"Presenting the U.S. envoy's actions as a genuine pursuit of peace perpetuates a misleading portrayal of the geopolitical dynamics at play. From a journalistic perspective, it is essential to scrutinize these narratives critically. It would have been more fair to say that the U.S. Special Envoy “said” it was pushing for peace and then clarifying that the U.S. provides military support, that way Global News is not unfairly lending credence to the paradoxical position the U.S. has taken."
October 22, 2024
To:
Dawna Friensen, Journalist, Global News
Redmond Shannon, Global News
Nathen Sekhon, Executive Producer, Global News
Dear Global News team,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to express both my gratitude and concerns regarding the news segment aired at 2:49 PM on Tuesday, October 22, by Global News National.
Overall, I found the segment to be fair and balanced. I appreciate your clear attribution of responsibility to Israel for the ongoing airstrikes in occupied Northern Gaza. In a Canadian media landscape that often employs passive voice to absolve Israel of its accountability in the killing of Palestinians, it is refreshing to see media outlets take a principled stance and avoid complicity in whitewashing Israel’s genocidal actions.
Furthermore, your coverage of Israel’s military aggressions in Lebanon, particularly the attacks on financial institutions like “Qard al Hasan,” was balanced and fair. I especially appreciate your efforts to debunk the U.S. government’s misleading narrative that this institution serves as a cover for managing Shia groups’ financial activities. By quoting analyst Sami Nader, who emphasizes that the institution is not only a bank but also provides essential financial and social services “especially given the gap left by the country’s broken banking system,” you effectively raise skepticism about the falsehoods propagated by Israel and the U.S. that that serve to justify their attacks on the civilian infrastructure.
However, I must critique the assertion made at [2:53:23] that “earlier, the U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Lebanon to push for peace as his country provides military support for Israel.” This statement presents a glaring contradiction. How can the U.S. envoy advocate for peace while simultaneously enabling Israel’s genocidal campaign in occupied Gaza, which has been expanding to Lebanon over the past month? The U.S. and Israel are allies, and their actions do not reflect a genuine commitment to peace or justice in the region.
Presenting the U.S. envoy's actions as a genuine pursuit of peace perpetuates a misleading portrayal of the geopolitical dynamics at play. From a journalistic perspective, it is essential to scrutinize these narratives critically. It would have been more fair to say that the U.S. Special Envoy “said” it was pushing for peace and then clarifying that the U.S. provides military support, that way Global News is not unfairly lending credence to the paradoxical position the U.S. has taken.
While your coverage was fair and balanced overall, my concerns stem from a good faith intention to hold journalism accountable and raise awareness about misconceptions surrounding the Middle East.
I look forward to your prompt response and action on this matter in future reporting. Additionally, I would appreciate knowing whether these concerns were discussed with the editorial team or newsroom.
Best regards,
Lynn Naji
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East