Opinion: A tale of two headlines
'In the fog of war truth can be the first casualty. That is precisely why our national broadcasters need to honour the huge responsibility and duty upon them to get it right,' writes barrister Gary Grant for Jewish News following the explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital
The knee jerk reaction on Tuesday evening from major news broadcasters to accept, without verification, propaganda spewing from Hamas shrills and then blazen headlines such as “Israel strikes hospital” across our screens, is an example of confirmation bias.
Too eager to publish information that fits a narrative of “evil Israel”, they immediately publish these Hamas claims with near “I told you so” glee. Only to start backtracking when evidence begins to emerge that the explosion was more likely to have been caused by an Islamic Jihad rocket misfiring.
But by then it is too late. The rage has spread like wildfire endangering Jews around the world. If, and it is now looking more likely when, a full investigation eventually concludes that the hospital blast was nothing to do with Israel, nobody will care. The damage has been done.
As the proverb goes, “a lie can be halfway around the world before the truth has got its boots on”.
The two BBC headlines appearing in this article also merit scrutiny. Whilst readers of the first headline will most likely take away as a fact the claim that “Hundreds killed in Israeli strike on Gaza Hospital”, the later correction merely reports Israel’s denial with a perceptible raise of the journalistic eyebrow.
Why the discrepancy, unless the broadcaster starts from a position that Israel might very well intentionally bomb a hospital containing innocents, or else believes that view is likely to find a welcoming home in the sentiments of a sufficient portion of its audience?
In the fog of war truth can be the first casualty. That is precisely why our national broadcasters need to honour the huge responsibility and duty upon them to get it right.
Or, just as importantly, if they do not know the facts, to say so rather than inflame the world by parroting Hamas’ public relations lines. These experienced journalists must surely know that, according to an Associated Press report from last year, close to one-third of Hamas and Islamic Jihad rockets aimed at Israel fall short of the border and land on Gazans?
So why was that narrative not their instinctive reaction if they just couldn’t hold back from hitting the publish button?
The failure of our news channels to exercise proper journalistic discretion and scrutiny risks inciting the hatred already being directed at Jews in the UK and around the world.
It must stop now.
- Gary Grant is a London-based barrister.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
