"It is very clear that CTV News has closed itself off from having meaningful dialogue with its readers. Considering this lack of responsiveness and accountability, I am curious whether there is a more useful contact at CTV News. If so, please pass it on. Otherwise, I would appreciate a direct confirmation that CTV News is not interested in engaging with constructive feedback or improving its reporting practices."
August 16, 2024
To:
Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Senior Correspondent, Reuters
Maytaal Angel, Reporter, Reuters
Lee Keath, Middle East Enterprise Editor, AP
Ian Caldwell, Managing Editor, CTV News
Dear Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Maytaal Angel, Lee Keath, and Ian Caldwell
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express concerns about the article titled “Hamas fires rockets at Tel Aviv after 19 killed in Gaza”
published on August 13, 2024.
The headline explicitly blames Hamas for the rocket fire, yet omits who is responsible for the deaths of 19 Palestinians. By failing to mention that the 19 Palestinian were killed by Israeli forces, you are not only misinforming your audience but also perpetuating a dangerous double standard. Why are Hamas’s actions described in active voice, but Israel’s actions are stated as a passive without an agent? This selective reporting downplays Palestinian suffering and exemplifies a form of anti-Palestinian racism as defined by the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, an advocacy organization that focuses on addressing anti-Arab racism: “Anti-Palestinian racism is a form of anti-Arab racism that silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames or dehumanizes Palestinians or their narratives.”
I demand that you revise the headline to assign Israel’s responsibility for the deaths of 19 Palestinians. A more accurate headline would be: “Israel kills 19 Palestinians in Gaza; Hamas fires rockets at Tel Aviv in response.”
Moreover, I am afraid this troubling headline reflects a broader issue with CTV News’s reporting. Despite multiple requests for corrections, I have received no response. Here are a few examples:
- On July 25 I asked CTV News to correct clarify that the ADL (Anti-Defamation League)is a pro-Israel organization, as its advocacy extends beyond protecting Jewish interests to explicitly support Israel’s Zionist project – yet I received any reply.
- On July 25, I requested the use of word "Palestine", instead of “what is now Israel” – yet there was no response.
- On July 9, criticized CTV News’ one-sided depiction President Joe Biden’s pier initiative – yet again received no feedback.
- On June 20, I raised concerns about an article that diverted focus from Islamophobia to antisemitism, which is already extensively covered, but again received no response.
It is very clear that CTV News has closed itself off from having meaningful dialogue with its readers. Considering this lack of responsiveness and accountability, I am curious whether there is a more useful contact at CTV News. If so, please pass it on. Otherwise, I would appreciate a direct confirmation that CTV News is not interested in engaging with constructive feedback or improving its reporting practices.
Sincerely,
Lynn Naji
Junior Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East