The Media Accountability Project  

"However, the NDP must recognize that embracing a pro-Palestine stance is not just about securing votes; it is about standing on the right side of history and opposing complicity in Israel’s genocide in occupied Gaza. One does not need to be Palestinian to oppose Israel’s ethnic cleansing."

It is unusual to read such a thorough account of a Palestinian perspective in Canadian media. That said, this article helps balance a media environment that rarely platforms Palestinians, except when covering their suffering.

"I take foremost issue with your article giving overwhelmingly voice to Richard Marceau, vice president for the Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, director of policy and advocacy at the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, and Richard Robertson, director for research and advocacy for B’nai Brith Canada, while you only briefly quote the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM)."

"I write with concern about Mr. Thurton’s recent article, “Government now says new human rights chief did disclose key information about controversial social media posts.” While overall, the article presents the revelation that Mr. Dattani had been fully transparent with the government before being selected for the post as head of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the article gives excessive importance and visibility to Dattani’s detractors."

"I felt that Mr. Cnockaert’s article on unfinished Parliamentary business (“Foreign interference bill passes, but online harms and citizenship bills left on hold until House comes back”) gave a very one-sided perspective of the Online Harms Act, Bill C-63. By choosing to interview only Shimon Fogel, CEO of the pro-Israel Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) about the bill, the article falsely suggested the bill was an open-and-shut case of 'good law' vs. 'evil Internet content.'"

"While it is crucial to include the perspectives of those who oppose the petition, it is equally important to provide a space for the petitioners and their supporters to explain their rationale and respond to the criticisms leveled against them. By predominantly featuring the perspective of CIJA and not sufficiently representing the views of the petitioners and their supporters, your article risks perpetuating a one-sided narrative."

You write simply that “After decades of enmity and proxy conflict, Iran directly attacked Israel for the first time on Saturday.” This incomplete picture is unfair and your readers deserve the same context provided to Israel in such circumstances.

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.

In short, this letter was informative and refreshing. Thank you for dismissing the conflation of antisemitism and criticism of Israel. Please continue to do so.

"Unlike the descriptive copy at the top of the “Israel-Hamas War” topic page, a news article is expected to reflect a situation at a specific time. Leaving the Palestinian death toll obscured serves no purpose, as the number is not expected to be edited as more Palestinians are killed by Israel."