The Media Accountability Project  

2025-05-09: CTV/AP Edits Biased Language Following CJPME Letter

On May 8, 2025, CTV News published an Associated Press article titled “Leading aid group shuts down its soup kitchens across Gaza over Israel’s blockade.” While the piece highlighted Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon of war, it also relied on biased language and framing that violated journalistic standards.

CJPME volunteer Nikki Mutch submitted a detailed media accountability letter raising serious concerns about the use of the term “extremists” to describe Hamas, contrasted with euphemistic descriptions of Israeli military actions.

As a result of this letter, the AP/CTV team removed the word “extremist” from the article. This is a meaningful editorial correction that directly aligns with CJPME’s call for accurate, fair, and balanced reporting. It also signals that media outlets are paying attention to public pressure and ethical accountability.

CJPME commends this correction and will to challenge anti-Palestinian bias in Canadian media.

2025-05-09: Vote Palestine Breaks Through Mainstream News with new op-ed in the Hamilton Spectator

Vote Palestine made waves in Canadian media as a political force that can no longer be ignored.

On May 9th, 2025, CJPME Media Analyst Anthony Issa published a hard-hitting letter in the Hamilton Spectator (if you cannot access it on their website click here for a copy of the rebuttal on our website). The letter countered a hostile op-ed by Howard Eisenberg titled, “Canadians reject fringe anti-Israel agenda at the ballot box,” smearing the Vote Palestine campaign as fringe. Eisenberg’s piece was one of many recent media attacks by pro-Israel lobbyists and conservative pundits trying to bury Vote Palestine's momentum.

However, Issa’s response made it clear that Palestinian human rights is a growing movement within Canada. Over 20,000 Canadians pledged support. Hundreds of candidates endorsed the platform. Twenty-five MPs were elected on those commitments, including 10 per cent of the Liberal caucus. This is withing in a minority government Parliament where smaller parties now hold real influence.

Despite this organized backlash by pro-Israel propagandists, Vote Palestine was mentioned more than 100 times in Canadian media over the last 30 days, reaching a potential audience of over 150 million. The campaign is in the national spotlight, and our opponents are scrambling to respond.

As Mr. Issa rightly points out, “the louder you shout, the louder our calls against Israel’s genocide in Gaza become. Now from the streets and Parliament Hill.”

This is what mainstream impact looks like. And this is just the beginning.

2025-03-28 CJPME volunteer published in the Hamilton Spectator

On March 28, 2025, CJPME volunteer Debbie Hubbard published a letter to the editor in the Hamilton Spectator in response to a March 25 op-ed, “The politics of disappearance: A warning for Canadians,” by Henry Giroux. Writing in support of the piece, she argued that it is critical for Canadians to take seriously the threats facing Palestine supporters in the US. With fascism and illiberalism on the rise, we too may face increasing degrees of criminalizing Palestine solidarity activism.

The letter reads:

The first thought that came to mind when reading Henry Giroux’s opinion piece was Pastor Martin Miemoller’s poem that ends with “… then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.”

Dissenting voices like Mahmoud Khalil, who refuse to remain silent about the slaughter and oppression of innocent civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, are sorely needed. Challenging the status quo and resisting should not be censored or punished.

This is truly a watershed and critical moment for Canadians. We are in the midst of a federal election. We must recognize and actively oppose right-wing rhetoric and ideology.

We need to discern which political party will address the social injustices and marginalizations that have been part of our colonial history and continue in the present. Which party will guarantee the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest that are enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom? Then we need to vote with our feet and show up to cast our vote by April 28.

CJPME appreciates the remarkable contributions of our volunteers, who deeply enhance the value of this project.

2025-03-28 Toronto Star corrects false claim following CJPME callout

On March 28, 2025, CJPME learned that the Toronto Star corrected false claims about the death toll in Israel on October 7, 2023. The correction came after a CJPME social media post criticizing the outlet for repeatedly misrepresenting Israeli and Palestinian death tolls. In an article about protests, the Toronto Star inflated Israeli civilian deaths by at least 45%, while simultaneously downplaying the Palestinian death toll by providing no context about the likely dramatic undercount provided by Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The issue was corrected and a note added. It reads:

Clarification – March 24, 2025

This article was updated from a previous version to make clear that Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians. The previous version referred to the death of 1,200 civilians.

CJPME is grateful that the Star corrects its mistakes, but remains concerned by their repeated failure to provide adequate context about Israel’s genocide of Palestinians.

2025-03-26 – CJPME Media Analyst Featured in Spheres of Influence

At the end of February, the Executive Director of Spheres of Influence—a non-profit digital publication dedicated to highlighting underreported global issues and amplifying marginalized voices—reached out to one of our media analysts, Lynn Naji, for a written interview.

The piece, titled "Exposing the Narrative: The Fight for Fair Reporting on Palestine," explores some of the most common patterns of bias in Canadian media coverage of Palestine, particularly the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Lynn reflects on CJPME’s media advocacy, how public pressure can help shift narratives, and some of the challenges involved in pushing for fair and accurate reporting.

The interview closes with a reflection on the ethical responsibilities of journalists working within institutions that suppress Palestinian voices:

“Journalists who recognize the bias in their institutions but continue complying with editorial restrictions must ask themselves difficult questions. If a newsroom actively silences Palestinian voices, at what point does self-preservation become complicity?”

You can read the interview here.

 

 

2025-03-26- CJPME Media Analyst published in The Hill Times

On March 19, 2025, CJPME media analyst Lynn Naji was published in The Hill Times. She responded to an article written by Laura Ryckewaert titled: “Despite challenging first two years, Canada’s special rep on Islamophobia is undaunted.”

Lynn criticized Quebec’s Bill 21 as an “institutionalized form of discrimination” that targets religious minorities by barring government employees from wearing symbols like the hijab.

She also argued that rather than questioning the legitimacy of Elghawaby’s role as Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, Canadians should question why there is such fierce resistance to addressing Islamophobia in a country that claims to uphold human rights.

The letter to the editor is available to read here.

2025-03-18 CJPME wins National NewsMedia Council ruling against the Toronto Sun for calling pro-Palestine protesters “Nazis”

On March 14, 2025, the National NewsMedia Council (NNC) released its landmark decision that the Toronto Sun published inaccurate and misleading claims about pro-Palestinian protesters.

CJPME’s Media Accountability Project (MAP) had filed a complaint with the NNC about a column published on October 5, 2024 in which author Brian Lilley had smeared thousands of peaceful protesters as “the equivalent of Nazis” and “terror supporters.” The NCC sided with CJPME in concluding that the Toronto Sun had mispresented the protests in violation of journalistic standards.

judgements against opinion articles are rare because the NNC affords wide-latitude to opinion writers. Nonetheless, the NNC found that Lilley’s sweeping accusations were not supported by evidence and ruled that the Toronto Sun misrepresented the protests in violation of journalistic standards on accuracy. As the NNC stated, “suggesting that the ‘group’ of protesters hold ‘the same views’ as Nazis is overly broad and is not supported by clear evidence. For this reason, Council upheld this portion of the complaint for inaccurate language use.”

The NNC ruling requires the Toronto Sun to publish a correction to the column and a summary of the NNC’s decision. CJPME believes that this remedy will help to ensure that any future readers will see that Lilley’s inflammatory accusations were not based on facts, and perpetuate anti-Palestinian racism. This ruling is a landmark win and will help CJPME continue to hold newspapers accountable for publishing inflammatory and misleading content against Palestine and the solidarity movement in Canada.

You can read our official press release here.

2025-03-18 CJPME Media Analyst, Anthony Issa, Publishes “Your Definitive Palestine Media Toolkit” with The Link

On March 18, 2025, CJPME media analyst Anthony Issa published Your Definitive Palestine Media Toolkit in the Link Newspaper, an advocacy-based outlet in Montreal.

This article provides a critical resource for young journalists, outlining the most common biases in Canadian media’s coverage of Palestine, including the exclusion of Palestinian voices, misleading language that obscures Israeli state violence, and the erasure of key historical and legal contexts.

The publication of this piece reflects the ongoing work of CJPME’s Media Accountability Project (MAP) in challenging media misrepresentation and advocating for responsible journalism on Palestine. It also highlights the importance of ensuring that young journalists have the tools to recognize and push back against systemic bias.

CJPME extends its gratitude to The Link Newspaper for providing space for crucial discussions on media accountability and Palestine advocacy. Our team remains committed to supporting initiatives that empower journalists to report with fairness, accuracy, and integrity.

Note: This post has been updated to clarify there is no formal partnership between CJPME and The Link.

2025-03-18 CJPME Holds Toronto Star Accountable for Misleading Oct. 7 Coverage

On March 12, 2025, CJPME media analyst Anthony Issa submitted a formal letter to Toronto Star, challenging its misleading framing of the October 7 attacks in an article titled “Toronto police apologize to Jewish community after backlash to podcast episode”. The letter criticized the article’s opening claim that “On Oct. 7, Hamas attacked a music festival in Israel, “which falsely suggested that the Nova music festival was the primary target of the attack.

Following CJPME’s intervention, Toronto Star revised the passage to acknowledge that the attack occurred at multiple locations.

The updated version reads:

“On Oct. 7, Hamas attacked a music festival in Israel. A total of 1,200 people were killed and 250 abducted in the attack that day that included other locations including several communities.”

While this correction is a step in the right direction, the article still misleads readers by maintaining the festival as the primary reference point. As reported by Haaretz, Israeli security officials have acknowledged that Hamas did not plan in advance to attack the festival but only learned of it during the assault.

Although the framing is still misleading by overly focusing the events of Oct. 7 on the Nova music festival, we believe this outcome highlights the importance of our work in pushing for proper for ongoing media accountability in Canadian news coverage of Palestine.

CJPME remains committed to ensuring that Canadian media does not distort Israel’s brutal military siege and genocide on the Gaza strip following the events of Oct. 7.

2025-03-14 CJPME advocacy forces Global News to cover Civilian Massacres in Syria

On March 10, 2025, CJPME media analyst Anthony Issa submitted a formal letter to Global News BC1, condemning its incomplete and misleading coverage of the mass killings of Alawite civilians in Syria’s coastal regions. Global’s original report failed to mention that over 1,300 Syrians (mostly civilians) had been executed by HTS-backed security forces, as documented by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

Following CJPME’s intervention, Global News issued a follow-up report on March 11, finally acknowledging the staggering civilian death toll.

Here is a transcript of the broadcast:

“Syria's interim government has signed a deal with a Kurdish-led group. Syria’s defence minister says it has ended a military operation on the west coast that triggered the worst violence since the fall of the Assad regime. it says loyalists of the former president have now been neutralized. More than 1,300 people, mostly civilians, have died since Thursday.”

This update represents a major step toward correcting Global News' previous omissions, demonstrating the power of media pressure in holding Canadian outlets accountable for their coverage of war crimes.

This outcome highlights the critical role of CJPME in pushing Canadian media toward more rigorous reporting on the Middle East. By challenging misleading narratives, we ensure that crimes against civilians in Syria and beyond do not go ignored or misrepresented.

CJPME will continue to push for fair, accurate, and transparent coverage of the Middle East.

 

2025-03-14 CJPME Pressures CBC to Expand Coverage on Mendicino’s Anti-Palestinian Record

On March 12, 2025, CJPME media analyst Anthony Issa submitted a formal letter to CBC News, calling out its whitewashing of Marco Mendicino’s anti-Palestinian record in its initial coverage of his appointment as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney. The letter criticized CBC’s failure to scrutinize Mendicino’s pro-Israel stance, his vote against a ceasefire in Gaza, and his engagement with Meir Weinstein, former leader of the Jewish Defense League (JDL), a far-right extremist organization classified as a terrorist group by the FBI.

The following day, CBC was forced to issue a follow-up article acknowledging the controversy surrounding Mendicino’s record. The updated coverage included concerns raised by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), divisions within the Liberal Party over Gaza policy, and Mendicino’s past opposition to a ceasefire

This outcome underscores the importance of media accountability in challenging institutional bias and forcing mainstream outlets to address anti-Palestinian racism in Canadian politics.

CJPME remains committed to ensuring that Canadian media does erase Palestinian perspectives.

 

2025-03-13 CJPME media analyst published in student run journalism non profit

On March 12, 2025, CJPME media analyst Lynn Naji submitted a letter to the editor in response to an article published in The Ubyssey, a student-run journalism nonprofit titled “I have questions: UBC staffer speaks out after RCMP detained him while walking past Invictus Games wearing a keffiyeh.” The letter to the editor was published the following day, highlighting concerns over the racial and political profiling involved in the arbitrary detention of Nathan Herrington, a UBC staff member and alumnus, who was detained simply for wearing a keffiyeh—an act that should never warrant police intervention. The letter emphasized that Herrington’s detention was a clear violation of fundamental freedoms and part of a broader pattern of racial and political profiling.

