The purpose of tracking Hebrew journalism and media is to encourage the democratization of policies and norms in Israeli society and social media, especially those that infringe upon Palestinian rights and hinder their progress.
The goal of monitoring Hebrew journalism is to improve journalistic integrity, fairness and equality in Israeli media outlets so they will operate according to democratic values. We strive to encourage Hebrew media and Israeli journalists to adopt professional, unbiased standards in their coverage of Palestinian citizens.
In order to translate goals into concrete results, I’lam regularly sends responses to newspaper editors and to Hebrew media outlets. It also addresses Hebrew media organizations to encourage incorporation of Arabs in various organizations. Additionally, it contributes to Israeli journalists’ education by conducting journalistic tours on issues regarding Palestinians, and by distributing news items about Palestinian society. Furthermore, an annual report is released that shows the Hebrew media’s performance in its coverage of the PCI.
Hebrew media is tracked on a daily basis, and includes the following media outlets:
Independent News Outlets: Yedioth Ahronoth, Ma’ariv, Ha’aretz, Yisrael Hayom, Hamodia, Yated Ne’eman, Kikar Hashabat, Hadrei Haredim, Makor Rishon, and News 1
Radio stations Reshet Bet and Galei Tzahal
TV channels 1, 2 and 10.
The monitoring project has thus far produced three reports:
-Arab Reporters Needed for the Hebrew Press: Patterns of representing Arab-Palestinian Citizens in Israeli Print Media (2011).
- Manufacturing Quiet Arabs: The Role of Mizrahi Jews in Israeli Governmental Arabic Newspapers and the Origins of Palestinian Opposition to Them (2010).
- The Discourse of Human Rights in the Israeli Media (2012).