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Working to see Israel gets fair media portrayal
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By: STEPHANIE GARBER Staff Reporter
Sharon Tzur loves her job so much that she says she would gladly do it for free. But, she adds, "I hope that in five years I won't need to do it anymore."
Tzur's brown eyes sparkle as she laughs at the apparent contradiction. As director of the media watch organization, Media Watch International (MWI), Tzur, 31, says her dream would be, "if this organization became unnecessary - if Israel was afforded impartial media coverage."
The sparkle dims as she adds in her soft Israeli accent, "Realistically, I don't think that's going to happen any time soon."
She came to Cleveland from her home in New York to speak at the State of Israel Bonds Women's Division's annual fall event.
A passionate loyalty to the state of Israel is as much a part of Tzur's genetic makeup as her thick, brown hair or tall, willowy frame. Her grandparents were both involved in Betar, having fled their native Poland "with all its pogroms and other anti-Jewish problems" to settle in what was then Palestine. Her grandfather, she says, was accused of murdering David Ben-Gurion's friend, Chaim Arlozoroff. "Just for the record, he didn't do it. It was simply another case of blood libel," Tzur notes, dryly.
Tzur was born in Canada, where she lived until the age of 7, when her family made aliyah. She became involved with Betar as a teen, and credits the youth movement for fostering her strong commitment to the Jewish state.
Tzur has been working with MWI since it started in 2000. The geographic origin of the organization, Tzur points out, was Ohio. The son of prominent Columbus businessman and philanthropist Jay Schottenstein was attending the University of Pennsylvania when Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi was invited to speak on the campus. Schottenstein wanted to provide a balance, says Tzur, and MWI grew up out of that desire.
Just four years later, the organization has become one of the fastest-growing media watch organizations in the world. MWI fosters personal relationships with the media, and their credibility has established them as an accurate source of information for news outlets including CNN, FOX News and MSCNBC. In addition, MWI provides spokespeople who can provide insight on issues pertaining to the Middle East and to the various news organizations.
"A lot of people seem to think CNN especially is biased, but I don't really think that's the case," says Tzur, who says stories have to be reported so quickly that, often, the facts are not checked. She admits, however, that Fox News is her favorite since it appears to be more favorable toward Israel than other stations.
It's so ironic, notes Tzur, that there is a misconception that Jews control the media. "There may be a large number of Jews working in the media, but we certainly don't control it!"
Tzur says the media in European countries is blatantly biased against Israel and the BBC is a classic example of that bias.
"When the BBC says it's even-handed, it is," Tzur says. "The palm of their hand goes to the Palestinians, and Israel gets the back of their hand."
She cites, as an example, the BBC's refusal to use the word "terrorists" when referring to suicide bombers in Israel, choosing instead to use either "militants" or "activists." However, she adds, whenever there is an attack in Northern Ireland, the BBC has no qualms whatsoever about using "terrorists" in their reporting.
MWI has also overseen and become an umbrella organization for other pro-Israel organizations, including Honestreporting.com, and Caravan for Democracy. The former began when a picture of a bloody, beaten young man cowering in front of a beefy-looking Israeli policeman wielding a club was run in The New York Times, AP, and other main media outlets. The young man was identified as a Palestinian, and the caption implied he had been battered by Israeli police.
The young man, however, was an American Jew. Tuvia Grossman had been beaten and almost stabbed to death by a mob of Palestinians. The policeman had, in fact, come to his aid and saved his life.
Grossman's father wrote a letter to the Times, and the paper printed a small apology. (The story is available on HonestReporting.com.) Of course, Tzur points out, the damage had been done and, ironically, the Palestinians continue to use Grossman's image as an example of "Israeli brutality."
The Caravan for Democracy was launched in 2002. It is the brainchild of Tzur who wanted to give Jewish kids on college campuses the tools and knowledge they would need to empower them when facing anti-Israel sentiments. MWI has held 40 student-sponsored events on campuses across the U.S.
Two students are selected each year to become spokespeople from each campus that Caravan for Democracy has visited. The students travel to Israel where they take a two-week activist training mission. In addition, they meet with various Israeli dignitaries and tour the country.
"We make them feel a sense of responsibility and feel important," says Tzur. "To participate in the program, students are obligated to run for office on their campus. They don't have to win - just run." The goal, she explains, is both to get them involved and help them develop confidence.