Section 9 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms explicitly protects against arbitrary detention, yet this incident reflects an alarming trend where Palestinian solidarity is increasingly criminalized. This issue is not new—it is rooted in systemic flaws within law enforcement, where racialized individuals are disproportionately targeted under vague justifications of “suspicious behavior.” Black and Indigenous communities in Canada, for instance, have long been subjected to arbitrary detention and over-policing. Herrington’s detention follows the same troubling logic, where merely wearing a keffiyeh is deemed suspicious, mirroring the broader reality that racialized individuals are disproportionately stopped for simply existing in public spaces.

Moving forward, CJPME will prioritize deeper engagement with students, not only by monitoring the media but also by actively supporting racialized individuals and pro-Palestinian advocates to amplify their voices and ensure they are not unjustly targeted or silenced.

2025-03-10 The Hill Times publishes CJPME volunteer letter rebutting anti-Palestinian op-ed

On February 24, 2025, CJPME volunteer Jeff Winch was published in The Hill Times. He challenged an article by  Nelson Wiseman, “Canada in the world and the war in Gaza.”

Jeff Winch’s letter is available to read here.

 

 

2025-01-31 CBC changes headline after CJPME advocacy efforts

On January 30, 2025, CJPME media analyst sent a letter of complaint to CBC News regarding their article, originally sourced from Reuters, which describes Israel’s release of Palestinian “detainees” as “prisoners.” Following CJPME’s advocacy efforts, CBC News adjusted its headline to more accurately reflect the legal status of Palestinians held in Israeli detention cells, referring to them as “detainees.” It is important to note however that While CBC changed their headline, Reuters did not.

Altough this small revision appears at the onset to be a  a minor linguistic issue, this inconsistency from the CBC and Reuterreinforces the inaccurate narrative that all Palestinians in Israeli custody are convicted criminals. In reality, many are being arbitrarily detained, often without due process, which means they cannot  be considered “prisoners”  according to the normal definition.

Why does this distinction matter?

Many Palestinians in Israeli custody are held under administrative detention, a practice that violates international human rights law—specifically, Article 9(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a legally binding UN treaty ratified by Israel in 1991:

Article 9(1): “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedures as are established by law.”

Administrative detention allows Israeli authorities to detain Palestinians indefinitely without charge or trial, based on secret evidence not disclosed to the detainee or their lawyer. According to Amnesty International:

“Israel has systematically used administrative detention as a tool to persecute Palestinians, rather than as an extraordinary and selectively used preventative measure.”

This means that many Palestinian detainees are not prisoners in the conventional sense.

While CBC’s headline change is a positive step, inconsistencies remain, as the article still alternates between “detainees” and “prisoners.”

Nevertheless, this remains an important step, highlighting CJPME’s role in holding CBC accountable for using precise and consistent language that upholds journalistic standards and accurately represents Israel’s detention practices.

2025-01-31 SaskToday Revises Article After MAP Advocacy Pressure

In a recent update to its article, "Regina council approves revised flag-raising policy," SaskToday has included key missing details that were excluded from its original publication. This was done after Media Analyst Anthony Issa raised concerns about SaskToday’s incomplete reporting on Thursday January 30th regarding Regina’s flag-raising policy.

Initially, SaskToday framed Regina’s flag-raising policy change as a routine administrative decision, without mentioning the controversy that led to it: the mayor’s decision to block the Palestinian flag-raising—despite the Israeli flag being flown without issue. Public backlash over this double standard was a driving force behind the policy revision, and this context is essential for readers to understand the motivations behind the change.

This revision is a significant step forward in providing a more accurate account of the policy change.

However, the updated article still fails to mention that Regina city officials received a flood of emails, including threats and graphic images of dead bodies, pressuring them to cancel the Palestinian flag-raising. This exclusion is not minor and it conceals the external pressures that shaped the city's decision and limits the public’s understanding of what truly led to the policy change.

While this update is a positive development, we will continue to push for full transparency so that readers get the complete story.

Stay tuned.

2025-01-29 Anti-Palestinian fringe group cosplaying as journalists spotlight the hard work of CJPME

In a recent article, "CBC caves to far-left pressure, issues 'correction' on Israel-Hamas 'genocide' claim," Rebel News inadvertently acknowledged the impact of CJPME’s Media Accountability Project (MAP) in pushing CBC toward greater accountability in its coverage of Palestine

The article confirms that MAP’s advocacy led CBC to clarify its editorial stance on the term genocide when describing Israel’s actions in Gaza. While Rebel News framed this as CBC capitulating to “anti-Israel pressure,” the reality is that our efforts successfully challenged CBC’s editorial policies, ensuring that Palestinian voices and perspectives are taken seriously.

Ironically, Rebel News even quoted directly from our media alert—clear proof that MAP’s work is being closely watched by Canadian media outlets across the political spectrum. Their coverage amplifies the effectiveness of our campaign and reinforces the necessity of media accountability initiatives like MAP.

This is yet another example of how grassroots media advocacy can drive real change.

2025-01-27 MAP Advocacy pushes New Brunswick Newspaper to Correct Reporting on Palestinian Hostages in Ceasefire Deal

After a constructive correspondence between CJPME Media Analyst Anthony Issa and the newsroom of New Brunswick newspaper The Aquinian, its masthead has updated their recent article on the Gaza ceasefire to more accurately reflect the situation of Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israel. 

According to these human rights organizations, Israel’s dual legal system constitutes apartheid, as it enforces separate and unequal treatment based on nationality and ethnicity. Under this system, Palestinians, including children, are often detained without charge or trial under administrative detention orders. As of December 1, 2024, Israeli authorities held 2,873 Palestinians in administrative detention, marking a three-decade high. Amnesty International has documented the systematic use of torture and degrading treatment of Palestinian detainees, including beatings, stress positions, and denial of medical care, all of which violate international law.

The article now rightly refers to these individuals as hostages rather than prisoners. The term hostages better reflect the grave power dynamics and human rights violations inherent in their detention by Israel.

This change matters as it challenges the misleading narrative that Palestinians in Israeli prisons are all convicted criminals. It also highlights the fact that many Palestinians are detained without charges, including minors.

At CJPME, we’ve long advocated for precise and fair language in media coverage of Palestine. Small shifts in language can profoundly reshape public understanding of the occupation and the systemic injustices Palestinians face by Israel.

A huge thank-you to The Aquinian for taking this step toward balanced journalism.

2024-01-22 CBC Admits to Dehumanizing Palestinians on Air After CJPME Pushback

On Jan. 20, 2025, during a CBC broadcast on the ceasefire in Gaza, Anchor Natasha Fatah dismissed the term genocide during a CBC News interview with Palestinian-Canadian Israa Alsaafin, who was mourning her brother's death in Gaza. This response exemplified CBC’s editorial choices that actively dehumanize and marginalize Palestinian perspectives. When Ms. Alsaafin shared how her brother was killed in what she described as a genocide, the anchor responded by stating that “‘war’ is more appropriate” and asserting that “we [CBC reporters] cannot use that word [genocide] to describe what is happening.”

Following this shameful segment, CJPME’s MAP team issued a media alert on the broadcast calling out the CBC for reprimanding a Palestinian on air for the words she used reflecting her lived experience. 

The broad grassroots pushback against this broadcast pressured the CBC to issue a formal correction:

“On Jan. 20, during an interview on CBC News Network, a guest used the word genocide to describe the actions of Israel in Gaza. As part of her response, our host stated, "we cannot use that word to describe what is happening…" In fact, CBC News does not prohibit specific words in our reporting, but instead requires precise attribution and reporting on the debates that shape public policy, including debates about language. This was not made clear in this instance and the host's comment left an inaccurate representation of CBC standards.”

This statement represents a significant step forward in holding media organizations accountable for their coverage of Palestinian narratives. Such an admission by our public broadcaster is rare. By raising concerns about the dismissal of the term genocide and the lack of empathy during a critical interview, CJPME and its allies successfully compelled CBC to publicly address the issue. While the CBC's response falls short in many ways, it is a win in the battle for better media coverage nonetheless.

Such corrections must be accompanied by proactive steps to include diverse voices and uphold ethical journalism standards, ensuring that Palestinian suffering and narratives are fairly represented by the CBC.

2025-01-08 The Globe and Mail correct headline after CJPME advocacy efforts

On December 18, 2024, media analyst Lynn Naji wrote to The Globe and Mail regarding their headline, which read: "Mediators intensify Israel-Hamas ceasefire efforts; medics say strikes kill at least 20 Palestinians." The airstrikes in question were conducted by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), yet the headline removed the onus from Israel, absolving it of accountability for the deaths of at least 20 Palestinians in occupied Gaza.

Journalistic integrity and fairness, as outlined by the Canadian Association of Journalists, demand that the responsible party be clearly identified, especially when documenting acts of genocide. CJPME questioned why the article itself assigned responsibility to Israel while the headline did not. CJPME asked theGlobe and Mail to correct their headline to ensure that Israel is held accountable for the killing of over 20 Palestinians.

The next day, The Globe and Mail amended their headline to correctly state: "Israeli strikes kill at least 20 Palestinians as mediators intensify Gaza ceasefire efforts."

This is an important step toward ensuring that headlines in western media do not absolve Israel of its war crimes and crimes against humanity, and that they hold Israel fully accountable for its genocidal campaign in occupied Gaza.

At CJPME, we remain committed to challenging the media regarding their one-sided and unfair coverage of Palestine.

2024-12-09 Montreal Gazette Adds Context and Quotes from CJPME

On December 3, 2024, CJPME media analyst Lynn Naji sent a letter to the Montreal Gazette regarding their one-sided article titled: “Quebec to probe rising tension at Dawson and Vanier over Israel-Gaza conflict.”

CJPME argued that the article does not provide sufficient context to understand why students at CEGEPs have been protesting on campuses.

Students have been striking in solidarity with the Palestinian movement in Canada. This includes a strategy of academic boycotts, walkouts and demonstrations against Israel's system of apartheid, its ongoing genocide in occupied Gaza and its brutality in the West Bank. The currentacademic boycott movement is also0an extension of the student encampments that occurred over the summer. CJPME argued that the article falls short of providing this necessary context.

Second, the article frames the pro-Palestine protests in a negative light. CJPME argued that the reporting would have been far more balanced had the Gazette included quotes from the student associations involved in the strike, or from an expert on Montreal’s history of student activism.  This would have offered a fair, balanced, and more nuanced reporting.

The following day, the article was updated to include the death toll resulting from Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and quoted CJPME, debunking the harmful stereotypes that these protests are violent anddisruptive.

This added context marks a significant win for CJPME’s Media accountability team which has been pushing for this contextualization of pro-Palestine protests by the Gazette for months. CJPME remains committed to holding Canadian media accountable and pressuring them to stop perpetuating harmful stereotypes surrounding pro-Palestine activism.

2024-12-02 CJPME Published in Toronto Star Addressing Racist Backlash Over Arabic Song

On Nov. 29, 2024, CJPME Media Analyst Anthony Issa published a letter in The Toronto Star responding to an op-ed by Mark McQueen, a former advisor to Brian Mulroney’s PMO, titled “The Left Is Exposing Its Moral Inconsistencies.”

The op-ed uncritically parrotted the misinformed claim that the Arabic song أهذا سلام (“Is This Peace?”) by Japanese Kuwaiti YouTuber Maryam Shehab, should not have been included in a school ceremony. Critics falsely labeled it as a “Palestinian resistance” song, despite its lyrics promoting harmony and aligning well with the themes of Remembrance Day.

In his letter, Mr. Issa condemned the columnist’s statement as baseless and highlighted the anti-Arab racism underlying McQueen’s exaggerated attack on the song.

While we appreciate The Toronto Star for publishing CJPME’s response to this unjust backlash, we remain deeply concerned about media figures like McQueen. The manufactured backlash, fueled by conservative outrage and media sensationalism, culminated in the defacement of the school’s welcome sign with the words “Hamas High.” By framing “Is This Peace?” As controversial, the media perpetuates anti-Arab sentiments and escalate needless hostility. This form of rage-baiting must end before it causes even further harm. 

CJPME is steadfast in its commitment to defending marginalized communities and standing against all forms of discrimination and injustice across Canada.

2024-11-18 CJPME Secures Correction from National Post

On November 6, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to National Post regarding an inaccuracy in their article titled “UN Palestine official says Israeli soldiers are 'wilful executioners of an extermination plan.'” The article incorrectly stated that “Albanese’s lecture at the McGill University law school about international law and genocide was cancelled." However, Albanese’s lecture was not canceled but instead relocated to another building.

Several tweets about the event, along with a statement from Law Students for Palestine at Mcgill, confirm that the lecture was indeed held as scheduled, debunking the false claims of its cancellation. We urged the National Post to correct this oversight for the sake of transparency for their audience.

The article was updated on Friday, November 15 with an editor’s note that reads:

An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Alabanese’s speech at McGill University was cancelled. It was actually relocated to the student union building at the last minute after the law school withdrew its support. National Post regrets the error.

Despite initial delays in response, we appreciate that the National Post ultimately engaged with us and made the necessary correction.

CJPME continues to pressure the media to ensure that all reporting adheres to the standards of accuracy and fairness outlined by the Canadian Association of Journalists.

2024-10-30 Orillia Matters Removes Racist Anti-Palestinian Letter Following Pressure from CJPME

Following public pressure via a Media Alert campaign by CJPME, Orillia Matters has removed a deeply concerning letter to the editor that was heavily riddled with anti-Palestinian racism.

