'Will Palestine always be the issue? Interview with Raymond Deane IPSC

by Interesting Wed Jan 14, 2009 19:38

Scanned the interview- very very interesting.

have not had chance to read it closely. But I agree with much of what R Deane says- but I think he is a little too critical of some coverage- if you focus on particular journalists who might write good things about Palestine in such detail, you will always find some things a pro Palestinian person would not be happy with.

Also there is a debate about what 'balance' means- I think it is ok (I am not saying Deane does not say this) for a reporter to write about Israel, and even give the Israeli perspective,. because that is a part of the story- and also anyone who wants peace out there will have to know something about Israel- however I agree that it has to be given context- and that overall context is 60 years of expulsion and occupation of the Palestinians.

finally the only publications in Ireland he seems to really praise for their coverage is Phoenix and the long finished Daily Ireland- interestingly both are/were broadly leftwing republican/nationalist publications. Does it mean that there is a natuural understanding of some of the issues in Palestine held by the nationalist community in the north that is lacking elsehwere- or was it just to do with the individual journalists and editors who worked there....I don't know hardly ever read Phoenix and read Daily Ireland once and it was full of northern news.....nothing about international news that I could see

is there such thing as balanced and objective reporting? and can you ever have the voice of the oppresor (in this case Israel) in reporting if you want to be fair? I dont know

by Miriam Wed Jan 14, 2009 13:15

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story....1.asp

Excerpt:

"Why doesn’t the Government just say it: “Israel, stop defending your citizens”? Instead, a steady stream of statements issue from the departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs condemning Israel in the strongest terms and calling for an immediate ceasefire and talks as soon as possible. There is no hint of sympathy for Israel’s plight. "

Responses to the article in today's Examiner:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story....1.asp

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story....1.asp

by Miriam Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:49

Sending up US media coverage:

http://arabist.net/archives/2009/01/08/jon-stewart-on-a...gaza/