Through the efforts of MWI, Caravan and HonestReporting, Tzur hopes the public can be reached with the facts about the Middle East. "I feel the truth is on our side," she says.
Tzur's brown eyes sparkle as she laughs at the apparent contradiction. As director of the media watch organization, Media Watch International (MWI), Tzur, 31, says her dream would be, "if this organization became unnecessary - if Israel was afforded impartial media coverage."
The sparkle dims as she adds in her soft Israeli accent, "Realistically, I don't think that's going to happen any time soon."
She came to Cleveland from her home in New York to speak at the State of Israel Bonds Women's Division's annual fall event.
A passionate loyalty to the state of Israel is as much a part of Tzur's genetic makeup as her thick, brown hair or tall, willowy frame. Her grandparents were both involved in Betar, having fled their native Poland "with all its pogroms and other anti-Jewish problems" to settle in what was then Palestine. Her grandfather, she says, was accused of murdering David Ben-Gurion's friend, Chaim Arlozoroff. "Just for the record, he didn't do it. It was simply another case of blood libel," Tzur notes, dryly.
Tzur was born in Canada, where she lived until the age of 7, when her family made aliyah. She became involved with Betar as a teen, and credits the youth movement for fostering her strong commitment to the Jewish state.
Tzur has been working with MWI since it started in 2000. The geographic origin of the organization, Tzur points out, was Ohio. The son of prominent Columbus businessman and philanthropist Jay Schottenstein was attending the University of Pennsylvania when Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi was invited to speak on the campus. Schottenstein wanted to provide a balance, says Tzur, and MWI grew up out of that desire.
Just four years later, the organization has become one of the fastest-growing media watch organizations in the world. MWI fosters personal relationships with the media, and their credibility has established them as an accurate source of information for news outlets including CNN, FOX News and MSCNBC. In addition, MWI provides spokespeople who can provide insight on issues pertaining to the Middle East and to the various news organizations.
"A lot of people seem to think CNN especially is biased, but I don't really think that's the case," says Tzur, who says stories have to be reported so quickly that, often, the facts are not checked. She admits, however, that Fox News is her favorite since it appears to be more favorable toward Israel than other stations.
It's so ironic, notes Tzur, that there is a misconception that Jews control the media. "There may be a large number of Jews working in the media, but we certainly don't control it!"
Tzur says the media in European countries is blatantly biased against Israel and the BBC is a classic example of that bias.
"When the BBC says it's even-handed, it is," Tzur says. "The palm of their hand goes to the Palestinians, and Israel gets the back of their hand."
She cites, as an example, the BBC's refusal to use the word "terrorists" when referring to suicide bombers in Israel, choosing instead to use either "militants" or "activists." However, she adds, whenever there is an attack in Northern Ireland, the BBC has no qualms whatsoever about using "terrorists" in their reporting.
MWI has also overseen and become an umbrella organization for other pro-Israel organizations, including Honestreporting.com, and Caravan for Democracy. The former began when a picture of a bloody, beaten young man cowering in front of a beefy-looking Israeli policeman wielding a club was run in The New York Times, AP, and other main media outlets. The young man was identified as a Palestinian, and the caption implied he had been battered by Israeli police.
The young man, however, was an American Jew. Tuvia Grossman had been beaten and almost stabbed to death by a mob of Palestinians. The policeman had, in fact, come to his aid and saved his life.
Grossman's father wrote a letter to the Times, and the paper printed a small apology. (The story is available on HonestReporting.com.) Of course, Tzur points out, the damage had been done and, ironically, the Palestinians continue to use Grossman's image as an example of "Israeli brutality."
The Caravan for Democracy was launched in 2002. It is the brainchild of Tzur who wanted to give Jewish kids on college campuses the tools and knowledge they would need to empower them when facing anti-Israel sentiments. MWI has held 40 student-sponsored events on campuses across the U.S.
Two students are selected each year to become spokespeople from each campus that Caravan for Democracy has visited. The students travel to Israel where they take a two-week activist training mission. In addition, they meet with various Israeli dignitaries and tour the country.
"We make them feel a sense of responsibility and feel important," says Tzur. "To participate in the program, students are obligated to run for office on their campus. They don't have to win - just run." The goal, she explains, is both to get them involved and help them develop confidence.
Through the efforts of MWI, Caravan and HonestReporting, Tzur hopes the public can be reached with the facts about the Middle East. "I feel the truth is on our side," she says.
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