report and what we choose to cover."
• Emotional Impact: Journalists are deeply affected by the conflict, with many having personal connections to those impacted by the October 7th Hamas attack. One editor at Khan was killed on that day. As Roy Kais stated, "We are journalists, but human beings first. We can't simply shut off our emotions."

Resignations and Ethical Dilemmas

Some individuals in the media industry, conflicted by the situation, have resigned.

• Matan Maron, Former Editing Assistant at a Top Commercial Broadcaster: Maron reported that footage from Western news agencies depicting the situation in Gaza was rarely used. He was told by the news desk, "This is not footage we will show to Israeli viewers." The rationale provided was that it "didn't fit the management's policy of keeping ratings up and our channel is a commercial broadcaster. We air what our viewers want to see." Management also believed that viewers did not want to see scenes of suffering. Maron subsequently began protesting outside the station's offices.

The Importance of Impartial Journalism

Experts emphasize the critical role of impartial journalism for Israelis, especially in the current climate.

• Expert Opinion: "They don't know what all the world sees. they are being deprived because then you go and it's very easy to believe the whole world is against us. You don't have the tools to to deal with it and to make decisions about what you want your future to look like."

Conclusion

The choices made by Israeli media regarding what to report and what to omit have the potential to shape the country's political future. Major Israeli media outlets continue to focus on reports critical of Hamas, with little apparent increase in public sympathy for the humanitarian suffering in Gaza. While a majority of Israelis support maintaining the ceasefire, a segment also backs continued military action against Hamas and restrictions on aid deliveries.