This editorial decision comes after the CJPME MAP team pointed out that the letter contained numerous factual inaccuracies and harmful rhetoric such as framing Palestinian rights supporters as terrorist sympathizers.

CJPME also expressed concerns about the letter’s use of orientalist and anti-Palestinian language, including phrases like “pro-Hamas supporters” when referring to pro-Palestinian activists, the inaccurate assertion that Palestinians celebrated violence against civilians and the false claim that the Gaza health ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and militants.

Orillia Matters ultimately removed the letter, responding to CJPME’s Media Analyst, Anthony Issa, with the message:

“Hi. Thank you for your email. The letter has been removed because it does not meet our editorial standards. I apologize.

Sincerely,

Dave Dawson, Community Editor.”

While this action demonstrates Orillia Matters’ partial commitment to editorial standards, CJPME questions the decision to publish the letter in the first place as it was so staunchly racist. CJPME expects that this outcome prompts Orillia Matters to reflect on its editorial processes and improve coverage of topics impacting marginalized communities in Canada, especially Palestinian Canadians.

Lastly, the CJPME team remains grateful for its dedicated Media Responders for their ongoing persistence. These coordinated efforts of solidarity highlight that we can hold media accountable and combat one-sided narratives on Palestine.  If you are not already signed up, please become a Media Responder by clicking here.

2024-10-29 CBC News finally acknowledges the majority of Palestinian deaths are women and children after months of CJPME Advocacy

After months of advocacy, CBC News published a recent article acknowledging that while the Gaza Ministry of Health does not explicitly differentiate between combatants and non-combatants, the majority of Palestinians killed during Israel’s ongoing genocidal campaign in Gaza are women and children.

For months, CJPME media analysts have expressed concerns about media outlets stating that the Gaza Ministry of Health "does not distinguish between combatants and civilians." This framing is misleading, as it casts unnecessary doubt on the extent of civilian deaths. The data confirms that the overwhelming majority are civilians (women, children, and elderly). The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) uses the Gaza Ministry of Health (MoH) and makes clear distinctions between men, women, children, and the elderly in its reports. Below is a graph from UNOCHA, last updated on October 7th, that illustrates these distinctions:

Unlike other outlets, CBC News has shown a willingness to engage with our journalistic ethics concerns and adjust its reporting accordingly. This represents a significant step forward in achieving more accurate and responsible journalism.

2024-10-25 CJPME achieves important update from CBC on coverage of anti-Palestinian racism

On October 21, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to CBC News requesting a revision to its problematic coverage of anti-Palestinian racism in an article published on October 20, 2024.

CBC had referred to B.C. Conservative candidate Brent Chapman’s racist comments about Palestinians as “alleged” and “seen as racist,” minimizing the hateful nature of his statements. Chapman’s remarks, which included offensive and dehumanizing stereotypes, were clear examples of anti-Palestinian racism. CJPME called for more accurate and direct reporting, urging CBC to remove such euphemisms. We emphasized that, while qualifiers may be appropriate in cases of legitimate doubt, they were entirely inappropriate in this instance of unequivocal hate speech.

Following sustained advocacy from CJPME, CBC acknowledged the concerns raised and confirmed that the article was updated to explicitly state that Chapman’s remarks constitute anti-Palestinian racism. The terms “alleged” and “seen as racist” were removed from the article.

This is an important step toward ensuring that anti-Palestinian racism is accurately recognized and reported in Canadian media, without the use of language that unnecessarily casts doubt on the seriousness of hate speech against Palestinians.

CJPME remains committed to holding media outlets accountable for biased coverage and advocating for responsible journalism that upholds fairness and accuracy.

2024-10-24 CJPME Grassroots campaign forces Radio-Canada to change problematic label on Middle East Coverage

CJPME’s Media Accountability Project (MAP) achieved a significant victory by pressuring Radio-Canada to revise its problematic labeling of Middle East coverage. Previously, Radio-Canada categorized stories under the title Proche-Orient: L’éternel conflit (Near East: The Eternal Conflict). This framing was misleading, as it implied that the region’s conflicts were timeless and unsolvable, obscuring key issues such as Israeli occupation, human rights violations, and the asymmetry of power.

Through sustained public pressure—including mobilization by Quebec Green Party leader Alex Tyrrell, public call-outs on social media and numerous MAP alert responses, Radio-Canada has changed the title to Conflit au Moyen-Orient (Conflict in the Middle-East). This adjustment is a significant step toward more journalistic standards of fairness and responsible reporting on the Middle East. It also challenges narratives that normalize Israeli occupation and perpetuate a sense of hopelessness, reaffirming the possibility of justice and resolution.

CJPME remains committed to challenging biased media narratives and ensuring accurate coverage of Palestinian rights.

2024-10-23 CJPME President Published in the Hill Times Defending Amira Elghawaby Against Unfair Attacks

CJPME President Thomas Woodley was published in The Hill Times, countering Andrew Caddell’s unjust critique of Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s special representative on combatting Islamophobia.

In his letter, Woodley argues that Caddell’s attack is not a reflection of any shortcomings on Elghawaby’s part, but rather a reaction to her effectiveness in amplifying the voices of Canadian Muslims and defending their rights. He highlights Elghawaby’s vital role in confronting rising Islamophobia and standing up for the civil liberties of pro-Palestinian protesters—rights enshrined in Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Woodley strongly condemns Caddell’s misrepresentation of Elghawaby’s human rights advocacy, exposing Caddell’s accusation that she defends "radical Muslims" as rooted in his own deep-seated anti-Muslim bias.

Woodley also addresses the damaging conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism, emphasizing that Elghawaby’s principled stance against this conflation has made her a target for pro-Israel advocates. He finally adds that despite Caddell’s claim that Elghawaby has “lost the room,” her voice is resonating with the public now more than ever.

CJPME remains committed to defending the rights of marginalized communities and supporting those who challenge discrimination and injustice across Canada.

2024-10-22 UPDATED: National Post admits to spreading disinformation in column by Former Canadian Ambassador to Israel, issues correction

After a successful Media Alert campaign, the National Post issued a correction of its disinformation regarding the death of former senior Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Initially, the opinion piece by Vivian Bercovici falsely claimed that Sinwar's body was found with an UNRWA identity card, a baseless assertion without credible evidence. This defamatory accusation aimed to malign the UN's relief agency and create misleading associations between humanitarian aid organizations and Hamas. The correction was prompted by a combination of CJPME's alert, complaints by Media Responders, and public call-outs. The result reinforces the value that grassroots flak has in challenging unfair media narratives and false claims about Palestinians.

Not only did the National Post correct the error, it has now added an editorial note:

This column has been updated to remove the incorrect claim that the body of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was not found with an UNRWA identity card.

However, CJPME did not initially notice that the editor's note itself, as seen above, introduced an error, as it suggests Sinwar was "not" found with an UNRWA identity card. In a follow-up with National Post's Editor-in-Chief, CJPME forced another update to resolve the issue. The editor's note now reads:

Editor’s note: This column has been updated to remove the incorrect claim that the body of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was found with an UNRWA identity card.

CJPME is grateful for its dedicated Media Responders for their ongoing persistence. These coordinated efforts of solidarity highlight that we can hold media accountable and combat one-sided narratives on Palestine.  If you are not already signed up, please become a Media Responder by clicking here.

The National Post's amendment, although important, should serve as a reminder that there are rules to free speech. Legacy papers must live up to their standards and disinformation is never acceptable even if it advances your editorial line. 

2024-10-22 CJPME’s Advocacy Results in Important Corrections at The Hill Times

On October 8, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to the Hill Times to address serious concerns over the misleading and harmful language used in their article titled: “So much pain, and there’s been no winners’: MPs mark Oct. 7 anniversary.”

The article referred to Israel’s year-long genocidal campaign in Gaza as a “counteroffensive” and claimed that this “counteroffensive” is expanding to Lebanon—an egregious euphemism that whitewashes the atrocities Israel has been committing in occupied Gaza for the past year.

CJPME argued that the term “counteroffensive” should be replaced with “genocide,” as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on January 31, 2024, that Israel’s military operations plausibly constitute genocide. In response to CJPME’s advocacy efforts, The Hill Times updated the article by removing the term “counteroffensive” and replacing it with more accurate language, alongside an editor’s note acknowledging the correction.

Additionally, The Hill Times invited CJPME to submit a letter to the editor challenging their use of B’nai Brith’s antisemitism report, which conflates anti-Zionism with antisemitism. In the letter, CJPME emphasized that B’nai Brith’s report is dangerous because it stifles legitimate advocacy for Palestinian liberation.

These changes represent a significant victory in our ongoing mission to ensure that media outlets uphold standards of journalistic integrity, fairness, and accuracy in their reporting on Palestine and Lebanon.

2024-10-18 Formal CJPME Complaint Forces CKTB’s “The Drive” to Apologize for Racist Screed by Anti-Palestinian Influencer Dahlia Kurtz

On June 18, 2024, CJPME's Media Analyst Anthony Issa filed a formal complaint with the Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council (CBSC) regarding a segment of The Drive aired on CKTB Radio on June 16. The complaint highlighted multiple egregious instances of anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia expressed by pro-Israel commentator Dahlia Kurtz, who was invited onto the show by host Jon Mark. Ms. Kurtz's racist rhetoric, which included Nakba denial, labeling Palestinian protesters as terrorists, calling Palestinian children "terrorists in training," and falsely accusing the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) of antisemitism for incorporating anti-Palestinian racism training, was allowed to go unchallenged throughout the broadcast.

Mr. Issa’s complaint pointed out the shocking lack of journalistic integrity on the part of Jon Mark, who failed to question any of Kurtz’s blatantly racist and false claims. The broadcast violated ethical journalistic standards by presenting harmful misinformation about Palestinians without any critical examination, allowing Ms. Kurtz to freely dehumanize and defame Palestinians.

In response to CJPME’s formal CBSC complaint, CKTB was required to acknowledge its failure in maintaining journalistic oversight. On October 10, 2024, CKTB issued a public apology, admitting that it had aired content that could be misinterpreted as “facts” when, in fact, it was “opinion”—particularly concerning the TDSB’s policies on anti-Palestinian racism.

Here is a transcript of CKTB’s on-air apology:

“During an episode of The Drive on July 17, 2024, a guest on the show expressed an opinion regarding what the Toronto District School Board is going to do with respect to anti-Palestinian hate that was not presented clearly as an opinion. The words of the guest could be interpreted as facts rather than an opinion. 610 CKTB apologizes for this statement.”

This apology is a glaring acknowledgment of the lack of responsibility CKTB showed in platforming a figure like Dahlia Kurtz. CJPME is disappointed that CKTB’s apology is not a firmer rejection of racism. Nevertheless, by allowing her to spread such abhorrent views the station effectively gave a platform to hate speech. Kurtz’s offensive statements and Jon Mark’s failure to challenge them reflect poorly on The Drive and CKTB as a whole.

Kurtz’s claims during the broadcast crossed numerous lines of hatred. She denied the existence of Palestinian history, and claimed that Palestinians have never had a country. Additionally, she attempted to erase the documented human rights violations Palestinians face by falsely portraying Israel as the only democracy in the region. These were not harmless opinions—they were dangerous lies, and CKTB’s decision to air them without proper scrutiny is nothing short of embarrassing.

CJPME welcomes CKTB’s eventual accountability but emphasizes that the apology, though necessary, does not erase the harm done by platforming Kurtz’s views. By failing to confront her racist and inflammatory rhetoric, CKTB has not only failed its listeners but has contributed to the normalization of hate speech under the guise of free speech.

CJPME remains committed to challenging anti-Palestinian racism and ensuring that Palestinian perspectives are treated with the respect and accuracy they deserve in Canadian media. We will continue to hold media outlets accountable for giving airtime to hate speech and misinformation, whether it occurs in print, on video, or on the radio.

2024-10-22 CBC corrects death toll and updates dehumanizing language following CJPME complaint

On October 10, 2024, CJPME expressed alarm about an article by CBC’s Chris Brown that obfuscated the asymmetrical violence between Lebanon and Israel. Following the complaint, CBC corrected the Lebanese death toll, which CBC had halved (1,000 instead of 2,000). CBC had written that those killed in Lebanon were “non-combatants,” but has since updated it to “people.” CJPME had urged CBC to use the more appropriate “civilians.”

While CBC’s edits come up short, it is nonetheless a signal that CJPME’s advocacy work is taken seriously and that pressure creates results.

2024-10-08 CJPME’s advocacy efforts pressure the Canadian Press to change misleading language

On October 7, 2024,  CJPME sent a letter to The Globe and Mail and Canadian Press (CP) to address concerns about the misleading language used in the CP article titled: “Events, protests to be held across Canada to mark one year since Oct. 7 attacks, Israel-Hamas war.”

In the article, the journalist referred to Israel’s year-long campaign of genocide as a “counter-offensive.” CJPME argued that labeling Israel’s genocidal actions as a “counter-offensive” is not just misleading; it is an egregious euphemism that journalists should avoid, especially since the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the world’s highest court, has indicated that Israel's actions could plausibly constitute genocide.

