The Media Accountability Project  

"This is not merely an Israeli “counteroffensive” on the occupied Gaza Strip. Israel has been waging a year of genocide. Please name it as such, or at the very least, refrain from perpetuating euphemistic language that downplays Israel’s one-year of brutal attacks and violence on Gaza."

Even if one accepts the notion that Israel was on the “defensive” for a single day, the criteria for labeling subsequent actions as a counteroffensive must be questioned, especially in light of the ICJ's ruling on the plausibility of genocide. Ultimately, continuing to use this type of language editorializes the situation for your readers in a way that takes a side and undermines impartiality.

"This is not merely an Israeli “counter-offensive.” It has been a year of genocide. Name it genocide, or at very least, please do not perpetuate Israel’s euphemistic language that downplays a year of brutal attacks on Gaza."

"While the last paragraph was supposed to be a context paragraph, the first sentence reads: 'Israel has denied that its actions in Gaza constitute a genocide.' It is not only concerning that this is the opening sentence of the last paragraph, but that it presents Israel’s claim as valid without adding any additional information or context."

"Thank you, Ms. Hassan, for bringing this heartwarming narrative to light. Stories like this are essential in showcasing the resilience of the Palestinian people, who rise above Israel’s brutal occupation and ongoing genocide in Gaza. Activities like boxing are not just means of survival but powerful statements of their enduring hope and strength. Your continued coverage reveals the Palestinians’ fight for their right to exist, and it is this resilience that must be shared with the world."

« Vous n’avez consacré qu’une seule phrase aux manifestants propalestiniens. Vous avez paraphrasé leurs motivations plutôt que les citer directement. Vous semez le doute quant au caractère fondé de leurs reproches en écrivant « selon eux ». Vous ne nommez même pas à quel groupe ils appartiennent. »

"The ADL is not merely a Jewish advocacy organization but one that explicitly supports Israel’s Zionist project. It has a history of labeling Palestinian rights movements as antisemitic, conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism. Palestinian rights movements are demonstrating against Israel’s settler colonial project in Palestinian territories and its apartheid system, not against Judaism itself."

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.

"I’m concerned that the framing of this story is unfair. The pro-Palestine protest that occurred at the Halifax Pride parade is described as being “disrupted” in the headline. The story itself frames the protesters as being at the centre of “pushing and shoving.” While you quote one of the protesters speaking broadly, it you quote two people who opposed the protest to frame the narrative about what happened."

"I take issue with the article describing these extremist groups as 'activists' in sentences such as, 'Hundreds of activists set up tents at Kerem Shalom for several nights in early February to stop the delivery of aid' and 'as well as activists looting trucks and destroying supplies.' Calling these Israeli extremists who obstruct humanitarian aid and engage in looting 'activists' is incredibly misleading and whitewashes their unlawful actions. Please correct any reference of the groups as 'activists' and label them as 'extremists.'"