By Tom Brennan
How to get accurate news about Israel and spread it.
It’s acknowledged fact that an increasing number of people are going to the internet for their news and information. The broadcast media are losing the battle to entertain and inform their public and are getting even more desperate to get news out quickly. This panic is showing when serious errors in reporting appear on national and international network news programs. It seems that fact checking is a thing of the past in the rush to get on the air first. Unfortunately social media is also on the list for “beware”. Israel is seeing a barrage of slanted reporting from most mainstream media in the US and Europe. Unfortunately the press can no longer depended upon to report news, it has become op-ed (opinion-editorial) and totally biased. Being fully informed about Israel is a part time job and for supporters of The Land it is one that has a high priority.
Selecting resources to review and consult requires a set of criteria that can be applied to ranking useful and dependable sources. My graduate degree is in Library and Information Science and there are certain criteria we use to ascertain the authority level of reference sources. When it comes to the internet the task goes from difficult to almost impossible (but do-able) because of the round the clock and around the world nature of the internet. Software makes anyone with a computer look like a serious publisher or subject authority.
In the Western world we seem to be in such a hurry to “get to the chase” that we forget what we’re supposed to be chasing. The internet, especially social media has managed to increase the confusion immeasurably. A “tweet” here of a rumor, a video shared that goes viral, a caustic remark or slip of the tongue all can cause a financial disaster, riot or a war in nanoseconds when smartphones light the fuse. Governments worldwide are plotting to control the internet and be able to shut down, censor or just dominate the media. Egypt had one government fall via Twitter and the next set of officials did their best to throttle the digital army back to compliance. A video on YouTube was blamed as the cause of a consulate attack in Libya and even the alleged producers seemed to not know this; here blaming social media backfired on the politicians.
Being informed is a serious enterprise. In the pre-internet days print media as overseen by an editor who decided what got in print, where it would be placed and what priority was placed upon it. In television and radio time was the principal consideration and a gate keeper of what would be broadcast was in charge. In the times when reporters and correspondents wired or telephoned their reports to their editors, doing the most thorough research held a reporter’s reputation and employment in an iron grip. Stories that were not supported, inside sources that gave inaccurate leads, fraud and such errors ended many careers. Corporate buyout of news media began the end of real and credible journalism. Today software and available media outlets such as social media have made journalism a more questionable description of “news reporting”. The informed citizen needs to set criteria for accepting news, especially news about Israel.
Happily, Israel has numerous and dependable sources. The page you are reading is one of them, thank you for visiting here and please share what you find here with others. The Government has a web page that links to all ministries, the IDF and provides reports, statements, data and up to date numbers and supplies verifiable data to support reports. Next are Israel’s newspapers which have online pages. Newspapers have social media pages, blogs, and opportunities to comment, and share direct from Israel news and reports. Check for circulation, date of establishment, ownership and whether opinions from all camps are featured. Israel has 34 political parties, some of which include Muslim Arabs. Everyone who has a voice can speak and have an opportunity to be heard.
Some sources are video based. Once again, ask who produces it, how many subscribe and what is their viewpoint. You can gain much information in a few minutes from these video offerings and they are worth subscribing. Facebook and other social media open up the door. If a page interests you check out the page’s owner’s website and check their authority level. Supporters of Israel owe it to their mission to support and comment only on legitimate pages. We are judged by the company we keep, so select, like and tweet properly.
International pro Israel organizations publish news, sponsor events and campaigns locally and host regional and international conferences. Check who sponsors the site, support it financially and share posts. The founders of these are often well known pastors or political figures. Influential persons usually speak at events and they are well worth attending and offer multiple networking opportunities.
Supporting Israel in a time of worldwide Anti-Semitism, Caliphate violence, media slant and outright bias, and international tensions and insecurity entails some risk. But the rewards are beyond compare. “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you”. I know where I want to be numbered, and so do you.
Follow News from JerusalemShare this page with your friends
Jon says
Thankyou Tom,
Very helpful and informative indeed !
May the truth concerning Israel on this website and elsewhere spread and cause hearts to stir up and stand !
Tom Brennan says
Jon,
many thanks. As I get further into how the “media” is manipulative and managed by ant-Israel (anti-Semitic anti-Christian) forces the need to investigate how to counter them effectively becomes more obvious. The truth shall set you free: we labor under the joyous burden of bringing the truth to a world numbed by lies and trickery. David used many means to defeat the
enemies of G-d and we can turn back the tide of deception with quick and factual responses.Thanks for the encouragement !