In the first edit of the article, the phrasing was changed to “the attack triggered a retaliatory Israeli offensive.” In a subsequent revision, CP altered the entire paragraph, stating that the events triggered a “region-wide conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as well as Iran and other allies.”

These changes represent a step forward in our advocacy efforts to hold outlets accountable and emphasize the importance of accurate reporting and pushing the narrative on the escalations in the region to a higher standard.

2024-10-08 CJPME persuades The Globe and Mail to edit Lebanese death toll for accuracy

On October 7, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to The Globe and Mail to address a factual inaccuracy in the article titled, “Hundreds gather on Parliament Hill to honour victims of Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.”

The article stated that “1,400 people, including civilians, medics, and fighters of the militant group Hezbollah, have been killed,” in Lebanon. However, according to the most recent data from the Lebanese Health Ministry, as cited by Middle East Eye, the number of those killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon since last October has risen to 2,083, with an additional 9,869 wounded.

On October 8, CJPME learned that The Globe and Mail clarified that the death toll of 1,400 only applies to the period "since September." This correction demonstrates progress in our ongoing efforts to ensure better reporting and fairer media coverage.

2024-09-26 CJPME Secures Correction from Radio-Canada on Reporting about Majdal Shams

On September 26, 2024, following a complaint from CJPME Media Analyst Fatima Haidar, CJPME learned that Radio-Canada corrected inaccuracies in a video interview with a Middle-East analyst discussing the deaths of Druze children in Majdal Shams. The original report incorrectly referred to the Druze victims as Israeli citizens and failed to clarify that Majdal Shams is located in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which is internationally recognized as Syrian territory.

In response to CJPME’s intervention, Radio-Canada updated the caption, noting that the victims' citizenship could not be confirmed and adding Israel's claim that Hezbollah was responsible for the attack. However, Radio-Canada omitted Hezbollah’s denial, leaving a one-sided narrative that fails to meet journalistic standards of balance and accuracy.

While CJPME appreciates Radio-Canada’s partial correction, the current webpage for the video calls for further improvements in ensuring accurate and unbiased reporting on such sensitive issues. CJPME will continue pushing Radio-Canada for an updated caption that fully reflects the narrative of the situation.

2024-09-23 CJPME published in the Hill Times in response to an op-ed that pink washes LGBTQ+ solidarity with Palestine

CJPME Media Analyst Anthony Issa publishes a Rebuttal in The Hill Times Exposing against a piece that spreads Anti-Palestinian Racism and pink washing in Pride Coverage.

Mr. Issa’s letter was written in response to a recent op-ed that falsely accused pro-Palestinian protesters at Pride events of being antisemitic.

In his letter, Issa dismantles the claims that equate Palestinian solidarity with antisemitism, exposing the misuse of Pride to shield Israel’s apartheid policies from criticism.

The letter also emphasizes the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the importance of preserving the intersectionality of Pride, ensuring that all marginalized communities, including Palestinians, are embraced and protected.

CJPME remains dedicated to challenging anti-Palestinian racism in the media ensuring that platforms like The Hill Times provide a fair and accurate platform for diverse perspectives on Palestine.

2024-09-10 CJPME publishes letter in Hamilton Spectator condemning Elle Canada for dropping Sarah Jama from their article of trailblazing women in Canada

CJPME’s advocacy efforts resulted in the publication of Media Analyst Anthony Issa’s letter to the editor in The Hamilton Spectator, addressing Elle Canada’s decision to remove MPP Sarah Jama from its list of trailblazing women due to her pro-Palestinian stance. 

Issa’s letter condemned the removal as an act of censorship and anti-Palestinian racism, drawing on the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association’s definition, which highlights the exclusion of Palestinian voices as a form of erasure.

The letter called for Elle Canada to reinstate Jama’s recognition and issue a public apology, warning that their actions set a dangerous precedent for Canadian media by disqualifying women who support Palestinian rights. Issa emphasized that this undermines journalistic integrity, especially at a time when Palestinians in Gaza are facing genocide.

This publication serves as a significant step in CJPME's ongoing campaign to push for accountability in Canadian media and to ensure that voices advocating for Palestinian rights are not silenced.

2024-09-06 Following CJPME and local pressure, CBC removes reference to Waterloo encampment as “security concern”

On September 5, 2024,  CJPME sent a letter to CBC News to raise concerns about an article entitled: “The University of Waterloo debuts new campus emergency alert system for 2024 fall semester,” published on September 4, 2024.  

The article reported on safety concerns on campus, framing both a violent stabbing and a pro-Palestine encampment as threats. The description was based on the comments of the university president, Vivek Goel. However, the president did not describe the pro-Palestine encampment as a security threat, but as a “difficult debate.”

CBC’s article unfairly conflated a violent stabbing and a peaceful protest by misrepresenting the comments of the Goel.

By grouping these events together under the same discussion of "safety concerns," the article subtly implies a connection between them, which could unfairly suggest that the peaceful protest contributed to the university’s safety concerns. This perpetuates dangerous tropes about Palestinians and their supporters as inherently violent or terrorist supporters.

CJPME expressed our concerns in a tweet and a letter to CBC News. After seeing our tweet, Waterloo’s Neighbors 4 Palestine, a local group, echoed our concerns. Following the pressure, the article was updated, removing any suggestion that the encampment was a security risk. 

CBC’s Sr. Manager of Journalistic Standards & Public Trust also added an Editor’s Note that reads,

"An earlier version of this story collated unrelated events on the university campus. It has been edited to more clearly reflect the context and nature of each event."

As Lauren Weinberg, a member of Independent Jewish Voices, wrote on behalf of Waterloo's Neighbors 4 Palestine:

“Although, as the story notes, President Goel mentioned both of these events in his YouTube video, CBC-KW has a responsibility to put them in appropriate context for its readers and listeners. It is misleading and harmful to link the encampment—which never endangered the UW community, and which provided many opportunities for students to learn and gather together—with the hate-motivated June 2023 stabbing, which severely injured two students and a professor."

This outcome demonstrates the importance of media advocacy and highlights the broader role that community voices play in challenging harmful narratives in the media.

2024-09-03 CJPME gets CBC to correct incorrectly paraphrased language

CJPME's ongoing advocacy efforts have led to a significant, though partial, success with CBC regarding its coverage of Ottawa’s Capital Pride's statement. Following Media Analyst Anthony Issa's complaint, CBC Managing Editor Nancy Waugh acknowledged that the original article incorrectly paraphrased Capital Pride's letter, specifically omitting key language regarding Israel's actions in Gaza. While the CBC did not include the full condemnation of Israel, including Capital Pride’s reference to a "plausible risk of genocide," they did modify the article to more clearly attribute the language condemning the October 7 events as "terrorism" to Capital Pride statement directly.

This correction, although limited, remains a notable victory in CJPME's media advocacy, as CBC has admitted, in part, to the need for clearer attribution and more precise reporting. 

CJPME will continue to push for the inclusion of better reporting and fairer media coverage of organizations in solidarity with Palestine.

 

2024-08-27 CJPME convinces notable blogger to remove false claim about our work from the internet

On August 27, 2024, CJPME informed former federal candidate and online writer Andy Lee that her claims about CJPME’s Media Accountability Project were false. Writing on Twitter, Andy Lee, with a following of about 150,000 people, was propagating the claim that CJPME’s President, Thomas Woodley, was hiding his affiliations with CJPME to mislead people about our work. However, the claim was based on a misinterpretation of MAP’s website and how it functions. After informing her that her assertions were demonstrably false, Andy Lee deleted the post from the internet after CJPME agreed to update Woodley’s letter to clarify he is the President of CJPME.

The timing of the deletion was critical, as her false claim was about a letter to the editor of Toronto Star from July 2023, because it was circulating alongside a campaign of attacks against CJPME led by columnists at Toronto Sun. The Toronto Sun’s journalists are reacting to a slew of letters from CJPME that prove numerous lies.

We appreciate and applaud Andy Lee’s decision to delete her claims once realizing they were false.

2024-08-23 CJPME Advocacy framed in Toronto Sun office

After months of silence, except in National NewsMedia cases where they were forced to reply, CJPME’s media advocacy efforts have visibly impacted the Toronto Sun and their newsroom. CJPME Media Analyst Anthony Issa sent a letter criticizing the Toronto Sun for biased and Islamophobic coverage by National politics reporter Bryan Passifiume. 

CJPME’s letter highlighted concerns over Passifiume’s article titled “Hillel urging universities to make campuses safe for Jews this September,” which was published on August 16, 2024. The article was criticized for its one-sided narrative, failure to include Palestinian voices, and for contributing to anti-Palestinian racism. 

But instead of engaging with these serious concerns, Passifiume decided to turn social media and tweet a picture of our numerous letters of complaint which he has turned into his personal art gallery in his home office. Passifiume presented these letters as a badge of honor. However, it’s clear that CJPME's advocacy is being read by the Toronto Sun and living rent-free in their minds (and homes!).

While this reaction was unexpected, it shows how necessary our work is. All that Passifiume has shown is that some journalists take pride in the substantive allegations of racism and false claims made against them.

While Toronto Sun journalists like Warren Kinsella and Brian Lilley have also taken to social media to intimidate CJPME and launch personal attacks against our staff, we will continue to fight against racism and for fair and honest media coverage of Palestine.

2024-08-22 CJPME op-ed published in the Driftwood Sun challenges biased column on Gaza protests

On August 20th, 2024, CJPME Media Analyst Anthony Issa wrote an op-ed in response to a misleading article published by the Driftwood Sun titled "Local Gaza Protesting Decried." The original article, which criticized local protests against Israel's actions in Gaza, framed the protests as antisemitic and failed to acknowledge Palestinians as an Indigenous people with a collective identity, belonging and rights in relation to occupied and historic Palestine.

In the published op-ed by CJPME, Mr. Issa challenged the biased portrayal of the protesters and the column’s distorted and ahistorical portrayal of the Levant, its people and its cultures. The op-ed emphasized the long history of systemic violence and apartheid that Palestinians have faced under Israeli occupation, which the original article ignored or downplayed. It also pointed out the need for accurate and balanced reporting, particularly when discussing matters of international human rights and Israel’s occupation of Palestine. 

The op-ed further critiqued the original piece for perpetuating harmful stereotypes and for its failure to recognize the legitimate concerns of those advocating for Palestinian rights.

CJPME thanks the Driftwood Sun for publishing this critical response, which contributes to a more informed and balanced discussion on the Israel-Palestine conflict. We also appreciate the Sun’s willingness to engage with diverse perspectives.

 

2024-08-20 The Telegram publishes CJPME Letter to the editor

On August 6, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to the editor (LTE) to The Telegram in response to Heidi Matthews’s August 3 opinion piece: “A disregard for students’ human rights.”

In her opinion piece, Matthews defended the student protest encampments, and CJPME sent a letter in support.

The LTE was published on August 20, 2024, in the Telegram.

You can read the LTE here.

It is always encouraging to see CJPME’s LTEs published, especially when it concerns the issue of pro-Palestine encampments, which has been unfairly and inaccurately reported on in Canadian media. 

 

2024-08-14 Hill Times publishes CJPME Letter to the editor

On August 8, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to the editor (LTE) to the Hill Times in response to Gwynne Dyer’s August 5 opinion piece: “Netanyahu’s game.”

In his opinion piece, Dyer argued that Netanyahu is acting in a way that could provoke a regional war.

However, we took issue with one particular sentence: “A pretext for that soon presented itself in the form of a random Hezbollah missile in the usual tit-for-tat along the Israeli-Lebanese border that killed a dozen young Druze who were playing football” in the form of an LTE sent on August 9.  

The LTE was published on August 14, 2024, in the Hill Times, debunking that Hezbollah is behind the missile that killed a dozen young Druze.

You can read the LTE here.

It is always encouraging to see CJPME’s LTEs published in the Hill Times to set the record straight on Israel’s actions.

 

2024-08-06 Media Accountability Project volunteer published in the Hill Times

On August 5th 2024, CJPME volunteer Grace Batchoun wrote a letter to the Hill Times which was published in the newspaper.  The letter was in response to an op-ed by Shaun Narine thanking them for rightfully calling out the double standard in both policy and rhetoric by the Canadian government on Palestine. Mrs. Batchoun thanked the columnist for highlighting the fact Palestinians have for over 75 years suffered under a brutal regime of apartheid by the state of Israel, and are now facing a brutal genocide by the Israeli regime.

CJPME thanks the Hill Times for their commitment to uplift Palestinian narratives within Canada. While the Hill Times does not have a perfect record on the subject, we commend the publication for its continued support and rigorous reporting on Palestine. CJPME also thanks the Hill Times for keeping the Canadian government accountable by emphasizing its direct support to Israel despite its ongoing aggression on occupied Palestine.

2024-08-02 CBC admits to broadcasting Israeli mistranslations of Palestinians without independent verification, makes sweeping corrections

On August 2, 2024, CJPME confirmed that the CBC had taken significant corrective steps following our complaint about the airing of an official Israeli translation of Hamas fighters speaking to Israeli soldiers who had been taken captive on October 7, 2023.

