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.