Just Journalism Update
THIS WEEK: Read about confusion in the UK media about Israel's electoral system and the Kadima primaries result.
ALSO: How language describing Tzipi Livni as a prospective female Israeli PM signified different attitudes.
LIVNI VICTORY IN KADIMA PRIMARIES
• The results of the Kadima party primary were reported in all five of the daily broadsheets on Thursday 18 September, as well as in the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror and in the Evening Standard from the previous day. There were also bulletins on BBC Radio 4 programmes The World Tonight and Today and articles on the BBC News website.
• Most newspapers cited Israeli exit polls, which erroneously suggested a landslide victory for Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, with only The Independent reporting that her victory may be by a slimmer margin than predicted.
• JJ noted that The Times and Daily Mail demonstrated an incoherent understanding of the Israeli electoral system by asserting that the result of the Kadima leadership contest meant that Tzipi Livni automatically became Israeli Prime Minister. This breached the journalistic principle of factual accuracy. Matthew Kalman of the Daily Mail opened his correspondence piece titled, “Israel gets its first woman premier since Golda Meir” with, “A former Mossad agent became Israel's first woman prime minister since Golda Meir last night.” He went on to state that she “replaces Ehud Olmert as PM”. The online version of the article, however, gave a more accurate description of the current state of affairs, presumably after realising the mistake in the printed edition.
• James Hider of The Times closed his otherwise accurate article with, “Ms Livni is the first woman Prime Minister of Israel since Golda Meir, who held office from 1969 – 74.”
• In fact, Ehud Olmert has not yet formally resigned and will remain caretaker Prime Minister until a new government (formed by Livni in the coming weeks, or following general elections if she is unable to form a coalition) is approved by the Knesset.
• Most newspapers reflected on the possible effects of a Livni premiership on the peace process with the Palestinians. Tim Butcher of The Daily Telegraph , described Tzipi Livni's election to the chairmanship of Kadima as, “a boost for the current Israeli-Palestinian peace process as she is one of Israel's strongest supporters of attempts to reach a negotiated settlement with moderate Palestinians.” By contrast, David Blair of the same publication was sceptical about any progress, asserting, “In truth, however, there is virtually no chance of Israel and the Palestinians signing a peace agreement capable of being implemented whoever wins this contest.”
• The Independent noted the significance of the make-up of any coalition in determining which way the peace process would go, and The Guardian quoted chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia and Israeli activist Yossi Beilin, welcoming Tzipi Livni's election with regards to the peace process.
2nd FEMALE ISRAELI PM OR 1 ST FEMALE ISRAELI PM FOR 30 YEARS?
• Interestingly, JJ observed that there was variation in how different publications described the prospect of Tzipi Livni becoming a female Israeli PM.
• Whilst some newspapers focused on how long it has been since Israel had a female premier, others focused on the fact that Livni would be the second female Israel PM:
The Guardian said Livni was, “on track to become the first female prime minister in more than 30 years.”
The Independent headline read, “Livni poised to become first female Israeli Prime Minister for 30 years ” and later asserted that if successful, she would be, “the country's first woman prime minister for a generation.”
Daily Mirror said that Israel was “on the brink of having its first female leader in 34 years.”
Daily Mail ran the headline, “Israel gets its first woman premier since Golda Meir.”
Whereas…
The Times described Livni as “set to become the Jewish state's second woman Prime Minister, less than a decade after she first entered parliament.”
The Daily Telegraph described her as “poised… to become the nation's second woman prime minister.”
BREACHES OF JOURNALISTIC PRINCIPLES
• Israel gets its first woman premier since Golda Meir, Daily Mail, By Matthew Kalman, September 18, 2008 – FACTUAL ERROR
• ‘New Golda Meir' Tzipi Livni wins poll battle to become Prime Minister in extra time, The Times, By James Hider, September 18, 2008 – FACTUAL ERROR
• Israel: The spy who would be PM, The Independent , By Donald Macintyre, September 15, 2008 - FAILURE TO SEPARATE COMMENT AND OPINION FROM NEWS-REPORTING
STORIES OF INTEREST
Paul McCartney death threats
The tabloids reported that Paul McCartney will have protection from Mossad when he performs in Israel later this month, amid fears that he will be targeted by suicide bombers. The Sunday Express, Daily Mail and The Sun all covered the story, including the fact that Omar Bakri, the radical Muslim preacher who was refused re-entry into the UK, publicly denounced the ex-Beatle's decision to perform in Israel.
Tel Aviv cleans up
The BBC News website posted a story about Tel Aviv's pioneering new strategy to curb public fouling by dogs. Under the trial scheme, dog owners will be able to register the DNA of their pets, which will then be used to identify the origin of offending matter.
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