CJPME’s original letter of complaint can be read here.

After lengthy exchanges between CJPME staff and senior management at the CBC, the outlet agreed to make necessary clarifications. The CBC’s “Corrections and Clarifications” page has been updated to read:

“On May 22, 2024, families of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks released an edited series of video clips that were shot Oct. 7. The video was provided to the Hostages Families Forum by the Israel Defence Forces.  It shows Hamas militants with five Israeli female conscripts.  Translation of the Arabic speech on the video was distributed with the video. Based on that translation, CBC News reported that one militant referred to the soldiers as "women who can get pregnant."  CBC News did not independently translate the audio before broadcast and, in fact, that translation is in dispute. 

A clarification note was added to all online versions of this reporting. 

Clarifications were also broadcast on radio and television programs where the original story aired.”

It is alarming that the CBC would air an unverified, Israeli translation of Palestinians. This effectively spread an Israeli propaganda campaign. We are glad that the CBC has taken corrective measures, but we continue to insist on processes in the newsroom that will prevent repetitions of such a grave journalistic violation.

CJPME considers this a notable victory. It is exceptionally rare for Canada’s public broadcaster to make a sweeping admission of wrongdoing and to correct the record online as well as on radio and television.

2024-08-01 The Carillon publishes CJPME Letter to the editor

On July 26, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to the editor (LTE) to The Carillon in response to James Loewen’s  July 25 opinion piece: “The stain on the Paris Olympics.”

In his opinion piece, Loewen highlighted the double standard of allowing Israel to participate in the Olympics when it is committing crimes against humanity in Palestine while Russia is banned from doing so.

The LTE, which emphasized the double standard pointed out by Loewen, was published on August 1, 2024, in the Carillon.

It is always encouraging to see CJPME’s LTEs published, especially when it underscores the different treatment Israel is subjected to.

2024-07-22 Cornwall Standard-Freeholder publishes CJPME Letter to the Editor

On July 22, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder published a CJPME letter to the editor (LTE).

CJPME sent a letter agreeing with an LTE published in Cornwall Standard-Freeholder about the US playing the role of the “impregnable wall” to Israel.

CJPME developed the argument further by writing an LTE about the role of US imperialism in the establishment of the State of Israel and its lifeline.

You can read the unedited LTE here.

2024-07-22 CBC removes “terror” reference and adds context for CJPME

On July 19, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to the CBC about an Associated Press article published by the CJPME entitled: “U.S. shutters problem-plagued temporary aid pier in Gaza, claiming mission accomplished” published on July 17, 2024.  In particular, CJPME took issue with the sentence: “Aid groups also were terrorized by attacks, from Hamas, gunmen who stripped convoys of supplies and the Israeli military.”  While CJPME made a number of points about the article, CJPME foremost challenged CBC/AP’s use of the word “terrorized.”

The UN defines “terrorism” as criminal acts against civilians with the purpose to “intimidate a population or compel a government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing an act.” CJPME argued that, if indeed Hamas or unidentified gunmen had stolen aid, it would not be for any political purpose, but rather to feed starving people.  As such, the characterization of such attacks as being by nature “terror” would be inaccurate.  CJPME asked the CBC/AP to modify the sentence, such that the modifier “terror” not longer applied to Palestinian groups.

The CBC responded with a lengthy email which acknowledged several of the issues raised by CJPME, and explained that they had had a lengthy back-and-forth with AP to strengthen the article.  In the end, CBC rewrote the paragraph in question to add attribution and other details to make the language more precise. It now reads:

“Everyone has agreed all along that land crossings are the most productive way to get aid into Gaza, but the Israeli military has routinely blocked routes and slowed deliveries due to inspections. Hamas, armed gunmen who stripped convoys of supplies and the Israeli military created dangerous conditions for aid workers, according to various aid groups, the U.N. and the U.S. More than 278 workers have been killed in the conflict, said Samantha Power, administrator of USAID.”

Notably, in addition to adding far more contextual balance to the paragraph, the CBC/AP removed the word “terrorized” (as applied to Palestinian groups) as requested by CJPME. 

 

2024-07-17 – La Presse edits an article following CJPME letter

On July 10, 2024, CJPME sent a letter about a La Presse article on a social media list calling for the boycott of certain restaurants for their alleged ties to Israel.

CJPME argued that the article was biased as the article conflates the boycott of certain restaurants with antisemitism and not anti-zionism.

CJPME asked for four changes:

• La Presse removes the word "Juifs [Jews]" in the following sentence: "Depuis plusieurs mois, une liste de restaurants montréalais juifs circule sur les réseaux sociaux, appelant à les boycotter en raison des « liens » qu’ils auraient avec Israël." [For several months now, a list of Jewish Montreal restaurants has been circulating on social networks, calling for their boycott because of their alleged “ties” to Israel.]
• La Presse provides a description of CIJA (Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs) as they should not be presented as representatives of the Jewish community
• La Presse provides a context of the genocide in Gaza and the intentions behind the BDS movement to make sense of the list
• La Presse edits their definition of anti-Zionism as its misleading

While three of our asks were not properly acknowledged, La Presse did remove "Juifs" from the sentence that we took issue with. It is still a notable change since it was in the preamble of the article, and this will just encourage us to keep on pushing for the other issues.

2024-07-16 AP adjusts headline on “safe zone” bombing in nod to CJPME

On July 16, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to the Toronto Star and the Associated Press challenging the framing of an article from July 14 about a brutal Israeli attack a few days earlier in Khan Yunis area of Gaza in an article entitled, “Hamas says Gaza cease-fire talks haven’t paused and claims military chief survived Israeli strike.”  The article covered an Israeli attack that killed 90 Palestinian civilians, which Israel tried to justify by saying it (possibly) resulted in the assassination of a Hamas leader.

CJPME challenged the Star/AP’s decision to headline a Hamas comment on the ceasefire talks, rather than 1) Israel’s devastating attack on civilians, 2) Israel’s decision to make an attack in a supposed “safe zone,” and 3) Israel’s false claim of having killed a Hamas leader, was very suspect and biased.  

CJPME argued that the Star/AP should choose a headline which, rather than focusing on some “diplomatic” development involving Hamas, focused on the significant aspects of the situation, e.g. “Israel’s attack in Gaza ‘Safe Zone’ results in death of 90 civilians.”

The next day, CJPME was happy to see an article from AP, by the same author as the article on the 14th, again about a brutal attack by Israel in Gaza which killed scores of Palestinian civilians, which carried the title, “Israeli strikes in southern, central Gaza kill more than 60 Palestinians, including in ‘safe zone’”  While we don’t always get an explicit acknowledgement that our letters have had an impact, we are often gratified to see our input incorporated in later coverage.

2024-07-12 CBC News makes a change following CJPME letter

On July 9, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to CBC News to ask them to reformulate a sentence that implied that Israel stopped occupying the Gaza Strip after 2005 in an article about the reality of getting humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.  

While CJPME has also taken issue with CBC referring to Palestinians in Gaza as Gazans as it erases not only Palestine but Palestinians as a people, CBC made the change about the two other issues raised in the following paragraph:

Although Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 after occupying it since the Six-Day War in 1967, they maintained a blockade of Gaza’s access points by air, land and sea; human rights groups called that blockade a form of collective punishment in defiance of international law.

CJPME argued that the sentence implies that the occupation of the Gaza Strip since 1967 is unrelated to the blockade, while the blockade is in place because of the occupation of the Gaza Strip. CJPME clarified that Israel only removed its illegal settlements and withdrew its ground military forces.

CJPME also asked to refer to Gaza as the “Gaza Strip.”

Following our ask, CBC changed the paragraph which reads as follows:

Although Israel withdrew its military and dismantled Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip in 2005, having occupied it since the Six-Day War in 1967, they maintained a blockade of Gaza's access points by air, land and sea. Human rights groups called that blockade a form of collective punishment in defiance of international law.

While the issue of using the term Gazans to refer to Palestinians in Gaza was not addressed, others were, which is a step in maintaining a journalistic standard of accuracy.

2024-07-09 CJPME President publishes letter in the Hill Times

On July 9, 2024, CJPME’s President Thomas Woodley was published in The Hill Times, challenging the one-sided claims made in an article by Jesse Cnockaert the previous week regarding Bill C-63, the online harms bill. Bill C-63 purportedly aims to reduce exposure to harmful content online, including content that promotes hatred, violence, or extremism. However, Cnockaert’s article on the online harms bill presented only the perspective of Shimon Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), a pro-Israel lobby group, and ignored the fact that in 2021, 30 civil liberties organizations signed a statement criticizing the legislation as drafted. 

In his letter, Woodley pointed out that the bill could incentivize over-removal of content by platforms, and could be understood as conflating vastly different types of online harms under a single regulatory regime.  Woodley pointed out that the bill hadn’t stalled for the reasons Fogel provided, but because the bill was poorly written, and need to be rewritten from scratch.

 

2024-07-02 CBC News provides more context about the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)

On June 26, 2024, a CJPME MAP volunteer sent a letter to CBC News to ask them to specify that the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) is a pro-Israel advocacy organization in an article about MPs reviewing the new appointment of the Human Rights Commissioner.  

While we have regularly taken issue with media outlets describing CIJA as a “Jewish organization” or “Jewish advocate,” it is the first time that a media outlet has made a change following one of our letters.

Following our ask, CBC decided to add additional context. They added the following words: “whose mission is ‘to preserve and protect Jewish life in Canada through advocacy’” and a link to CIJA’s website.

While this is not the exact change we requested, it is a significant step in the right direction. It sets a precedent for challenging the inaccurate description of organizations such as CIJA.

 

2024-06-21 CJPME persuades Canadian Jewish News to correct headline and adds editor’s note

On June 17, 2024, CJPME complained that a statement by the Manitoba Islamic Association had been misrepresented in a CBC article. In reference to mental health, the Association expressed concern about the impact the ongoing “genocide against Palestinians” was having on youth. CBC paraphrased the reference to genocide as the “war in Gaza.”

Following our complaint, CBC’s Sr. Manager of Journalistic Standards & Public Trust acknowledged this was a mistake. To resolve it, CBC included the direct quote from the Association and added an Editor’s Note that reads, “The story has been updated to reflect that the Manitoba Islamic Association referenced genocide in Gaza, not war, in its statement.”

CJPME is satisfied with CBC’s response and believes it is essential that references to genocide are not whitewashed by vague references to the “war in Gaza.”

2024-06-21 CBC corrects article, includes reference to genocide against Palestinians following CJPME complaint

On June 17, 2024, CJPME complained that a statement by the Manitoba Islamic Association had been misrepresented in a CBC article. In reference to mental health, the Association expressed concern about the impact the ongoing “genocide against Palestinians” was having on youth. CBC paraphrased the reference to genocide as the “war in Gaza.”

Following our complaint, CBC’s Sr. Manager of Journalistic Standards & Public Trust acknowledged this was a mistake. To resolve it, CBC included the direct quote from the Association and added an Editor’s Note that reads, “The story has been updated to reflect that the Manitoba Islamic Association referenced genocide in Gaza, not war, in its statement.”

CJPME is satisfied with CBC’s response and believes it is essential that references to genocide are not whitewashed by vague references to the “war in Gaza.”

2024-06-20 CBC corrects article, includes reference to genocide against Palestinians following CJPME complaint

On June 17, 2024, CJPME complained that a statement by the Manitoba Islamic Association had been misrepresented in a CBC article. In reference to mental health, the Association expressed concern about the impact the ongoing “genocide against Palestinians” was having on youth. CBC paraphrased the reference to genocide as the “war in Gaza.”

Following our complaint, CBC’s Sr. Manager of Journalistic Standards & Public Trust acknowledged this was a mistake. To resolve it, CBC included the direct quote from the Association and added an Editor’s Note that reads, “The story has been updated to reflect that the Manitoba Islamic Association referenced genocide in Gaza, not war, in its statement.”

CJPME is satisfied with CBC’s response and believes it is essential that references to genocide are not whitewashed by vague references to the “war in Gaza.”

2024-06-19 CJPME complaint prompts CityNews Montreal to improve coverage of McGill encampment and SPHR’s Summer Youth Program

On June 19, 2024, CJPME wrote a letter to CityNews Montreal alerting them about their article on the McGill encampment which omitted important context on the image used for SPHR’s Youth Summer Program.

Following CJPME’s complaint about how their reporting on the image was biased and omitted important context on its original source, CityNews Montreal’s masthead updated the article the following morning. The article was drastically changed to include added context on the youth program itself and added clarity on the image used by SPHR Concordia. 

The changes included the much-needed perspective of pro-Palestine students who were interviewed at the encampment and the goals of the Summer Youth Program.  The article clarifies that the program teaches “’the history of Palestinian resistance,’ ‘Pan-Arabism,’ ‘Present-day Resistance,’ and other topics.”

Initially, the article described the image used by SPHR as depicting “a handful of people reading books with firearms present,” suggesting it “evoked violence.” CJPME criticized this portrayal for lacking context and perpetuating a one-sided narrative that conflated Palestinians and their supporters with terrorism, a clear double standard and a form of anti-Palestinian racism.

