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

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Wednesday January 14, 2009 12:34

by Miriam Cotton - MediaBite

Assessment of the Irish media's coverage of this issue.

This interview was held the day after Israel broke the ceasefire though it was as yet unclear what the reports from Gaza on the 5th November would lead to. It has been edited to include a response from RD to the latest round of violence against the Palestinians and sad to say it seems the media are incapable of reflecting accurately on the causes and ongoing atrocities inflicted on Palestinians by Israel. The taboo about criticising Israel is still largely intact.

Deane gives a comprehensive assessment of how Palestine is covered in the Irish media and does not pull his punches - from Village and Phoenix , thorugh The Independent and the IT to RTE, he has a lot interesting things to say. He identifies some of the best and worst of journalists along the way:

" Myself and another IPSC founder member, Conor McCarthy, had an interview with Madam [Geraldine Kennedy, Editor of the Irish Times] a few years ago, and it was like talking to the wall."

http://www.mediabite.org/article_Will-Palestine-always-....html

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Comments (3 of 3)

Maybe A little harsh

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

Steven King in the Irish Examiner - unbelievable

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

Jon Stewart gives it the treatment

Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:49

Sending up US media coverage:

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

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

Comments (3 of 3)