No matter their level and prominence, all journalists must assess the best way to deliver nuanced and impartial coverage. As the Israel-Hamas War continues, we’ve seen several news outlets like The New York Times and BBC issue redactions and corrections for incorrect information they have published.
These amendments are necessary because it is complicated to balance speedy, up-to-date coverage with fact-checking and editorial review. In some cases, news publications have prioritized getting the story out quickly over getting the story right.
In their coverage of the explosion of Gaza’s Al Ahli Arab Hospital, several highly accredited media organizations were quick to place false blame for the incident on the Israeli government, when in actuality the event occurred because of a rocket misfire from the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad. These allegations were based entirely on Hamas reports, a terrorist organization that has repeatedly spread misinformation in an attempt to defame Israel.
While this tragic event was an important development in the region that necessitated coverage, it is the responsibility of prominent news sites to publish accurate and verified information. The spread of misinformation only serves to incite antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric.
In addition to the accuracy of reporting, there has been much debate over the language that should be used when reporting on the Israel-Hamas war. The AP Stylebook released a guide to reporting about the war, stating that “words should be chosen carefully to reflect respect for different perspectives on the conflict.”
Word choice can indicate bias, which can then influence readers’ viewpoints. For instance, when describing members of Hamas, the AP Style convention is to call them “militants.” Other organizations use the term “terrorists” to condemn the Oct. 7 massacre and some even refer to them as “freedom fighters” to endorse Hamas’ actions. This is one example of how the connotation of words can hint at bias in press coverage. At The Lion’s Tale, we use the term “terrorist” or “militant” to not only be unequivocal in condemning Hamas, but to also remain in alignment with the U.S. government’s designation of the terrorist organization.
At The Lion’s Tale, our top priority is to present how the war impacts the CESJDS community, which means that our coverage is focused on representing the way that the war impacts Jews and Israelis. Every publication has its own set of goals and processes that determine the content and the perspective of their content.
Above all, journalists should focus on accuracy when covering the Israel-Hamas war. We urge our readers to be wary of articles released so quickly that they could not have undergone a full editorial process. We also urge you to be critical readers and to cross-reference your news with multiple sources. Distinguishing fact from commentary is no easy task, but it’s an important process for us to become informed citizens and active participants in ethical journalism.
