Civic actions

Lebanon Media Watch

Overview:
The role of the media and its biasness in its presentation of the current Lebanese/Israeli conflict has become a cause of concern which needs to be addressed. The media has often portrayed an equivalent between the destruction taking place in Lebanon during its current invasion and the damage caused by that in Israeli by Hizbullah rockets. Not only this, there are many facts, such as the use of illegal weapons by Israel and the breaking of international laws which are not disclosed or given far too little attention. An alarming result of this has been that international audiences do not have the resources to create their own opinions based on correct information. This makes it increasingly difficult to mobilize international support of a ceasefire, humanitarian support, etc.

In order to tackle the problem of biased and/or inaccurate information in western media which cause viewers to hold false perceptions and often negative stereotypes on the current war occurring in Lebanon and Israel, the media watch will monitor and react to news produced internationally.

Objectives:
Focusing on information regarding the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, our objectives are to:

  1. Ensure a fair and accurate presentation of facts in Western Media by monitoring selected and widely viewed/read media sources (Newspapers, tv, magazines, etc).
  2. Challenge abusive stereotypes, false information, and other biased images commonly found in the media, and take an active role against it.
  3. Provide citizens accurate facts of the current humanitarian situation in Lebanon.
  4. Provide Lebanese citizens with the information, education, and tools to intervene in media failings and empower them to take a more proactive role in activism.

In the long-term, to use the media to break down stereotypes built on biased information, and instead work to foster a better understanding and tolerance of the other.

The Project:
Analysts will on a daily base monitor selected media agencies, which have been chosen according to two sets of criteria: popularity and size of audience and secondly, their reputation of their neutrality or lack there of. The following American, European, and Israeli TV, newspapers, and magazines abroad have been chosen and will be monitored beginning 9 August 06:

  American European Israeli Canadian
TV

Fox News

BBC

 

CNN

Newspapers

The Times

Le País

Haaretz

Le Devoir la Presse

Washington Post

Le Monde

Jerusalem Post

 

The Sun

The Guardian

New York Times

International Herald Tribune

USA Today

Courrier International

Each analyst will read or watch the news, catching the indiscrepancies (listed outlined below) and make corrections to the article. These corrections will then be sent to a mailing list of 100-200 people, whom, equipped with the corrections as well as the contact information of the media agency, will then reply to the editor.

Information Targeted:
Within the topics of humanitarian relief, international law violations, children, internally displaced persons (IDP’s), and infrastructure; we will pay close attention to the following types of discrepancies:

  1. the equilibrium and balance of reporting on the sides of the conflict,
  2. incorrect information and statistics,
  3. objectiveness in presentation of information.

A website will soon be launched to in order to centralize all data collected, including forums, links to articles, media agencies contact details, and tools on how to write the articles.