PF Israel Media Challenges - USAGM
Metadata
- PF Israel Media Challenges - USAGM
- February 9, 2024
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TVR PF ISRAEL MEDIA CHALLENGES HEADLINE: For Journalists, Covering West Bank Has Always Been a Challenge TEASE: Four months into the Israel-Hamas war, local journalists adapt to increased dangers and restrictions PUBLISHED: 2/8/2024 at 5:28p BYLINE: Celia Mendoza CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: East Jerusalem/ Ramallah, West Bank/ Tel Aviv/ VIDEOGRAPHER: Walid Sababa -Celia Mendoza VIDEO EDITOR: Celia Mendoza SCRIPT EDITORS: JJ, Sharon Shahid VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Reuters PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:31 VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath TYPE: TVR EDITOR NOTES: For VOA Press Freedom. Questions/review Jessica Jerreat Celia Mendoza)) ((INTRO)) [[Covering the West Bank is always challenging, reporters say. But since the October 7 Hamas terror attack, journalists have been facing more restrictions. VOA’s Celia Mendoza reports from Jerusalem.]] ((NARRATOR)) Covering the West Bank has always had its challenges for Palestinian and Israeli journalists. But since the October 7 Hamas terror attack and Israel’s counteroffensive, conditions are increasingly dangerous. ((For radio: Walid al-Omari is the Al Jazeera bureau chief for Jerusalem and the West Bank)) ((Walid al-Omari, Al Jazeera Bureau Chief (ENGLISH, MALE))) “It's dangerous for all the journalists, not only for Al Jazeera journalists. But it seems that we are paying the high price, because we’re very active and we’re trying to cover everything inside the Gaza, even in the dangerous areas.” ((Narrator)) Some journalists say reporting on the military operations by either side has always been restricted. ((For radio: Anat Saragusti is the press freedom director for the Union of Journalists in Israel)) ((Anat Saragusti, Union of Journalists in Israel (Female, ENGLISH))) “In general, it’s challenging to cover military operations in the West Bank, in general even before October 7. Especially for Palestinian journalists, but also for Israeli journalists. Israeli journalists can hardly go into areas that are controlled by the Palestinian Authority." ((NARRATOR)) or ((Celia Mendoza, VOA News)) ((IN ENGLISH/FEMALE)) “Reporting from the West Bank presents a set of unique risks. Including attacks by Israeli settlers and Israeli and Palestinian law enforcement.” ((For radio: Nasser Abu Baker is president of the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate)) ((Nasser Abu Baker, Palestinian Journalists Syndicate President)) ((ENGLISH/MALE)) “I released the sticker that [says] I’m press from my car because it’s [a] target for the Israeli army, and it’s [a] target for the settlers to attack any car of the press.” Before the latest conflict, Baker had been criticized for his activism and anti-Israel comments. ((NARRATOR)) The Israeli government denies targeting journalists. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson told VOA via email that “almost half” of the journalists killed were “actually terrorists." ((GFX Israel-Hamas War Media Fatalities Overall total: 85 Palestinian: 78 Israeli: 4 Lebanese: 3 Source: Committee to Protect Journalists data Oct. 7, 2023, to Feb. 7, 2024)) ((NARRATOR)) But media watchdog the Committee to Protect Journalists has confirmed over 85 journalists killed in the first four months of the war, nearly all Palestinian. Free movement has also decreased in the region, with checkpoints and restrictions on access in the West Bank. ((For radio: And Al-Omari of Al Jazeera)) ((Walid Al-Omari, Al Jazeera Bureau Chief)) ((IN ENGLISH/MALE)) “They are targeting the Palestinian journalist(s). ''They’re targeting also [their families], and they will complicate life for them.” ((NARRATOR)) Some Palestinian journalists are setting up emergency plans to help teams working under conflict conditions. For Israeli journalists, however, the focus is on the hostages Hamas still holds and the terror attack that left 1,200 dead. For Israeli media, says Saragusti, there is an expectation from audiences of patriotism in their coverage. ((Anat Saragusti, Union of Journalists in Israel)) ((IN ENGLISH/FEMALE)) “I can tell you that the audience really want the journalists to rally around the flag. And they don’t want to see any criticism. They are not open and cannot contain any human stories coming from the other side. Now they cannot contain, you know, too much detail about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza — they don’t care. They don’t want to hear about it. They’re still very much concentrated on the devastation after October 7.” ((Narrator)) That coverage differs from the international media. With the IDF controlling who can enter Gaza, those journalists are requesting independent access to report on the war. ((Celia Mendoza, VOA News, Jerusalem))
