Accurate News Reporting (02:45)

FREE PREVIEW

Reporting of conflicts, such as that between Israelis and Palestinians, must be balanced and neutral without hidden biases and omissions. News stories must contain facts within their context.

"Suicide Bombing": Standard Version (03:10)

Jake Lynch's report on a 2003 Palestinian suicide bombing in Jerusalem demonstrates how to cover the "who," "what," "where," and "how," but not the "why" about the conflict between Israelis and the Palestinians.

"Suicide Bombing": Alternative Version (03:31)

Annabel McGoldrick's report on the same 2003 Palestinian suicide bombing takes the context of the conflict into account to delve into the "why" of the story, which is the vicious cycle of violence that traps both Israelis and Palestinians.

Analysis of Two Different Reportings (05:20)

The standard news story covers only the Israeli side of the conflict. The alternative story covers the facts within their context by showing the pattern of polarization and drawing attention to structural violence.

"Two Brothers, Two Different Paths" (03:10)

Jake Lynch's report shows options for reporters by delving deeper into the underlying processes that drive the cycle of violence. Lynch interviews Amer Daraghmeh, a Palestinian peace activist whose brother, Mohammad, was a suicide bomber.

Analysis of Lynch's Report (01:49)

Lynch's broadcast on the two Palestinian brothers works well as a follow-up to his initial report on the suicide bombing. It helps viewers make sense of traumatic events and to see that most Israelis and Palestinians desire peace.

"Geneva Accord" (06:01)

Annabel McGoldrick's news story reports on public opinion concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Polls indicate that most people favor the Geneva Accord, which would give Israeli-occupied land back to the Palestinians and form a Palestinian state.

"The Wall" (05:23)

Annabel McGoldrick's report on Israel's security fence indicates how most Palestinians and Israelis oppose "the wall," which separates Palestinian farmers from their lands and does not always stop suicide bombers from entering Israel.

World Opinion and Fair Reporting (05:19)

International news organizations like the BBC and CBC have their own codes and guidelines to ensure facts with a wide range of opinions in order to avoid misinformation. U.S. news organizations are covered by the First Amendment.

"Refuseniks--Resisting Militarism" (03:50)

Jake Lynch's report on three "refuseniks," Israeli soldiers who refuse to guard the military checkpoints and oppose the government's actions, allows viewers to see that not all Israelis and Palestinians hate each other.

Role of News Broadcasts in Solving International Conflicts (03:45)

Properly informing viewers of news stories helps citizens of countries in conflict and third-party countries to put pressure on their political leaders to end the conflict. Many Palestinians feel the international community has ignored their plight.

"Lessons for Peaceful Citizenship" (03:30)

Annabel McGoldrick reports on the role of peace education that helps both Israeli and Palestinian children learn to erase their mutual mistrust and overcome the stereotypes taught in their schools.

Review of Accurate News Reporting (01:39)

Broadcast journalism's innate problems sometimes force some journalists to stick to "safe" stories. Reporters should relay the facts within their context and avoid omissions and distortions.