Ricki Hollander
James Carroll Errs on Israel’s Security Fence
A correction by James Carroll in the Boston Globe fails to clarify his mischaracterization of Israel's security barrier as "a high cement barrier that will run hundreds of miles..." His incomplete correction does not indicate that concrete sections will constitute only a tiny proportion of the projected 480-mile route. More than 97 percent will consist of a chain-link fence, with walled parts confined to areas that present an immediate risk of sniper gunfire.
BBC Under Fire
BBC's credibility plummeted as Lord Hutton concluded a BBC reporter's allegations that the British government "sexed up" its dossier on Iraq's weapons were unfounded.
Confusing Murder and Martyrdom at ABC
In an otherwise informative report on ABC World News Tonight (Jan. 14) about Raeem Al-Raiyshi, the female suicide bomber who killed four Israelis after duping guards to let her bypass the metal detectors at a checkpoint, correspondent Hilary Brown referred to Raiyshi's choice of "martydom" over motherhood. "It seems she loved martyrdom more [than her children]," Ms. Brown concluded.
BACKGROUNDER: “Geneva Accords”
The so-called Geneva accords, signed with much fanfare on December 1, 2003 by self-appointed negotiators Yossi Beilin and Yasser Abed Rabbo, garnered much excitement and praise in the international press. To help readers distinguish between objective reporting and advocacy journalism, CAMERA has prepared the following backgrounder on th e Geneva Accords.
New York Times Correction on Judaism’s Holiest Site Misleading
Despite its commendable intent, a December 31 correction about the Western Wall serves to create further confusion. The correction mischaracterizes the wall and suggests that there is debate within Judaism as to where its holiest site lies.
The Power of Words – Reuters’ and CAMERA’s
Careful monitoring, persistence and public involvement yield positive effects at the international wire service.
BBC Questions Israel’s Legitimacy
As a result of mounting worldwide criticism and perhaps in
light of the upcoming renewal of the corporation’s royal charter in 2006
— BBC executives have taken a step to address complaints about Middle East
coverage. Richard Sambrook, BBC’s director of news, and Mark Byford, head
of the World Service division, have appointed former BBC journalist Malcolm
Balen as "senior editorial advisor" to monitor the news
service’s Middle East reporting. Eventually, this may improve the accuracy
and balance in news about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
BBC-WATCH: BBC on Oslo
BBC’s Robin Lustig did a retrospective feature on the Oslo peace accords which aired on World Service News Hour on October 24, 2003 and appeared in article form on the BBC website. In both, Lustig distorted the facts to blame Israel.