Publications:
Since its inception in 2000, I’lam has worked towards expanding the Arab bookshelf with publications in Arabic, English and Hebrew. I’lam’s publications concentrate on culture and media—from discussions of the Palestinian population’s media consumption to studies on the development of Arab media and its coverage of particular fields.

Productions:
The goal of the cinematic production unit is to promote the creative talent of Palestinians living in Israel and to improve experts' abilities in several fields: screenwriting, directing, photography and editing. It is also to introduce the realities of Palestinian life in Israel to the international community by highlighting important aspects of Palestinians’ day-to-day political, social and cultural lives.

The unit monitors both Arab and Hebrew media with the goal of bolstering journalistic integrity, fairness and equality.

In this unit, we seek to strengthen and improve the skills of the Palestinian community in Israel (PCI) in the field of media. I’lam aims to increase social awareness about the media’s significance in shaping the lives of the PCI, and to protect and promote the rights of the community. Our primary target groups are journalists and other media practitioners, and members of the community, particularly youth and women. These missions stem from I’lam’s belief in the importance of democracy —freedom of speech, freedom of the press, pluralism, respect for all in society. The unit has several goals: integrating the values of democracy into the education system, fostering widespread respect for human rights, protecting all basic freedoms both within and outside Arab society in Israel, advancing professionalism in journalism, and creating an awareness in society of the media’s role in shaping public policy. Acknowledging that the media shapes opinion by concentrating its resources on certain perspectives, I’lam’s goal is also to transform the media into a driving force for the positive development of society. We also seek to improve journalists’ work conditions materially and to fully implementing among journalists the statutes defined in the Code of Ethics we instituted for journalists. 1a. Training and Supporting Professionalism for Arab Journalists I’lam works to develop general professional and communication skills in the PCI. Arab journalists and Arab media outlets, for this reason, are paramount. Our central purpose is to establish an ethical work culture for Arab journalists in Israel, and to make the Arab media's role significant in shaping public opinion. The Center functions with this goal in mind throughout its operations year round. I’lam conducts educational courses for reporters. Dozens of journalists partake in these courses that cover the subjects of editing, building news stories, photography, the use of social media and other internet technology, and specialized reporting on gender sensitivity, human rights journalism, conflict sensitive journalism, and journalism specializing in environmental and economic issues. I’lam ensures that all courses are taught by Palestinian experts in the media field. For example, several courses are held in collaboration with Birzeit University’s communications unit, as well as with local Israeli institutions. Alongside these aspects of its operations, I’lam organizes tours for dozens of journalists in order to demonstrate to them the situation faced by PCI journalists. Representatives of the Israeli press also participate in these tours, opening the door to cross-cultural discussions of this Palestinian issue. 1b. Media Education for Youth Media Education for student youth is conducted through study groups in local Arab high schools. The program offers students lectures and professional workshops, teaching them to understand media concerns and operations. Through this program, students learn how to be critical media consumers, and how to classify different types of media content. The media consumption education project was initially held in two schools. Thanks to its success, the project was expanded to include five schools in 2013, just four years after it began. The project reaches students from various backgrounds, geographical areas, and fields of study.

 This three-year I'lam project, launched in February 2011, aims to protect, promote and fulfil human rights of the Palestinian minority in Israel vis-à-vis the state and within their own community through the power of a human-rights responsive media. The Action’s specific objective is to build a Human-Rights sensitive media culture in the Arabic and Hebrew media landscapes in Israel.

In 2012, I’lam began publishing the Arab-language periodical Sijal that addresses media concerns. It is the first critical periodical of its kind, combining analytical and critical viewpoints on media issues of public interest. The publication's importance stems from the centrality of media in the realms of finance, society and politics. It is impossible to discuss any life subject without media, especially because media does not constitute a neutral sphere involving only social, financial and political players, but is considered a player in itself, carrying its own cultural and political weight. Its influence on the public agenda and its role in forming public opinion cannot be ignored. I’lam chose the name Sijal (‘Debate’) to emphasize that the periodical is an open platform for debates, discourse and discussions on issues addressed in the media that are not granted adequate coverage, due to restrictions derived from media culture or interests inherent to it. The periodical is an open platform for anyone interested in media, especially in the way the media interacts with the social, financial, political and cultural spheres in its direct and indirect environment. The periodical reflects I’lam’s leading position in efforts to improve the rights of Arab Palestinians in Israel, as well as efforts to positively impact the media that addresses them. I’lam also plays a central role in educating a new generation of media personnel by using meetings and panels to forge connections between experienced and novice journalists. This periodical also reflects I’lam’s intent to, by providing a unique platform for presentation of their creations as well as ideas, encourage reporters and journalists in their pursuits. This is especially vital considering the lack of opportunities to professionalize, and the limitations on the profession in Israel. “Sijal” strives to shed light on the unique obstacles facing Arab media personnel as they practice their profession.

The Media Campaign unit began operations in 2013, with the goal of supporting individual and institutional teams working on human rights media campaigns. This unit organizes and carries out media campaigns in cooperation with organizations and individuals wishing to create media campaigns on subjects that are in accordance with our goals. The team works with individuals and organizations to define goals and plan a time frame for implementation, along with contributors to the promotion of the campaign. Since March of this year, our unit has been running a media campaign designed to increase awareness of violence against women, including a poster design competition and participation in the production of a short film on the oppression of women. In an expansion of this unit’s operations, two courses on media campaigns have been designed, and they have included the participation of more than 50 students and community activists from Northern Israel, the ‘Triangle’ region, and in the Naqab. Productions of the campaign unit include: - “Design against Violence”: Creating the best poster in the fight against violence on women (2013). - “Just Don’t Undress Us”: Fighting humiliating airport and transit racial profiling by the security establishment (2013). - “That’s Not it’s Name": Preserving the Arabic names of towns and cities in Israel (2013). - “Our Heritage is at Risk”: A campaign calling on Palestinian youth to preserve their heritage (2013). - “The Need for Savings for Retirement”: A campaign to increase awareness among women of the necessity to contribute to a pension fund (2013). - “Volunteering”: A campaign to encourage young Arabs to volunteer in their communities (2013). - “Say No to Harassment”: A campaign against sexual harrasment (2013).