Following our complaint, CityNews Staff clarified that the image in question was originally taken in 1970, showing fighters with the Palestine Liberation Organization reading copies of Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung in Jordan. The fighters are depicted holding books and assault rifles. The updated article includes a quote from an SPHR spokesperson explaining that the photo was used to reclaim “Palestinian narratives that have been either deliberately destroyed in their physical sense but also as narratives that have been pushed to the side.”

These revisions significantly improve the article, providing much-needed context and depth to the story.

While the article is significantly improved, CityNews Montreal still frames the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) inaccurately. The article claims they are “Jewish leaders” yet never mentions that they are a pro-Israel advocacy organization and that they should not be conflated with all Jewish voices or perspectives in Canada. CJPME is disappointed that CityNews Montreal continues to frame CIJA as Jewish organization but not a pro-Israel advocacy organization.

CJPME is committed to challenging one-sided and harmful portrayals of peaceful protesters in Canada’s media. Nevertheless, we welcome and commend CityNews Montreal for their updated reporting.

2024-06-14 Ottawa Citizen re-categorizes article from News to Opinion following CJPME complaint

On June 12, 2024, the Ottawa Citizen’s Editor-in-Chief informed CJPME that it would recategorize an inflammatory article by Canada’s Former Ambassador to Israel that questioned “what is a civilian?”

CJPME had written to the paper making the request, as well as launching an alert about the same article that appeared in the National Post. Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, the National Post stands by the article that promotes genocidal rhetoric.

2024-06-14 CBC adds link to context about Israel's genocide in Gaza in a recent article

In a CBC article published on June 11, the journalist repeatedly used words like conflict, war, or situation to describe events in Gaza since Oct. 7. Given that the article had, at no point, provided context regarding Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza, CJPME argued that these general terms were rendered empty and useless to the reader. To account for this shortcoming, CBC opted to add a hyperlink to the CBC News page which gives readers access to more context. 

2024-06-14 CBC edits their language to avoid undermining the famine in Gaza

On June 4, CBC published an Associated Press article that referred to Palestinians in Gaza as "facing catastrophic food insecurity." CJPME promptly wrote to CBC to condemn this weak language and emphasize that Palestinians in Gaza are not "food insecure," but instead facing forced starvation. In response to our complaints, CBC edited the sentence to the following: 

Israel's subsequent bombardments and assault on Gaza has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians in nearly eight months, according to Gaza health officials, and displaced at least 1.7 million of the 2.3 million people living in the territory - most of whom, according to the World Food Programme, are facing catastrophic hunger." 

CJPME appreciates that CBC edited this sentence to include their source for their terminology (the World Food Programme), linked the page in which the WFP uses this language, and, most importantly, changed "catastrophic food insecurity" to "catastrophic hunger." 

2024-05-28 CJPME’s Letter to the Editor-in-Chief pressured the National Post to finally report on Rafah

On May 27, 2024, CJPME wrote a letter to the Editor-in-Chief of the National Post Rob Roberts to alert them concerning the fact that they had zero of reporting on Israel’s genocidal actions in Rafah despite an endless stream of articles focused on Hamas and recounting the Israeli perspective of the events on October 7.

Following a strongly worded letter by CJPME’s about this blatant double-standard, the following day the National Post posted one article addressing the dire situation in Rafah. 

Although deeply problematic in its framing of events and whitewashes Israel of any guilt, the article includes objective facts that even the National Post cannot deny.  One, the ICJ ruling has prompted calls for Israel to abide by the ICJ ruling and stop its military operation.  Second, the horrors in Gaza are undeniable, even for the pro-Israeli lobby. The situation is not asymmetrical.

CJPME is committed to challenging double standards in the media and ensure that they inform their readers of what’s happening on the ground in Gaza.

2024-05-28 CJPME complaint prompts Montreal Gazette and La Presse Canadienne to improve coverage of UQAM encampment

On May 27, 2024, CJPME wrote to the Montreal Gazette and La Presse Canadienne to alert them about their article on the UQAM encampment which presented a one-sided narrative and failed to provide a fair or balanced perspective by excluding the viewpoints of the protesters and their supporters.

Following CJPME’s complaint about how this was inaccurate, a senior editor responded that they would work on addressing the issue. The following day the article was completely overhauled.  

The changes included the much-needed perspective of pro-Palestine students who were interviewed at the encampment and their view on UQAM’s partial injunction. Jacob Serebrin, the reporter now attributed to the article’s byline, also interviewed, and added perspectives by lawyers Louis-Philippe Lampron who specializes in fundamental freedoms, and Frédéric Bérard. 

CJPME is committed to challenging one-sided and harmful portrayals of peaceful protesters in Canada’s media. We welcome and commend the Montreal Gazette and La Presse Canadienne for their updated reporting.

2024-05-23 CJPME complaint prompts CBC, Montreal Gazette, and Canadian Press to improve coverage of McGill encampment

On May 14, 2024, CJPME wrote to the CBC, Montreal Gazette, and Canadian Press to alert them to a misleading claim in their articles about the McGill anti-genocide encampment. All three had claimed in articles dated May 14 and earlier that McGill would have to secure an alternative graduation venue if the encampment continued. However, after communicating with lawyers defending the encampment, CJPME was able to confirm that McGill had already secured an alternate venue.

This fact impacts the unfolding situation by changing public perceptions of the urgency in finding a satisfactory solution to the encampment. It also has significant consequential effects on the injunction itself. McGill’s confirmation that it had already secured an alternative venue led the judge to dismiss the "seriousness or irreparable prejudice" criterion of the injunction.

This change was reflected in other outlets as they realized omitting this critical context misrepresented the urgency of the injunction. Yet, the CBC, Montreal Gazette, and Canadian Press have not updated their articles to reflect the fact that McGill had already secured a venue for its graduation ceremony.

On May 14, the Montreal Gazette wrote:

Apart from increased security costs, the university says it will have to spend more than $700,000 to rent another site for its graduation ceremonies, which usually take place on part of the site where the protesters are camped.

Following CJPME’s complaint about how this was inaccurate, the following day an article was published that read:

According to another representative from SPHR Concordia, also part of the encampment, protesters were encouraged by the effect the camp is already having on the university, noting McGill has had to make alternative plans to hold graduation ceremonies that are scheduled to begin May 28. They normally would be held near the area where the camp is located.

CJPME demands that all three media organizations address this oversight. Public perceptions of the encampments and the injunction’s failure might change significantly once it is understood that the dismantling of the encampment would not impact McGill's graduation ceremony, given that a new venue had already been secured.

2024-05-22 CJPME publishes two lengthy letters in the Hill Times and Toronto Sun

On May 16, 2024, CJPME volunteer Walter Thomas Beckett was published in the Toronto Sun, Ottawa Sun, and Winnipeg Sun. His letter was edited in letters to the editor sections, but also published in full as an op-ed. Beckett argued against an article by Lorrie Goldstein, which claimed that Hamas practices “Taqiyya.” Goldstein’s article totally misunderstands the Islamic concept and relied on problematic sourcing.

On May 15, 2024, CJPME’s Jason Toney was published in the Hill Times pushing back against false claims made in an op-ed by Andrew Caddell, a public official in Quebec and former staffer at the Department of Global Affairs. Caddell baselessly claimed that Russia and Iran are funding protesters.

2024-05-15 Toronto Star edits article to report the Palestinian death toll more precisely

On May 14, CJPME learned that the Toronto Star had edited a small error in their article following our complaint. In this article, Ben Cohen wrote that encampments are the latest events since Israel's war on Gaza "in which thousands have been killed." CJPME informed Ben Cohen that 35,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since Oct. 7, not "thousands." Given the fact that the obfuscating term "thousands" undermines the damage and casualties incurred since the beginning of Israel's military offensive on Gaza, Toronto Star has edited the problematic phrase to "tens of thousands." While CJPME will continue to insist that exact death tolls are reported, we nonetheless appreciate Ben Cohen's responsiveness and his willingness to amend the article.  

2024-05-15 After a National NewsMedia Council dispute, Toronto Sun finally corrects op-ed

On May 15, CJPME learned that Toronto Sun had finally agreed to correct an opinion article that falsely claimed one of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinians' Rights' toolkits was a leaked secret document. These subtleties perpetuate false claims that anti-genocide organizing in North America is run by nefarious forces and not grassroots. CJPME initially reached out to Warren Kinsella and relevant editors at Toronto Sun to request that words like "secret" and "leaked" be removed, as this toolkit was publicly available on USCPR's website at the time of publication. Lacking a timely response from the outlet, CJPME filed a complaint with the National NewsMedia Council to mediate and resolve the dispute. Toronto Sun insisted that at the time of writing the opinion column, March 16, 2024, the toolkit to which they refer could not be found. Using internet archives accessed on Wayback Machine, CJPME found that the "Stop Genocide in Gaza Toolkit" was accessible on USCPR's website as early as November 28, 2023. Following this back and forth, Toronto Sun communicated that they were prepared to amend the copy and append an editor's note to the column. All instances of the word "secret" were removed and the term "leaked to" was replaced by "obtained by." The appended editor's note reads as follows: 

2024-05-10 Toronto Sun finally identifies an article as opinion

On May 6, 2024, CJPME sent an alert to MAP responders to ask them to critique Toronto Sun’s decision to publish an article by Joe Warmington about the U of T student encampment as “news.”

While we have regularly taken issue with Toronto Sun and Joe Warmington for his inflammatory columns, this particular article was not only inflammatory but violated basic journalistic standards as it was identified as “news.”

Following the huge number of letters our MAP responders sent, the article is now identified as “opinion.”

While our other issues weren’t addressed, such as his offensive description of the U of T encampment and his uncorroborated claims that it is antisemitic, it is still a notable change since our past attempts weren’t as effective. This will only encourage more to keep pushing for the respect of basic journalistic obligations to media outlets even if they are not as receptive.  

2024-04-30 CTV News and CBC News admit that McGill refuses to share “video evidence” of alleged hate speech at protests

On April 29, 2024, CJPME sent letters to CTV News and CBC News, pushing the media outlets to add an important piece of information regarding articles (this one and this one) about the McGill encampments requesting their university’s full divestment from occupation and genocide.

CJPME wrote, among other things, that the articles quote the McGill administration’s claim that they have seen footage of people using antisemitic language and intimidating behaviour without clarifying if CTV News and CBC News requested to see the footage and if anyone at CTV News and CBC News has seen it.

CJPME insisted, among other things, that CTV News and CBC News clarify it they have seen the alleged video footage of antisemitic and intimidating behavior by protesters.

Following our letters, CBC News added the following sentence: “CBC News requested a copy of the video, but the university has not responded.” CTV News added the following sentence: “McGill University has not responded to CTV News Montreal's requests for interviews.”

While other issues were not acknowledged by CTV News and CBC News, this addition is necessary given the sensitive nature of these events and the numerous cases of false allegations of antisemitism on university campuses since protests began, this important piece of information can serve as a precedent to challenge other media outlets quoting McGill administration’s claim without verifying it.

2024-04-30 CityNews Toronto makes a change following CJPME letter

On April 26, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to CityNews Toronto, pushing the media outlet to make changes regarding an article about MPP Sarah Jama being asked to leave the Ontario legislature for defying the keffiyeh ban.

CJPME wrote that the article did not provide an adequate description of the keffiyeh’s historical and cultural significance for Palestinians among other things.

CJPME took an issue with one sentence, among others, of CityNews describing the keffiyeh as “a black and white checkered scarf.” CJPME argued that “checkered scarf” and “Black-and-white scarves” are terms extensively used in racist contexts on social media, such as Twitter (formerly X). CJPME also suggested and included an accurate description of the keffiyeh.

CJPME, among other things, asked CityNews to update the “black and white checkered scarf” to simply “keffiyeh,” as it can be deeply offensive to Palestinians and their allies to use reductive terms to allude to the keffiyeh.

Following our letter, CityNews changed the words “black and white checkered scarf” to “keffiyeh” as requested.

While other issues were not acknowledged by CityNews, such as referring to the keffiyeh as “the scarf” and “cultural cloth,” it is encouraging that CityNews will change the most problematic reference to the keffiyeh to the suggested edit. It can serve as a precedent to challenge other media outlets using the same descriptors.

2024-04-22 Global News makes a change following CJPME letter

On April 16, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to Global News, pushing the media outlet to make changes regarding an article about Canada’s position and Israel’s reaction following Israel’s strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy that killed seven aid workers.

CJPME wrote that the article was misleading by using language that undermines Israel’s actions and responsibility in the situation in Palestine.

CJPME asked Global News to change the words “Israeli citizens” to “Israeli civilians, foreigners, and security forces” as only 695 people of the 1,200 people killed on Oct. 7 were Israeli civilians.

Following our letter, Global News changed the words “Israeli citizens” to “people.”

CJPME also asked to challenge Israeli claims that the strike “was a mistake” and that it “punished the military officials it says were responsible.”

CJPME pointed out that Israel knew exactly what it was doing and that the mistake was the failure to kill an alleged militant and not attack the convoy at all. CJPME also pointed out that a reserve colonel and a major were dismissed from their posts and that three more senior officers were reprimanded. Therefore, the word “punishment” did not feel appropriate in this case at all.

