2008: A Year in Review

2008: A Year in Review December 24, 2008 Dear HonestReporting Canada subscriber:   As the 2008 calendar year comes to a close, we appeal to our devoted friends to make a generous contribution to HonestReporting Canada in support of our 2009 Campaign. For the last five years, we have depended on the good will and generosity of concerned individuals like you who help us to combat anti-Israel media bias worldwide. Especially in this upcoming year, as many are cutting back their charitable giving due to the economic downturn, we must broaden our base of support. The battle for public opinion is key for Israel and one in which HRC, working hand-in-hand with informed, committed people like you, is making a difference. Please help us raise $100,000 for our critical year end campaign by clicking here and making your donation now. As a reader of our media action alerts, you are well aware of the profound impact that HRC has had this past year. For a more detailed review of our efforts in 2008, please see our special 2008: Year in Review below.                          2008: Canadian Media Bias Against Israel   January: The Toronto Star Gives Fuel to Hamas Propaganda Machine As the mainstream media were manipulated by Hamas spin doctors in exaggerating a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, The Toronto Star was just one of those media outlets duped into fueling the Hamas propaganda machine. Mideast bureau chief Oakland Ross gave a platform for Hamas extremism by reporting that: "A Hamas representative said yesterday that five patients died over the weekend in Gaza hospitals because of the latest fuel embargo," only there was no evidence to confirm the veracity of this allegation. After HonestReporting Canada intervened, The Toronto Star issued a clarification in a follow-up report exonerating any Israeli culpability by noting that "five people died in their homes, for one reason or another, and were dead on arrival at the main hospital in Gaza City, but there was no evidence that the power shutdown played any role in their deaths."   February: Globe and Mail Paints Hamas as Pragmatic Peaceniks The Globe and Mail, Canada's "paper of record," bought into false notions that Hamas had evolved into pragmatic peaceniks who advocated "non-violent resistance." As there was no tangible evidence to support claims that Hamas had shed a new skin towards non-violence, we asked our readers to urge Globe and Mail editors to promptly clarify these false misconceptions. Within a matter of hours, hundreds of letters were dispatched sensitizing The Globe and Mail towards the need for fair and accurate reporting.   March: HonestReporting Canada Helps Secure Excalibur Apology We broke the news that a York University campus newspaper, The Excalibur, had featured an opinion piece that justified the deadly terrorist attack at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in Jerusalem. Along with other concerned organizations, HonestReporting Canada condemned the publication of a column endorsing the murder of innocent children and asked the paper to issue an apology in the next edition. Within a week, the campus newspaper did just that and issued a formal printed apology.   April: HRC Launches Montreal Office & French Monitoring Unit April was another busy month for HRC. While launching our Montreal office and expanding our media monitoring efforts to include French-language Canadian media coverage of Israel, we secured important retractions from Le Journal de Montreal and Agence France-Presse, while securing an on-air correction on CBC-TV.   May: Montreal Gazette Editor-in-Chief Admits Israel Rally Story "Missed the Mark" A Montreal Gazette article about a pro-Israel rally in Montreal marking the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel "Missed the Mark" according to the Gazette's Editor-in-Chief. The article which focused on an isolated incident where a youth picked up the Quebec flag and discarded it in exchange for the flag of Israel, took on a surprisingly negative tone in what should have been a straight forward article on the joyous and historic celebration of Israel at 60. We encouraged our members to voice their concerns regarding The Gazette's coverage of the rally and within a matter of days, Gazette Editor-in-Chief Andrew Phillips acknowledged that their reporter's story had "Missed the Mark" and had stumbled at both the reporting and editorial levels.   