- Transcript/Script ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TVR PF ISRAEL MEDIA CHALLENGES HEADLINE: For Journalists, Covering West Bank Has Always Been a Challenge TEASE: Four months into the Israel-Hamas war, local journalists adapt to increased dangers and restrictions PUBLISHED: 2/8/2024 at 5:28p BYLINE: Celia Mendoza CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: East Jerusalem/ Ramallah, West Bank/ Tel Aviv/ VIDEOGRAPHER: Walid Sababa -Celia Mendoza VIDEO EDITOR: Celia Mendoza SCRIPT EDITORS: JJ, Sharon Shahid VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Reuters PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:31 VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath TYPE: TVR EDITOR NOTES: For VOA Press Freedom. Questions/review Jessica Jerreat Celia Mendoza)) ((INTRO)) [[Covering the West Bank is always challenging, reporters say. But since the October 7 Hamas terror attack, journalists have been facing more restrictions. VOA’s Celia Mendoza reports from Jerusalem.]] ((NARRATOR)) Covering the West Bank has always had its challenges for Palestinian and Israeli journalists. But since the October 7 Hamas terror attack and Israel’s counteroffensive, conditions are increasingly dangerous. ((For radio: Walid al-Omari is the Al Jazeera bureau chief for Jerusalem and the West Bank)) ((Walid al-Omari, Al Jazeera Bureau Chief (ENGLISH, MALE))) “It's dangerous for all the journalists, not only for Al Jazeera journalists. But it seems that we are paying the high price, because we’re very active and we’re trying to cover everything inside the Gaza, even in the dangerous areas.” ((Narrator)) Some journalists say reporting on the military operations by either side has always been restricted. ((For radio: Anat Saragusti is the press freedom director for the Union of Journalists in Israel)) ((Anat Saragusti, Union of Journalists in Israel (Female, ENGLISH))) “In general, it’s challenging to cover military operations in the West Bank, in general even before October 7. Especially for Palestinian journalists, but also for Israeli journalists. Israeli journalists can hardly go into areas that are controlled by the Palestinian Authority." ((NARRATOR)) or ((Celia Mendoza, VOA News)) ((IN ENGLISH/FEMALE)) “Reporting from the West Bank presents a set of unique risks. Including attacks by Israeli settlers and Israeli and Palestinian law enforcement.” ((For radio: Nasser Abu Baker is president of the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate)) ((Nasser Abu Baker, Palestinian Journalists Syndicate President)) ((ENGLISH/MALE)) “I released the sticker that [says] I’m press from my car because it’s [a] target for the Israeli army, and it’s [a] target for the settlers to attack any car of the press.” Before the latest conflict, Baker had been criticized for his activism and anti-Israel comments. ((NARRATOR)) The Israeli government denies targeting journalists. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson told VOA via email that “almost half” of the journalists killed were “actually terrorists." ((GFX Israel-Hamas War Media Fatalities Overall total: 85 Palestinian: 78 Israeli: 4 Lebanese: 3 Source: Committee to Protect Journalists data Oct. 7, 2023, to Feb. 7, 2024)) ((NARRATOR)) But media watchdog the Committee to Protect Journalists has confirmed over 85 journalists killed in the first four months of the war, nearly all Palestinian. Free movement has also decreased in the region, with checkpoints and restrictions on access in the West Bank. ((For radio: And Al-Omari of Al Jazeera)) ((Walid Al-Omari, Al Jazeera Bureau Chief)) ((IN ENGLISH/MALE)) “They are targeting the Palestinian journalist(s). ''They’re targeting also [their families], and they will complicate life for them.” ((NARRATOR)) Some Palestinian journalists are setting up emergency plans to help teams working under conflict conditions. For Israeli journalists, however, the focus is on the hostages Hamas still holds and the terror attack that left 1,200 dead. For Israeli media, says Saragusti, there is an expectation from audiences of patriotism in their coverage. ((Anat Saragusti, Union of Journalists in Israel)) ((IN ENGLISH/FEMALE)) “I can tell you that the audience really want the journalists to rally around the flag. And they don’t want to see any criticism. They are not open and cannot contain any human stories coming from the other side. Now they cannot contain, you know, too much detail about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza — they don’t care. They don’t want to hear about it. They’re still very much concentrated on the devastation after October 7.” ((Narrator)) That coverage differs from the international media. With the IDF controlling who can enter Gaza, those journalists are requesting independent access to report on the war. ((Celia Mendoza, VOA News, Jerusalem))
- NewsML Media Topics Politics, Conflict, War and Peace
- Topic Tags Challenges Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date February 8, 2024 19:20 EST
- Description English [[Covering the West Bank is always challenging, reporters say. But since the October 7 Hamas terror attack, journalists have been facing more restrictions. VOA’s Celia Mendoza reports from Jerusalem.]]
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English