"This framing represents a one-sided reporting on the pro-Palestine protests happening. Generally, these protests are peaceful, yet they are often framed negatively, particularly by those seeking to discredit the movement. Though you mention that “spokespeople for Dawson and Vanier did not respond to requests for comment,” this does not absolve you from putting good faith effort to talk to students who are actually leading the pro-Palestine protests in CEGEPs."
December 3, 2024
To:
Andy Riga, Reporter, Montreal Gazette
Marilena Lucci, Editor-in-Chief, Montreal Gazette
Jeff Blond, Managing Editor, Montreal Gazette
Dear Ms. Lucci, Mr. Riga, and Mr.Blond,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) regarding a recent article published on December 3, 2024, by the Montreal Gazette, titled “Quebec will investigate campus climate at Dawson, Vanier CEGEPs.”
I would like to address a couple of issues in your article.
First, the article does not provide sufficient context to understand why students at CEGEPs have been protesting and striking. For more than a year, Israel’s genocidal actions in occupied Gaza have led to the deaths of over 50,000 Palestinians, with many still trapped under the rubble of bombed homes and tents. The official death toll is outdated, as many fatalities remain undiscovered. The UN Human Rights Office's report also indicates that a majority of Palestinians killed in the first six months of Israel’s genocidal actions in occupied Gaza were women and children. 34,535 Palestinians killed. 77,704 injured, 10,000 missing, buried under rubble. The proportion of civilians killed will likely be over 70 per cent. This context needs to be included. It’s not up for argument.
Students are striking in solidarity with the Palestinians, protesting against Israel's ongoing genocide in occupied Gaza and West Bank. It is also part of a broader academic boycott movement and an extension of the student encampments that occurred over the summer. The article falls short in providing this necessary context.
Given that the journalistic standards set by the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), which emphasize fairness in reporting, I urge you to incorporate this context into your coverage to provide a more accurate and balanced portrayal of the students’ demands.
Second, you cite pro-Israel organizations like CIJA who claims that “the investigation will shed light on the troubling behaviour of the past 14 months regarding hatred” and that “students have the right to learn in a safe environment, free from bullying, hate and harassment.”
This framing represents a one-sided reporting on the pro-Palestine protests happening. Generally, these protests are peaceful, yet they are often framed negatively, particularly by those seeking to discredit the movement. Though you mention that “spokespeople for Dawson and Vanier did not respond to requests for comment,” this does not absolve you from putting good faith effort to talk to students who are actually leading the pro-Palestine protests in CEGEPs.
Your reporting would have been far more balanced had you included quotes from the student associations involved in the strike or from an expert on Montreal’s history of student activism, both of whom would have offered a fair, balanced, and more nuanced reporting.
I encourage the Gazette to include quotes from the student associations involved in the strike or a third-party expert on Montreal’s history of student activism to provide a more balanced perspective.
I trust that you will take these points into account and ensure that your coverage reflects the true concerns of students advocating for Palestinian liberation.
Warm regards,
Lynn Naji
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East