June: HRC Launches "Insider's Briefing" Series In our inaugural "Insider's Briefing" Paul Agoston, HRC Assistant Director in Montreal, sat down with Agence France-Presse Jerusalem Bureau Chief, Patrick Anidjar, for an insider's perspective on the Middle East and reporting in the region.   July: Media Monitor Reaches 20,000 Member Milestone We announced the growth of our subscriber base to a remarkable 20,000 members from across Canada. Our members, who act as "media patrollers," monitor local media outlets and notify HonestReporting Canada of lapses in accuracy or fairness, while complaining directly to the news outlet involved. August: An Unforgivable Error and a Dismal "On-Air" Correction at City TV   After CityTV International carried a report which left viewers with the false impression that Israeli soldiers had killed 11 pro-Palestinian protestors, we complained to CityTV who in a subsequent edition of the program issued a correction to clarify that "11 people (were) hurt, not killed… in West Bank clashes."   September: CBC Critically Examines Israel's Enemies When our public broadcaster, the CBC, went beyond Mideast "conventional wisdom" and featured critical reporting on the Iranian nuclear threat and on the dangers of Hamas' rule in Gaza, we felt that it was important to pause, take note, and expose excellence when it was deserving. We encouraged our members to recognize the CBC's excellent reporting and had several hundred of our members send articulate letters commending the CBC.   October: Radio-Canada Wrong in Airing Pro-Palestinian Propaganda Film On October 23, Radio-Canada, the French arm of the CBC, aired the pro-Palestinian propaganda film "Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land" on its documentary film program "Les grands reportages." By airing a film rife with false premises, serious omissions, and unfounded malicious allegations, the network not only misinformed Canadians about the politics and history of the Middle East, it also breached its own journalistic standards and practices by airing a one-sided partisan polemic bent on vilifying a fellow democracy, the state of Israel. After mobilizing hundreds of people to complain en masse, Radio-Canada acknowledged that the documentary was "clearly pro-Palestinian" and said that it would broadcast an additional film "offering other viewpoints on Israel and Gaza" in the future. Subsequently, Radio-Canada's ombudsman validated our objections noting that the film "shouldn't have been broadcast" in the first place.   November: HRC Conducts Media Bias Workshop at Concordia University On November 5th, HonestReporting Canada was invited to speak at Concordia University in Montreal. HRC Executive Director, Mike Fegelman, addressed a political science and communications class, teaching a diverse group of students from varying backgrounds about the many impediments that exist which prevent fair and accurate media coverage of the Middle East.   December: HRC Refutes "Massacre" Claim in the Toronto Star Toronto Star reporter Oakland Ross (pictured right) drudged up the old canard that Israel had committed a "massacre" in Jenin in 2002, thereby engaging in a cynical form of historical revisionism. After bringing our concerns to the attention of the Star's editors, they agreed that the report had lacked context. A letter submitted by HRC was printed in a subsequent edition of the Star in a means to rectify the situation.       HonestReporting.ca   Thank you for your commitment to fair and accurate media coverage of Israel     Please send contributions by cheque to:   HonestReporting Canada PO Box 6, Station Q Toronto, Ontario M4T 2L7 (416) 915-9157