It is disappointing that Global News would not make the changes we asked for and think that we will be satisfied with this bare-minimum change. This only encourages us to be even more persistent in asking for changes from Global News.

2024-04-11 Tri-City News deletes claim that “From the river to the sea” was co-opted by Hamas

On April 11, 2024, writing in Tri-City News, journalist Mario Bartel claimed that the protest chant “From the river to sea, Palestine will be free” had been “co-opted” by Hamas. After a CJPME complaint that pointed out such commentary was inappropriate in a news article, as well as it being reductive and inaccurate, the article was corrected.

While this inflammatory and misleading remark was removed, the article still alleges that this chant “has come to sew fear in Jewish communities around the world.” Given that the slogan is widely used by Jewish groups around the world, this comment remains unfair and violates journalistic standards. CJPME is committed to challenging one-sided and harmful portrayals of peaceful protesters in Canada’s media.

2024-04-11 Toronto Star and the Waterloo Region Record publish CJPME letters to the editor

On April 11, 2024, two different CJPME letters to the editor were published in the Toronto Star and the Waterloo Region Record that challenged problematic op-eds.

In the Toronto Star, Michael Levitt of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre wrote a piece bashing pro-Palestine protesters on the day of Eid al-Fitr. You can read CJPME’s response here.

In the Waterloo Region Record, Robert Walker of Honest Reporting Canada regurgitated IDF talking points without any real depth or insight. You can read CJPME’s response here.

2024-04-05 Globe and Mail’s Standards Editor resolves false claim with weak, passive language

On April 5, 2024, CJPME learned that Globe and Mail’s Standards Editor, Sandra E. Martin, resolved issues with her article following a CJPME complaint. The article false claimed that “Gaza” was limiting journalists’ access to the region. Not only is Gaza not a government, it is Israel who is limiting access to journalists.

Unfortunately, her correction uses passive language and does not identify Israel as being responsible for denying Gaza a free press. CJPME has expressed its dissatisfaction with the change, but is glad the falsehood was resolved nonetheless.

2024-04-04 The Coast promptly makes requested edits to a recent article

2024-04-02 Bradford Today makes change following CJPME letter

On March 14, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to Bradford Today, pushing the media outlet to make a change regarding an article about a censorship accusation against the Bradford library that canceled a film screening.

CJPME challenged the following sentence: “The film is a fictional drama about a Palestinian man named Mustafa, whose wife and children live in two Palestinian villages in the West Bank which are 200 metres apart and separated by the Israeli boarder wall.”

CJPME argued that the “Israeli border wall” in the West Bank, to which the article refers, deviates from the Green Line to encompass several settlements, thereby failing to reflect Israel’s initial borders.  

CJPME suggested terms like “Apartheid Wall” or “Annexation Wall” to be more accurate.

Following our letter, Bradford Today informed us that in a subsequent article about the same issue, they used the term: “Israeli barrier wall.”

This is a considerable change since Canadian media outlets tend to not mention or accurately describe Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land.

2024-04-01 Grand Forks Gazette makes all requested edits to a recent article

On April 1, CJPME learned that Grand Forks Gazette made all requested edits in a news article about a peace conference in Grand Forks. CJPME requested that the glaring factual errors related to the number of people killed and taken captive on Oct. 7 be edited. Before the article read:

Saturday marked roughly 170 days of Israel’s war on Gaza, following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas miliants at an outdoor music festival, which killed 1,600 Israeli citizens and 300 more taken hostage. Since then, it is estimated that more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed with about half of those children.

Now, the article reads:

Saturday marked roughly 170 days of Israel’s war on Gaza, following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas miliants at an outdoor music festival, which killed 1,200 people killed and around 240 taken hostage. Among the casualties were Isreali soldiers, civilians and foreigners. Since then, it is estimated that more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed with about half of those children.

A report from Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs cited social security data that showed that of the total death toll, 695 of those killed were Israeli civilians. The others were security forces and foreigners. There are also reports of Israeli civilians being killed by friendly fire on Oct.7, including a house in Kibbutz Be’eri getting shelled by a tank, leaving 12 Israelis dead.

CJPME greatly appreciates these thorough edits!

2024-03-27 CBC News Manitoba promptly edited obscure wording in recent article

On March 27, CJPME learned that CBC News Manitoba had made some changes to their article about the Mennonite Central Committee sending food to Gaza. The article repeatedly referred to the starvation crisis in Gaza as “food insecurity.” Some examples of their obscure wording can be found in the original letter addressed to the editors at CBC Manitoba. In one case, the term “food insecure” was removed from the article. In the other, CBC adjusted their wording:

The organization has five more shipments planned as the region continues to struggle with rising levels of hunger, in the wake of the war that began Oct. 7.

While CBC Manitoba did not make all our requested edits, we appreciate their prompt mitigation of poor word choice. 

2024-03-26 Globe and Mail’s landing page for “Israel-Hamas War” has finally been edited

On March 26, CJPME learned that the Globe and Mail had finally made the edits requested on their landing page for the “Israel-Hamas War.” Before CJPME’s complaints, the description of the “Israel-Hamas War” on the Globe and Mail’s landing page read:

On Oct. 7 a surprise attack by militant group Hamas left around 1,200 Israelis dead, and hundreds were taken hostage. Israel responded with air strikes and a ground campaign in the Gaza Strip that has killed thousands.

As written in CJPME’s letter to the outlet, reciting the precise death toll for those killed in Israel but opting for “thousands” to describe the Palestinian death toll is blatantly disrespectful. The Standards Editor at The Globe emphasized that the descriptive copy at the top of topic pages cannot be updated frequently and is written in such a way as to allow it to remain static. She did, however, agree to update the number of casualties exceptionally. The description now reads:

On Oct. 7 a surprise attack by militant group Hamas left around 1,200 Israelis dead, and hundreds were taken hostage. Israel responded with air strikes and a ground campaign in the Gaza Strip that has killed tens of thousands.

While this is not the edit we hoped for, we recognize The Globe’s inability to keep the number of casualties updated and appreciate their willingness to concede to our demands.

2024-03-22 Globe and Mail publishes Letter to the Editor by CJPME President

On March 22, 2023, the Globe and Mail published a letter to the editor by CJPME President Thomas Woodley. Writing in response to an op-ed that argued the NDP’s motion on Palestine was “meaningless,” Woodley argued that “in the convoluted world of Canadian politics” the motion still have significance.

You can read the letter in its entirety here.

 

2024-03-22 CBC News edits title of segment following our complaints

On March 15, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to CBC News, pushing the media outlet to make some changes in a segment about the group of Israelis blockading humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. Originally titled “Israeli civilians protest Gaza aid deliveries,” the segment presents the blockaders as harmless and benevolent, which is entirely inappropriate considering the nature of their acts.

The Israelis are not “protesting” humanitarian aid entering Gaza, they are actively blockading humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. While CJPME made several demands, which can be found in the original letter sent to CBC’s team, the outlet just opted to change the word “protest” to “target” and edit the title to “Israeli protestors target Gaza aid deliveries.” 

2024-03-20 Global News claims arrested far-right Rebel News reporter was a “pro-Palestine protestor,” CJPME prompts sweeping correction

On March 19, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to Global News, pushing the media outlet to change a headline on a story about a pro-Palestine demonstration outside the King Edward Hotel for a fundraiser event for the Liberal Party that Justin Trudeau was attending.

The video title and caption were misleading, as it claimed that two pro-Palestine protesters were arrested at a demonstration. One of the arrested was David Menzies, a reporter for Rebel News, a far-right media outlet.

Following our letter, Global News changed the video title to: “Israel-Gaza: 2 arrested at pro-Palestinian protest in Toronto outside Trudeau event.” The previous title was: “Israel-Gaza: Toronto police arrest at least 2 pro-Palestinian protesters outside Trudeau event.”

Global News changed this line in the video abstract: “Toronto police arrested at least two demonstrators at a pro-Palestinian protest outside a fundraiser for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the King Edward Hotel on Friday.” The new line is: “Toronto police arrested at least two people during a pro-Palestinian protest outside a fundraiser for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the King Edward Hotel on Friday.”

CJPME also asked Global News to provide details about the situation in Gaza as it would help viewers make more sense of the intentions behind the pro-Palestine protests and protesters.

Global News added this line to the video abstract: “Israel has denied accusations of genocide in its campaign against Hamas. In January, Israel insisted at the United Nations’ highest court that its conflict in Gaza was a legitimate defence of its people and said instead that Hamas was guilty of genocide.”

Finally, Global News sent a notice to MCN and Yahoo, which broadcasted the same video.

These are considerable changes since Canadian media outlets tend to depict pro-Palestine protests and protesters violently and negatively. These changes contribute to slowly shifting this bias.

2024-03-15 Vancouver Sun issues correction following our demands

On March 15, CJPME learned that the Vancouver Sun corrected an article following a CJPME complaint. In an article about how a children’s tent at a rally for Gaza has supported Palestinian-Canadian parents, Denise Ryan wrote the following:

Sama said that when Israel invaded Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel, Yafa knew something was happening.

CJPME wrote a letter to the journalist and the editor-in-chief asking whether Sama called it a terrorist attack in her testimony or whether the journalist made this moral judgment herself. If Sama called it a terrorist attack in her own testimony, then that needs to be made clear by putting those words in quotation marks. In any other case, the Hamas attacks should not be broadly labeled as “terroristic” in a news article. Further, despite the article providing readers with the Israeli death toll, no information regarding how many Palestinians have been killed by Israel was included. After the Deputy Editor of the Vancouver Sun admitted that the reporter was working within a limited word count, they opted to remove the portion about Hamas’ attack, as well as the Israeli death toll, to avoid imbalanced reporting. The sentence now reads:

Sama said that when Israel invaded Gaza after October 7, Yafa knew something was happening.

CJPME appreciates the Vancouver Sun’s prompt response and willingness to make corrections to their published articles.

2024-03-13 Global News makes changes in an article following CJPME letter

On March 7, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to Global News, pushing the media outlet to make some changes regarding an article about Selina Robinson quitting the NDP caucus.

CJPME wrote that the article failed to highlight how controversial and racist her comments were and failed to provide Palestinian voices.

Global News wrote: “the land upon which Israel was founded” in the video caption.

CJPME argued that the land that they are referring to is Palestine, both from a modern-day perspective and a historical perspective. By describing this territory as “the land upon which Israel was founded,” the article is erasing the history of Palestinians and their land, which reinforces Robinson’s anti-Palestinian comments.

CJPME asked Global News to replace the words: “the land upon which Israel was founded” with “Palestine.”

Following our letter, Global News:

• changed the words: “the land upon which Israel was founded” to “Israel”
• added comments from the BC Muslim Association: “In reaction to Robinson’s remark, the BC Muslim Association said her comment was “derogatory,” and asked her to acknowledge she has engaged in “a pattern of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.””
• Added an editor’s note: “Editor’s note: This story has been updated to provide additional context and balance.”

While changing the words to “Israel” is not the change CJPME hoped for, this small change will push CJPME to further its effort in asking media outlets to use the word Palestine.

Adding a Palestinian perspective is also encouraging as it is, in a way, preventing media from partaking in anti-Palestinian racism, another issue CJPME is fighting for.

2024-03-12 CBC News issues correction following our insistent demands

On March 11, CJPME learned that CBC News made corrections and additions to an article following a CJPME complaint. In an article about a Quebec court temporarily prohibiting protests near Jewish institutions in Montreal published on March 6, Sabrina Jonas and Isaac Olson wrote the following:

The Montreal chapter of Independent Jewish Voices, one of the defendants in the injunction, organized a protest against an Israel real estate event, claiming it marketed property in the West Bank, where over two million Palestinians live under Israel's military occupation, according to the United Nations (UN).

On March 8, CJPME wrote to the journalists and standards editor at CBC, asking why it was not made clear that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal and forbidden under international law. We also asked that the territories CBC refers to be explicitly preceded by “occupied.” CBC News added this sentence to its article:

The UN, alongside Canada, consider Israeli settlements in the occupied territories to be in violation of international convention, with the federal government saying they “constitute a serious obstacle to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.”

CJPME appreciates this adjustment made by CBC News to make their article more accurate

2024-03-11 CBC makes changes in an article following CJPME letter

On March 11, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to CBC News, pushing the media outlet to make a change regarding an article about the reaction of Muslims fasting during Ramadan to the genocide in Gaza.

CJPME wrote that the article did not give an accurate and complete picture of the situation in Gaza, which Israel has inflicted.

CBC News wrote: “due to weeks of aid being limited in the region.”

CJPME argued that aid is not being limited in the region, it is being blocked by Israel and that such words tend to undermine Israel’s actions and responsibility.

CJPME asked CBC News to replace the words: “aid being limited in the region” with “aid being blocked by Israel in the region.”

Following our letter, CBC News added the following sentence: “Aid groups say Israel's near-total blockade of Gaza and the fighting have made it nearly impossible to deliver aid.”

This is a considerable change since it helps readers understand Israel’s responsibility behind the starvation of Gazans.

