United States: Journalists Face Retaliation For Their Gaza War Coverage, NWU Reports
Human Rights
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomes the exhaustive report conducted by its affiliate the NWU and strongly condemns targeted reprisals against journalists and media workers for their coverage of the war in Gaza.
The war in Gaza has sparked polarisation in the media across the world and, in too many cases, journalists have been subjected to retaliation if perceived as supportive of the Palestinian cause or critical of the Israeli government.
According to data collected by the NWU, more than a third of the targets of retaliation were Muslims or people of Middle Eastern or North African descent. As the report highlights, retaliation can come from leaders inside the workplace or from outside individuals or interest groups – A worrying pattern that not only threatens honesty in reporting but also shows problems in how the media industry supports diverse voices.
These retaliatory actions take various forms, from direct harassment and firing staff to subtle censorship within media groups. Journalists who are perceived as supportive of Palestine or critical with the Israeli government risk losing their jobs or being pushed aside at work.
Among the testimonies gathered by the NWU’s investigation is the case of Palestinian journalist Zahraa Al-Akhrass, who was on maternity leave when Canada’s Global News fired her for social media posts that included the hashtags #freepalestine, #gazaunderattack and #gazagenocide”.
Another case that sparked outrage in Australia but unwavering support from the Media Entertainment Arts Alliance’s (MEAA) membership is that of Lebanese Australian journalist Antoinette Lattouf, whose one-week contract as a substitute host for the ABC Sydney morning radio show was cancelled after she posted a Human Rights Watch report accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon.
Retaliatory acts against journalists not only hurt free speech, but could also spur self-censorship, as media workers are scared to speak out and .