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HRC Commends Radio-Canada Ombudsman

For Immediate Release HRC commends Radio-Canada Ombudsman for concluding that a pro-Palestinian propaganda film "should not have been broadcast" on its airwaves Toronto, December 9, 2008 — HonestReporting Canada (HRC) commends Radio-Canada Ombudsman, Ms. Julie Miville-Dechêne, for carrying out an independent review of our public broadcaster's airing of a pro-Palestinian propaganda film, which concluded in a report released today, that the "documentary should not have been broadcast" in the first place due to numerous failures of "editorial control." "We are satisfied that our concerns have been addressed, both promptly and professionally, by the staff at Radio-Canada," said Mike Fegelman, Executive Director of HonestReporting Canada. "As the network has voluntarily disclosed many of its journalistic lapses, has agreed to air "very interesting Israeli documentaries" set to broadcast in early 2009, and has implemented stricter editorial policies to prevent an incident like this from occurring in the future, Radio-Canada has strengthened its credibility and has become a better news organization." Ms. Miville-Dechêne acknowledged in her review that she "received 156 complaints about this broadcast. Most of those filing complaints, who were in various countries, did so in response to an appeal by HonestReporting Canada, a pro-Israel media watchdog that encouraged visitors to its website to send complaints to my office."   According to the review: "The film claims, without proving it, that the government of Israel controls U.S. print and electronic media… There is no fairness, balance, or nuance here: this pro-Palestinian documentary presents one point-of-view, one side of the coin… The documentary, produced five years ago, contains anachronisms and inaccuracies, and militant pro-Palestinian groups were involved in researching the film. Given the circumstances and the acknowledged failures of editorial control, this documentary should not have been broadcast."   In conclusion, Ms. Miville- Dechêne points out that: "Journalistic Standards and Practices were not followed in the presentation (of the film). Radio-Canada should have indicated that the film was a point-of-view documentary and that the situation on the ground had changed in the last five years. The film's production date should have been indicated, especially since Israel had withdrawn form the Gaza Strip. Finally, it should have been clear that the documentary was a foreign-produced work."   Click the following links to read the formal 10-page review by Radio-Canada's Ombudsman in English or in French   View our original complaint here entitled: "Radio-Canada Wrong In Airing Pro-Palestinian Advocacy Film"   About HonestReporting Canada   HonestReporting Canada is an independent, non-profit, grass-roots organization monitoring Canadian media for fairness and accuracy in reporting. HonestReporting Canada's goal is to ensure that Canadian news organizations abide by professional standards of conduct when reporting on Israel and the Middle East. The organization is supported by donations from concerned Canadians. Online donations can be made at its website. To discuss major gifts, contact the organization at info@honestreporting.ca.   For more information, contact:   HonestReporting Canada info@honestreporting.ca www.honestreporting.ca (416) 915-9157   # # #

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Help Support HonestReporting Canada's 2009 Campaign

Dear Friends,  Most of us have been aware of the anti-Israel bias across all forms of the media. We have read articles or witnessed television coverage which has left us feeling uneasy. We imagine the effects of this material on our colleagues, neighbours, politicians, and the public at large. HonestReporting Canada was created in 2003 to ensure that biased information is challenged and corrected. It was created to provide the facts to journalists and to the public. It was created to remind those "running the show" that consumers of the news care about accuracy, care about Israel and are actively monitoring what the media produces. To date, HRC's efforts have been very successful. We have developed close professional relationships with many media outlets which appreciate our hard work, and we have changed the approach of a number of news organizations whose material has been less than acceptable. Importantly, we have activated our 22,000+ subscribers who read our media action alerts and work to help stand Israel in high esteem. A recent HonestReporting alert encouraged subscribers to contact Radio-Canada, the French-arm of the CBC, after it brazenly aired a pro-Palestinian propaganda film on Canadian airwaves. After hundreds of HRC subscribers complained en masse, Radio-Canada acknowledged that the documentary was "clearly pro-Palestinian" and said that it would broadcast an additional film "offering other viewpoints on Israel and Gaza" in the future. National Post columnist Barbara Kay wrote: "It was a small media watch group called HonestReporting Canada that picked up this lapse in journalistic ethics. This looks like a coup for HonestReporting Canada, and a victory for the ideal of ethical journalism everywhere... Had HonestReporting Canada not been on the ball, Radio-Canada's viewing audience would only have been exposed to a pro-Palestinian perspective." It is problematic "documentaries" like these that spurred the creation of HonestReporting Canada. But there's much more work to do. Our efforts are made possible only through your kind donations. As the only organization dedicated exclusively to ensuring fair and accurate Canadian media coverage of Israel, we need your support for our 2009 Campaign. For the last five years, we have depended on the good will and generosity of concerned individuals who help us to combat anti-Israel media bias worldwide. The battle for public opinion is key for Israel and one in which HRC, working hand-in-hand with informed, committed people like you, is making a difference. Please help us raise $100,000 for our critical year end campaign. Click here to ensure that Canadian journalists are held to the highest standards of "honest reporting" and to make your donation now. Sincerely,   Mike Fegelman Executive Director, HonestReporting Canada mike@honestreporting.ca

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Banana Republic Coup with Snowflakes

I am deeply saddened that I can not take credit for that line. Especially the part about the flakes!