2024-03-11 CBC News issues correction following our insistent demands

On March 11, CJPME learned that CBC News made corrections to an article following two CJPME complaints. In an article about the Canadian government’s response to Israel’s assault on Gaza, Raffy Boudjikanian initially wrote the following:

Months of violence have followed the events of Oct. 7, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killed approximately 1,200 people, and took roughly 250 others hostage, according to Israeli accounts. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed approximately 29,000 people, according to Gaza’s Hamas-led health authority.

On March 1, CJPME wrote to the journalist and the standards editor at CBC, saying that the term “Israeli strikes” obfuscates the scale of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Palestinians are being killed by airstrikes, gunshots, and tanks, as well as fatal conditions that have caused death from lack of medicine, starvation, dehydration, and malnutrition. After a week without a response, CJPME sent a follow-up email demanding an immediate correction. The sentence in question now reads:

Since then, the Israeli campaign has killed approximately 29,000 people, according to Gaza’s Hamas-led health authority.

We appreciate CBC updating this article for clarity.

2024-03-11 Victoria News makes a change in an article following CJPME letter

On March 7, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to Victoria News, pushing the media outlet to make some changes regarding an article about Selina Robinson quitting the NDP caucus.

CJPME wrote that the article failed to highlight how controversial and racist her comments were.

Victoria News wrote: “After she called pre-1948 Israel a “crappy piece of land with nothing on it.””

CJPME argued that the land that they are referring to is Palestine, both from a modern-day perspective and a historical perspective. By describing this territory as “pre-1948 Israel,” the article is erasing the history of Palestinians and their land, which reinforces Robinson’s anti-Palestinian comments.

CJPME asked Victoria News to replace the words: “pre-1948 Israel” with “Palestine.”

Following our letter, Victoria News changed the words: “Pre-1948 Israel” with “the British-ruled Mandate upon which Israel was founded in 1948.”

It is not the change CJPME hoped for, but this small change still nuances Israel’s existence before 1948 and will push CJPME to further its effort in asking media outlets to use the word Palestine.

2024-03-08 City News Montreal makes some changes in an article following CJPME letter

On March 6, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to City News Montreal, pushing the media outlet to make some changes regarding an article about a protest in Montreal to an event hosting a panel of IOF members. We asked them to make it more accurate and precise.

CJPME wrote that the article had a misleading headline, didn’t use the correct terms to properly assess who the guests of the event were, did not mention who the organizers of the event were, and could have added voices from the protesters themselves and mentioned who the organizers of the protest were.

CJPME asked City News Montreal to add the words “hosting Israel occupation forces members” after the words “Israel speaking tour event” to the headline.

City News Montreal changed the words “Israel speaking tour” to “IDF speaking tour.”

CJPME asked City News Montreal to change the words “three Israeli advocates” to “three members of Israel’s occupation forces.”

City News Montreal changed the words “three Israeli advocates” to “three Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reservists.”

CJPME asked to change the words “Montreal’s Jewish community” to include the exact name of the event organizers: “Montreal’s Jewish community and DiploAct.”

City News Montreal added this sentence: “It was organized by Startup Nation, DiploAct and Hillel Concordia, per the poster.”

These changes were important to set the record straight on how controversial the event was and to not further mislead City News Montreal readers.

2024-03-06 Hill Times publishes CJPME LTE

On February 27, 2024, CJPME sent an LTE to the Hill Times in response to Aisha Sherazi’s February 26 opinion piece: “Our shared vision feels like it is crumbling.”

The LTE was published on March 4, 2024, in the Hill Times, and echoes Sherazi’s concern that, in its failure to uphold international human rights in Palestine-Israel, Canada attributes greater value to white lives over BIPOC lives.  You can read the complete unedited version here.

It is always highly encouraging to see CJPME’s LTEs getting published in the Hill Times as it contributes to influence policymakers in Canada about issues surrounding Palestine.

2024-02-28 Waterloo Region Record issues corrections following our insistent demands

On February 28, CJPME learned that the Waterloo Region Record made corrections to an article following a CJPME complaint. This article was about the escalation of anti-Palestinian racism in schools within the Waterloo Region School District. Despite the subject of the article– the prominence of APR– being highly appreciated by CJPME, there were a couple of instances of anti-Palestinian racism subtly embedded within it.

Initially, the article read:

The overall Palestinian death toll from the war in Gaza has now surpassed 28,000, according to reports from the Health Ministry in Gaza this week. This comes after Hamas militants killed about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners on Oct. 7, and abducted around 250 people, mostly civilians.

After complaining to the author and editor that this paragraph dehumanizes Palestinians by using active language for Israelis and not Palestinians, as well as not citing Israel as the source of information for the Israeli death toll, Waterloo Region Record edited the paragraph to:

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians, according to reports from the Health Ministry in Gaza this week. This comes after Hamas militants killed about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners on Oct. 7, and abducted around 250 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials. 

In one of their paragraphs, Williams wrote: “Since the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict began in October…” Given the fact that the “conflict” did not begin in October and the word “conflict” falsely implies a power symmetry between the two parties involved, CJPME recommended that the beginning of this sentence simply be amended to “Since Oct. 7.” Now, the sentence reads: “Since Oct. 7, the Coalition of Muslim Women of K-W has been documenting the rise in specific anti-Palestine racism in the school board.”

We appreciate both Waterloo Region Record’s response to our complaints and their willingness to publish articles regarding anti-Palestinian racism and strategies to combat it with the Waterloo Region School District.  

2024-02-28 Hill Times publishes a letter written by a CJPME analyst

On February 28, Hill Times ran a letter written by CJPME analyst Rose Mardikian. Initially, Rose sent this as a letter criticizing this article that the use of the word “terrorism” to describe Hamas’ actions on Oct. 7 insinuated a moral judgment, which is not appropriate for a news article. While the editor remained steadfast and insisted that no changes would be made to the article, she requested an abridged version to publish as a letter to the editor. In “Avoid language that casts ‘moral judgments’ in news stories,” Rose Mardikian argues that referring to Hamas as a terrorist organization or labeling all their actions on October 7 as acts of “terror” or “terrorism” is not accurate and casts a moral judgment. While Israel’s actions both before and after Oct. 7 undoubtedly qualify as terrorism, to label one group as terrorists and not the other is a blatant double standard that favors Israel.

For Hill Times editors to continue publishing our work demonstrates CJPME’s growing legitimacy and influence in public discourse.

2024-02-27 CBC and the Hill Times correct an article following CJPME letters

On February 23 and February 27, 2024, CJPME sent letters to CBC and the Hill Times to ask for a word change that undermined the magnitude and scope of a call from Canada’s Muslim community for stronger action regarding Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

CBC wrote, “Several local congregations are warning members of Parliament they won't be welcome in their mosques …”

Hill Times wrote, "Several prominent mosques calling on MPs to back an immediate ceasefire in the region…”

CJPME pointed out that the word “several” undermines how widespread the call is as it came from 300 Muslim institutions and mosques.

CJPME asked to change the word “several” to the exact number (300) or to a word that better reflects how widespread and momentous the call was.

On February 26, 2024, following our letter, CBC changed the word “several” to “numerous.”

On February 27, 2024, following our letter, the Hill Times changed the word “several” to “300 Muslim institutions and mosques.”

This small change is a step towards pushing media outlets to be more accurate when reporting on the Muslim support for stronger actions from Canada regarding Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

2024-02-23 National Post will be asked to identify “analysis” articles as “opinion” articles following CJPME NNC case

On December 5, 2023, CJPME sent a complaint to the NNC regarding a November 4, 2023, National Post (NP) opinion piece purporting to “debunk lies about the State of Israel.”  The piece was identified as “analysis” by the NP, but CJPME considered the piece to be purely opinion.  CJPME’s complaint pushed the newspaper for corrections to the piece or, at the very least, to clearly identify it as an opinion article.

On February 29, 2024, the National NewsMedia Council (NNC) ruled that: “Given that the columnist in this case often writes from a particular perspective, the NNC would support labelling similar content as opinion pieces in the future so as to clearly signal to readers that the piece is distinct from news reporting.”

This is a small step toward holding the National Post accountable and helping readers distinguish between opinion and news.  CJPME will be watching closely for future articles from the same author to ensure that his single-minded dribble in blind defence of Israel is clearly labelled as “opinion” in the future. 

2024-02-23 Hamilton Spectator removes a picture and adds an editor’s note following CJPME letter

On February 23, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to the Hamilton Spectator, pushing the newspaper to remove a picture unrelated to a pro-Palestine rally organized by Oakville-Halton 4 Palestine (OH4P) referenced in an opinion piece.  CJPME also asked for the Spectator to include an apology as an editor’s note.

CJPME pointed out that the op-ed was paired with a xenophobic and fanaticism-intended Getty Image of a November pro-Palestine rally in Glasgow, Scotland, by Jeff J. Mitchell and that bore no relation to the pro-Palestine rally organized by OH4P.

On February 23, 2024, following our letter, Hamilton Spectator removed the photo and added the following editor’s note: NOTE: A Getty Images file photo of a protest rally in Glasgow, Scotland, has been removed from this story.

This small change is a step towards preventing further bias from media outlets against pro-Palestine protesters.

2024-02-19 Toronto Star makes a change and adds an editor’s note following CJPME letter

On February 15, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to the Toronto Star, pushing the newspaper to add more context to accurately and completely describe the intentions of the organizers of the Sunday, February 11, 2024, pro-Palestine rally in Toronto.

CJPME wrote that the article did not even acknowledge the ongoing situation in Gaza, and specifically Rafah amidst Israel’s assault, which was the intention behind the rally.

CJPME asked to balance the article by adding more information about the intentions behind the protest and more context about the situation in Gaza, specifically Rafah.

On February 16, 2024, following our letter, Toronto Star added the following sentence: The protest was organized in opposition to Israel's bombardment of Rafah city in the Gaza Strip on Sunday night. Toronto Star also added an editor’s note. In this editor’s note, Toronto Star specified that the story has been updated to provide more context on the reasons why the rally was held.

This small change helps give a more accurate and complete picture of the Pro-Palestine rally and the organizers’ intentions.

2024-02-19 CTV issues corrections following our insistent demands

On February 19, CJPME learned that CTV News corrected an article following several CJPME complaints. This article was about Selina Robinson’s resignation following her racist comments about Palestine.

The article introduced Selina Robinson’s comments as being about “the region where Israel was founded,” which clearly erases the history of Palestinians and their land. While we initially asked them to describe Robinson’s comments as a reference to Palestine– instead of “the region on which Israel was founded” – they opted to remove “the region.” The sentence now reads: “The B.C. NDP’s minister of post-secondary education is stepping down from her cabinet position, days after sparking widespread outrage by saying Israel was founded on a “crappy piece of land with nothing on it.” Although this is not the edit CJPME was hoping for, we recognize CTV’s attempt. Moreover, the article stated that calls for her resignation were made by “pro-Palestinian groups and others,” but omits any mention of the other groups that supported her resignation. CTV has since added the Jewish Faculty Network to its list of groups in support of her resignation.

Albeit small, these changes mark a small win for CJPME. This article was initially published on February 5^th, and a letter expressing our concerns was promptly emailed on February 6^th. Lacking a response from the author/editors, CJPME launched a MAP Alert for our media responders on February 12^th.  Disappointed by CTV’s continued unresponsiveness, we sent another email on February 15 asking that they promptly make the initially requested edits. 

2024-02-07 CBC makes a change and adds an editor’s note following CJPME letter

On January 30, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to CBC requesting a correction and more balance.

CJPME wrote that the following paragraph is not accurate:

The group Physicians for Human Rights Israel […] published a report in November on the sexual violence based on photos, video and other publicly available online information, as well as its own interviews with eyewitnesses, soldiers and first responders. [emphasis added]

CJPME argued that there were no actual eyewitnesses and to remove the words, as well as its own interviews with eyewitnesses.

On February 7, 2024, following our letter, CBC added the words compiled from various sources and an editor’s note. In this editor’s note, CBC specified that those interviews were compiled from various publicly available sources and not conducted by the group.

This is a significant correction to bring more fairness, balance, and accuracy to Canadian media.

2024-02-07 The Hill Times published a letter by CJPME

On February 7, the Hill Times published a CJPME letter by Rose Mardikian. Her letter, “Op-ed sheds light on unfair immigration policy: CJPME,” thanks Aidan Simardone– an immigration lawyer– for his professional insight on Canada’s racist immigration policies for Gazans with family in Canada.

For Hill Times editors to continue publishing our work demonstrates CJPME’s growing legitimacy and influence in public discourse.

2024-02-02 Media Outlets publish CJPME LTE!

On February 2, 2024, Welland Tribune, Saint Catharines Standard, and Niagara Falls Review published a CJPME LTE.

This CJPME letter was about the Holocaust and ICJ’s ruling amid Israel’s genocidal campaign.

You can read the unedited letter here.

CJPME continues to put a significant emphasis on publishing letters in newspapers around the country.

Publishing pieces like these helps set the record straight on Palestine and Israel’s actions.

That editors continue publishing our work also shows the legitimacy we have built up with newsrooms and our ever-growing influence in the public discourse.