The Media Accountability Project  

News broadcast on CityNews Radio refers to the West Bank as "disputed" rather than "occupied"

During a syndicated radio clip that aired yesterday during prime time on many CityNews radio stations across Canada, ABC Journalist Jordana Miller referred to the West Bank as “disputed.” The error was made while reporting on policy changes made by Israel for Palestinian-Americans.

Poor coverage - Media outlet to be critiqued

A CJPME Media Researcher has launched a media alert for the following article. Please submit a quick response to the media, even if it’s just a sentence or two:

Title of Piece: Jordana Miller: "For the first time, Palestinian-Americans can travel in or out of the disputed West Bank and the Gaza Strip"

Media Outlet: CityNews Radio (CHNL 610 Kamloops, CIWW 1310 Ottawa, CFFR 660 Calgary, CKWX 1130 Vancouver)

Comments of the CJPME Media Researcher:
(Note: Please do not copy and paste the material below as the content to your message to the media - put all comments in your own words):

During a syndicated radio clip that aired yesterday during prime time on many CityNews radio stations across Canada, ABC Journalist Jordana Miller referred to the West Bank as “disputed.” The error was made while reporting on policy changes made by Israel for Palestinian-Americans.

Transcript of the radio clip:

Jordana Miller, ABC: “For the first time, Palestinian-Americans can travel in or out of the disputed West Bank and the Gaza Strip via Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport. For decades, Palestinians who held U.S. citizenship could only travel via Jordan and Egypt, no matter the extra cost or delays. Israel changing what it once called the security policy in a bid to enter the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. The State Department says it will monitor the policy’s implementation and, in October, reconsider admitting Israel to the program that will allow its citizens to visit the US without a visa.”

According to international law, the West Bank is under Israeli occupation, it is not so-called "disputed" territory. The term "disputed" is employed to obscure Israel's violent military occupation of Palestinian land. The International Press Institute advises that journalists do not use the term, as "Palestinians and pro-Palestinians feel that reference to disputed areas legitimises the Israeli government’s control of them."

To learn more about “occupied” is the appropriate term, click here to read “Why the West Bank is ‘Occupied’ and not ‘Captured.’” If you choose to use ideas from CJPME’s essay, please put the arguments in your own words.

Please click here to launch an email in which you can draft a response to this media coverage.

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