A comprehensive year-long study of The New York Times' coverage of Israel has unveiled a consistent pattern of bias against the Jewish state. Conducted by journalist Lilach Sigan and Professor Eitan Gilboa of Bar-Ilan University, the research meticulously analyzed 361 articles published in 2022, revealing that 53% portrayed Israel in a negative light.
The study uncovered several concerning trends in the Times' reporting. Notably, there was disproportionate coverage of certain events, such as the death of Al-Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu-Akleh, which received 24 articles compared to only 8 articles covering 65 other journalist deaths worldwide. The researchers also noted a heightened focus on Israeli military operations with minimal context provided on Palestinian attacks.
The use of loaded language was another key finding. The words "Israel" and "apartheid" appeared together 39 times, while "Israel" and "colonialism" were linked 16 times. In contrast, "Hamas" was described as a "terrorist organization" only 13 times, despite its official designation as such by the U.S. State Department.
Selective reporting was also evident, with limited coverage of threats from Hamas and Hezbollah, and minimal reporting on Palestinian internal conflicts and human rights abuses. The study found significant underreporting of rocket attacks on Israel during conflicts.
Opinion pieces showed a clear slant, with 17 out of 26 op-eds portraying Israel negatively, compared to only 6 positive and 3 neutral pieces. By comparison, Iran received 12 negative op-eds in the same period.
The researchers observed an increase in negative coverage following Israel's 2022 elections, which resulted in a right-wing government. There was also a disproportionate focus on controversial political figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir.
This bias is not new, according to critics. The Times has a controversial history regarding its coverage of Jewish issues, most notably its widely criticized reporting on the Holocaust during World War II. Despite being owned by the Jewish Ochs-Sulzberger family since 1896, the paper has faced persistent accusations of anti-Zionist bias.
Expert opinions vary on the reasons behind this bias. Ashley Rindsberg, author of "The Gray Lady Winked," suggests the paper's anti-Israel stance became more pronounced during the Second Intifada. Professor Gilboa attributes recent trends to changing American public opinion and increasing political polarization. Danny Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, expresses pessimism about the possibility of significant change in the Times' coverage.
Watchdog organizations like CAMERA and Honest Reporting have successfully pushed for some corrections, but critics argue that fundamental change is unlikely without a shift in ownership or editorial leadership.
As the world's most widely circulated news website, The New York Times' coverage significantly influences global perceptions of Israel. The researchers hope their findings will spark a broader discussion about fair and balanced reporting on complex geopolitical issues, particularly in influential media outlets like The New York Times.
Mako Rishon contributed to this article.
