Noam
Chomsky, Yanis Varoufakis, Ken Loach, Brian Eno, Des Freedman, Justin
Schlosberg and 21 others write about a recent report by the Media
Reform Coalition
We have
long had serious concerns about the lack of due impartiality and
accuracy in the reporting of allegations of antisemitism against
Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party. The recent report
[http://www.mediareform.org.uk/blog/new-mrc-research-finds-inaccuracies-and-distortions-in-media-coverage-of-antisemitism-and-the-labour-party]
by the Media Reform Coalition examining coverage of Labour’s
revised code of conduct on antisemitism shows that we are right to be
concerned.
The
research examined over 250 articles and broadcast news segments and
found over 90 examples of misleading or inaccurate reporting. In
relation to the IHRA definition of antisemitism that was at the heart
of the dispute, the research found evidence of “overwhelming
source imbalance” in which critics of Labour’s code of
conduct dominated coverage, with nearly 50% of Guardian reports, for
example, failing to include any quotes from those defending the code
or critiquing the IHRA definition. Moreover, key contextual facts
about the IHRA definition – for example that it has only been
formally adopted by eight countries (and only six of the IHRA member
states) – were consistently excluded.
The
researchers conclude these were not occasional lapses in judgment but
“systematic reporting failures” that served to weaken the
Labour leadership and to bolster its opponents within and outside of
the party.
It is of
course entirely appropriate and necessary for our major news outlets
to report on the horrors of antisemitism, but wrong to present it as
an issue specific to the Labour party.
In
covering the allegations that Labour is now “institutionally
antisemitic”, there have been inaccuracies, clear distortions and
revealing omissions across our most popular media platforms. We
believe that significant parts of the UK media have failed their
audiences by producing flawed reports that have contributed to an
undeserved witch-hunt against the Labour leader and misdirected
public attention away from antisemitism elsewhere, including on the
far right, which is ascendant in much of Europe.
Prof
Noam Chomsky
Brian
Eno
Francesca
Martinez
Yanis
Varoufakis
Ken
Loach
Raoul
Martinez
Justin
Schlosberg Birkbeck, University of London
Prof
Des Freedman Goldsmiths, University of London
Prof
Imogen Tyler Lancaster University
Prof
Aeron Davis Goldsmiths, University of London
Prof
Annabelle Sreberny Soas, University of London
Prof
Greg Philo University of Glasgow
Prof
Natalie Fenton Goldsmiths, University of London
Prof
David Miller Bristol University
Prof
David Hesmondhalgh University of Leeds
Prof
James Curran Goldsmiths, University of London
Prof
Julian Petley Brunel University
Stephen
Cushion Cardiff University
Jason
Hickel Goldsmiths, University of London
Einar
Thorsen Bournemouth University
Mike
Berry Cardiff University
Tom
Mills Aston University
Jenny
Manson Jewish Voice for Labour
Leah
Levane Jewish Voice for Labour
Lindsey
German Stop the War Coalition
Mike
Cushman Free Speech on Israel
Glyn
Secker Jewish Voice for Labour
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