FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2002 - ISSUE 37, VOLUME 129
Press for peace
E D I T O R I A L
As the Israel-Palestine conflict has heated up, the shortcomings of Canadian media
coverage of the conflict has become more obvious. Last week Haroon Siddiqui, the
Toronto Star's editorial page editor emeritus, gave a speech accusing the Asper family of
censoring one side of the debate in all CanWest-Global media outlets. The Aspers own
14 big-city newspapers and control 60 per cent of the television and newspaper market in
Canada.
CanWest's alleged bias toward Israel has been remarked upon by journalists across Canada. "[The Aspers] do not want any criticism of Israel. We do not run in our newspaper op-ed pieces that express criticism of Israel and what it is doing," said Bill Marsden, a veteran reporter with the CanWest-owned Montreal Gazette. Peter March, a Halifax columnist, claims he was fired by CanWest because he was critical of Israel.
The unbalanced coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict by the national media makes informed discussion of the issue extremely difficult. Any media bias polarizes perspectives on the conflict; at a time when people need to open themselves to negotiation and compromise, some Canadian media are encouraging them to close their minds.
Real dialogue is not occurring in the national media; in publications still willing to publish both sides of the issue, freedom of speech has often been used as a weapon, rather than a constructive tool.
The hardening of positions in Canada is not just an unfortunate side effect of the combat in Israel-Palestine—it actually hurts the chance of resolving the dispute. Given the international dimensions of the conflict—both sides get significant funding from other states—the attitude of the international community towards negotiation is crucial. The Palestinians have repeatedly asked for international mediation of cease-fire talks. But if Canadians, and the larger international community, aren't willing to re- evaluate their own positions, effective mediation is impossible.
Given its stranglehold over the Canadian media, CanWest has a responsibility to ensure it covers a spectrum of perspectives on the Israel-Palestine conflict. If it refuses to broaden its coverage, its policy will damage both the cohesiveness of the Canadian community, as well as the chances for peace in the Middle East.
CanWest's alleged bias toward Israel has been remarked upon by journalists across Canada. "[The Aspers] do not want any criticism of Israel. We do not run in our newspaper op-ed pieces that express criticism of Israel and what it is doing," said Bill Marsden, a veteran reporter with the CanWest-owned Montreal Gazette. Peter March, a Halifax columnist, claims he was fired by CanWest because he was critical of Israel.
The unbalanced coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict by the national media makes informed discussion of the issue extremely difficult. Any media bias polarizes perspectives on the conflict; at a time when people need to open themselves to negotiation and compromise, some Canadian media are encouraging them to close their minds.
Real dialogue is not occurring in the national media; in publications still willing to publish both sides of the issue, freedom of speech has often been used as a weapon, rather than a constructive tool.
The hardening of positions in Canada is not just an unfortunate side effect of the combat in Israel-Palestine—it actually hurts the chance of resolving the dispute. Given the international dimensions of the conflict—both sides get significant funding from other states—the attitude of the international community towards negotiation is crucial. The Palestinians have repeatedly asked for international mediation of cease-fire talks. But if Canadians, and the larger international community, aren't willing to re- evaluate their own positions, effective mediation is impossible.
Given its stranglehold over the Canadian media, CanWest has a responsibility to ensure it covers a spectrum of perspectives on the Israel-Palestine conflict. If it refuses to broaden its coverage, its policy will damage both the cohesiveness of the Canadian community, as well as the chances for peace in the Middle East.
O T H E R S T O R I E S
Sick of the silence
Press for peace
Leggett v. the Coalition
Buy back the Earth
Letters to the editors
Sick of the silence
Press for peace
Leggett v. the Coalition
Buy back the Earth
Letters to the editors