Apparently it was coined by some university professor which in itself is remarkable since it took two former profs to create this fiasco.

If it wasn't so serious it would be hilarious. Here you have a party which should not even be in the House of Commons because it is not a national party and two former ivory-tower profs who swore up and down in the electoral debates they would NEVER join with separatists. To be fair, If Quebec can have its own party, then shouldn't every province be able to have one too?

But that was before Mr. Dion saw his dream of becoming PM shattered while he was also shattering the record for the biggest loss for the Liberals in Canadian history! Now Mr. Layton is no fool, at least he wasn't before this, and it is rumoured that he and Mr. Duceppe, neither of whom had anything to lose, actually sketched out this scenario previous to the election.

I cannot quite get my head around the idea that Canadians sent a very huge message to Mr. Dion in the election that he should go home and plant green shifts in his back yard all by himself and yet here he is gleefully rubbing his hands in delight at being a "coalition" PM if they could just get rid of Mr. Harper peacefully.

Seems like Mr. Dion has trouble getting it or maybe he is just as stubborn as a mule on a mountain pass. Either way he has now achieved a place in history. Maybe that was it all the time. He figured he had nothing to lose so why not try for a record? If you cannot be succesful any other way, try ignominy.

Failed being elected, failed party leader who won't go away, now failed "banana republic coup with snowflakes" leader. That is a hat trick he could call in to Guinness!

I knew up there in academia they get out of touch with reality but this is one for the records. I guess I said that.

Then we have the revival of the three stooges going against everything they said about each other in the election and joining forces for the program. I imagine it will look funnier in hindsight. And hindsight can't come soon enough for me anyway.

I guess it was one of those delusional hypotheses that academics can be attempted to draw up from time to time. Thinking that being in charge of a class in school makes you more adept at being in charge of Canada's economy than an economist.

Sort of like me applying for a job at the Toronto Star as a conservative blogger with no other trace of a record of publications other than about 20 blogs and websites. That kind of thinking.

There is even a rumour that Duceppe was trying to buy some guns through a military magazine from the US but Canada Customs stopped the package at the Peace Bridge when they found out they weren't registered. They put them in recycling so as not to increase landfill. Location confidential.

I wonder if looking back this will be the kind of story they will tell their grandchildren, with a few enhancements... that is if they have grandchildren. Sorry I didn't do my research. If you're so great, you check it out!

As it turns out, Stephen Harper was right that the Canadian people really don't want to fund the parties by a whopping 61%. Of course not with the three stooges. They didn't get the call.

Also with 72% "truly scared" for the country, how ridiculous is it to think that an experienced loser, ignorant of economics, would think this was a good time to change the government??? Do I hear a "duh" somewhere? And what about all that talk about caring for seniors and the common people of Canada?

The common people of Canada who have retirement money in the market have just got whacked over and over again in the head and now they want more of the same??? And for we seniors, there are only so many Walmarts in Canada where you can be a greeter, not nearly enough for all of us.

I hear that we will soon be the largest age group in Canada. With only 5 or 6 parties in Ottawa, now may be the time to start the NATIONAL GEEZERS PARTY otherwise known as the NGP! Nothing like a good party! We will have to think up a new design for the signs tho, all the good colours are gone! BLUE, RED, ORANGE-turned-ORANGY-GREEN, GREEN, BLOCY-BLUE, and BROWN ... did I miss any? After all if Quebec needs to look out for its interests, shouldn't we?

Then you have the intellectuals of Quebec thinking it is a great idea vying against the West who was preparing a plan to leave Canada if the disaster was to occur.

I mean if it wasn't for the gun registry, we could have a civil war! Thank goodness that all those guns are registered, at least the ones owned by honest citizens.

It's not funny now but I expect some day it will be hilarious. I mean hindsight is 20-20, especially some people's hinds! Present company excepted, of course.

That's all folks!