Accuracy is a central pillar of news media reporting, no matter the topic in question. But when news media outlets report on contentious topics, the need for accuracy becomes even more acute.

Accuracy is based on more than just getting the facts right, though that is critical. It is also based on sourcing and using reliable sources, as well as being transparent with the public, be they readers, viewers or listeners, about the nature or affiliations of those being quoted or interviewed.

Far too often, organizations and individuals which have spread vehemently hateful rhetoric are quoted by outlets as if they are subject matter experts, and overwhelmingly, the public is not given context about whom they are hearing about.

Unfortunately, this is often the case when it comes to news media coverage of the Middle East, and Jewish-related issues. While there are a wide range of opinions related to contentious subjects, some views are simply beyond the pale and should not be legitimized with a platform on credible news outlets.

These opinions could be, for instance, praising and glorifying the mass murder of Jews, spreading conspiracy theories alleging Jewish control of international banking or governmental systems, and the like.

Sometimes it may be decided that it is important to interview the purveyors of such views, if, for instance, they are newsmakers or the organizers of a protest or demonstration. But if this decision is made, then it is no less important to the Canadian public that outlets shine a critical light on these individuals or organizations so that their anti-Jewish extremism is well-documented. If this is not done, their radicalism can be sanitized, and this isn’t just creating a misleading picture, but a fundamentally wrong one.

This bias often also presents itself when news media outlets platform a fringe movement in the Canadian Jewish community, making no distinction between it and the Jewish community at large, and failing to identify such campaigns as marginal, well outside the mainstream. 

These issues are not simply questions relating to journalistic integrity or ethical practices. They can have very real-life impacts on Canada’s Jews. For example, when the State of Israel is accused of genocide, based upon supposedly the expert analysis from a well-known peddler of conspiracy theories, this has a concrete impact on Canadian Jews, who overwhelmingly accept Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish State, and who have faced a dramatic upsurge in antisemitic hate crimes whenever there is a war in the Middle East.

This increase in hate crimes is not coincidental, but directly tied to the spreading of anti-Israel disinformation in news media outlets.

Consequently, while the need to use credible sources is always essential for unbiased news reporting, that necessity has never been greater when there are real-life consequences for hundreds of thousands of Canadians.