"The Canadian Association of Journalists strongly recommends additional care to these sorts of details be given in the context of reporting on sensitive or controversial issues. I hope that CTV News will take this feedback seriously in their ongoing coverage of Palestine solidarity encampments across Canada."
To:
Dan Taylor, Managing Editor, CTV News
Rachel Lau, Journalist, CTV News
Dear Rachel Lau and Dan Taylor,
I’m writing to express concern about your recent article, “McGill University says pro-Palestinian demonstrators 'refuse' to collaborate, encampment violates policies.”
You quote the McGill administration's claim that they have seen footage of “people using antisemitic language and intimidating behaviour.” However, it should be clarified if CTV News requested to see that footage and if anyone at CTV has seen it. As protests spread on campuses around North America, false and defamatory claims have been made against protesters. Given that the situation is still unfolding, it is hard to document all of these false allegations, but a thread on Twitter has begun documenting many notable cases.
Given the seriousness and sensitive nature of these protests, it is vital that news media be abundantly clear when reporting on claims like those of antisemitism at protests.
I insist that you clarify if CTV News has seen the alleged video footage of antisemitic and intimidating behavior by protesters.
Next, your description of the purpose of the protest is unnecessarily reductive. You write that “This comes after hundreds of demonstrators started camping out on the school's grounds to demand the university divest from funds they claim are connected to Israel.” However, student demands are far more explicit and strong than that. Students for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) at McGill, one of the main groups present at the encampment, have clearly stated that students are reclaiming their campus to demand the university’s “full divestment from occupation and genocide.” Please quote the statement made by students.
Given that claims by McGill administrators and the Higher Education Minister are quoted precisely, it would be a double standard not to give student protesters the same treatment in quoting their demands as they are written.
Further, CTV’s articles regarding the encampment lack critical context regarding Israel’s military assault on Gaza. Perhaps an article about protestors condemning genocide in Gaza should clearly mention the circumstances that may or may not merit this condemnation. Some of this context could include the following:
- The recent discovery of 400 bodies– some of which were tortured, buried alive, executed point blank, etc.– in mass graves outside of two medical facilities in Gaza.
- Israel’s killing of almost 35,000 Palestinians, 14,500 of whom were children, since Oct. 7.
- The deliberate destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system, as all hospitals in the Gaza Strip have been targeted and damaged by Israel’s strikes and bombs.
- On January 26, the International Court of Justice ordered provisional measures in South Africa’s case against Israel regarding allegations of genocide in Gaza.
The Canadian Association of Journalists strongly recommends additional care to these sorts of details be given in the context of reporting on sensitive or controversial issues. I hope that CTV News will take this feedback seriously in their ongoing coverage of Palestine solidarity encampments across Canada.
Sincerely,
Jason Toney
Director of Media Advocacy, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East