"While I don’t expect the Gazette to include all of this context in their reporting, I do insist that your newsroom tries to avoid perpetuating harmful and reductive narratives that present Palestinians and their supporters as ‘threats,’ while portraying pro-Israel groups as more defensive and self-preserving."
October 3, 2024
To:
Marilena Lucci, Editor-in-Chief, Montreal Gazette
Jeff Blond, Managing Editor, Montreal Gazette
Jacob Serebrin, Reporter, Montreal Gazette
Ms. Lucci, Mr. Blond, Mr. Serebrin,
I am writing to you on behalf of CJPME to express my disappointment in your recent coverage of pro-Palestine student protests. After our last correspondence, I was disappointed to see that the Gazette newsroom has yet to update their prior reporting on Concordia’s walkout. It is, of course, a newspaper’s prerogative to incorporate feedback to improve articles if there are not undisputable violations of journalistic standards.
Nonetheless, I had hoped that your future reports would reflect a more balanced and inclusive perspective. The article “McGill to increase security ahead of pro-Israel, pro-Palestinian events on Oct. 7” published on October 2, 2024, is notably one-sided in its representation of pro-Israel voices.
The article quotes several pro-Israel sources, including the Jewish group Federation CJA and B’nai Brith Canada, yet fails to include a single quote from pro-Palestinian student groups. Additionally, the article's framing portrays pro-Palestinian events as potential security threats, with statements from McGill’s administration, such as the university's VP and deputy provost, claiming that these protests “crossed the bounds of the law and McGill’s policies, upsetting people, disrupting access to learning and workspaces, and damaging property.” These claims are presented without skepticism, reinforcing negative stereotypes about pro-Palestinian activists.
Meanwhile, pro-Israel groups are depicted as peaceful, with quotes from B’nai Brith Canada asserting that pro-Israel demonstrations would mourn “those lost and still being held hostage as a result of Hamas' atrocities.” Furthermore, the article implies that pro-Palestinian demonstrations are “celebrations of the repugnant actions of Hamas.” This implicitly perpetuates stereotypes of Palestinians and their supporters as dangerous antisemites and terrorist sympathizers which has been defined as anti-Palestinian Racism by the Arab Canadians Lawyer Association(ACLA). Without providing interviews the pro-Palestine supporters, the Gazette fails once again to recognize the legitimate concerns and grievances of Palestinian supporters towards pro-Israel counter organizers. While I don’t expect the Gazette to include all of this context in their reporting, I do insist that your newsroom tries to avoid perpetuating harmful and reductive narratives that present Palestinians and their supporters as ‘threats,’ while portraying pro-Israel groups as more defensive and self-preserving.
I truly hope that the Gazette is serious about training their reporters on this particularly sensitive story beat. I urge you to consider these points and ensure that future reporting is more balanced and inclusive.
Sincerely,
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East