ABOUT US

OUR VISION

We believe that it is important to the health of our Democracy that our News Media reports the news in an accurate, thorough and unbiased manner so that our citizens can make informed decisions. Thus by extension, we believe that the unconditional support for the State of Israel no matter whom it hurts or how it violates our basic principles, is very unhealthy for our democracy.

We believe that accurate, thorough and unbiased reporting supports in the long run the ideals and goals of International Law, justice, freedom and equal rights which are also the ideals and goals of Democratic systems, and thus by extension this is the best thing for the health of our own democracy as well.

Thus, we believe that accurate, thorough and unbiased reporting about the conflict between the Palestinian people and the State of Israel will support that cause of the Palestinian people, which is only seeking justice, freedom and equal rights as defined by International Law and the ideals of Democracy, and thus by extension will revitalize our own practice of democracy.

And thus as the American people begin to learn the truth about the Palestinian cause through accurate, thorough and unbiased reporting about the conflict with Israel, they will begin to support it, and justice, freedom and equal rights will follow as the people make their politicians change US policy to end unconditional support for Israel in order to force Israel to change its oppressive and exploitive policies. We believe this will also revitalize and inspire interest in the principles of democracy worldwide instead of making us look like hypocrits as we promote democracy but then also support Israel, and by extension its anti-democratic practices and policies.

Thus, the PALESTINE MEDIA PROJECT seeks to encourage and inform the US Media from many different angles about what is going on in the conflict between the Palestinian people and the State of Israel, and to influence them to report about this in as accurate, thorough and unbiased manner as is possible, in order to bring about a speedy end to the conflict, and a sustainable and just peace that will benefit everyone.

MISSION STATEMENT

We believe that accurate, thorough and unbiased reporting by the US Media could bring about a solution to the crisis between the Palestinian people and the State of Israel because then the American people could make informed decisions about US policy toward Israel, and thus use their aid to bring about a just and sustainable peace which would benefit everyone.

Thus, the PALESTINE MEDIA PROJECT seeks to educate the US Media and pressure the US Media toward more accurate and unbiased reporting through many different means such as leading public letter-writing campaigns, providing educational materials to Media professionals, meeting directly with Media professionals, and many other means.

PALESTINE MEDIA PROJECT consists of pro-Palestine activists who believe in Democracy, non-violence, celebrating diversity, and International Law to ultimately bring about justice, equality, prosperity and peace for all.

OVERALL STRATEGY

The information about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian People is collected and presented by very highly regarded non-profit peace and justice and human rights organizations located mostly in the Middle East, whom have stellar reputations in terms of their integrity and ethics in the collection and writing about the facts of the conflict. Thus our strategy is to get this information to the mainstream US Media because this is where the US public gets their information. They can then influence their politicians to end US unconditional support for Israeli policies and practices toward the Palestinians.

The reason appealing directly to US politicians to change US foreign policy toward Israel doesn't work is because US politicians are dependent to a significant extent on Israel lobby money to bankroll their election and re-election efforts. Thus the only way to overcome this dependency is to appeal directly to the American people, and the only way to reach them is through their media.

Thus when communicating with the media it is important to remember the following things:

• (1) It is important to remember that the facts, the law, and morality are on the side of the Palestinian cause.
• (2) Thus the pro-Israel groups have a much more difficult time defending their cause, and thus must resort to desperate measures - such as distortion of the facts, bullying and threatening, attacking the messenger, distraction, etc.
• (3) We do not have to use such tactics because the facts, etc. are on our side. In the long run those other tactics do not work - people know when they are being manipulated and conned. Thus in the long run we will succeed in securing the liberation and full rights of the Palestinian people.
• (4) But the pro-Israel groups have much more wealth and power than we do. In addition they are much more desperate than we are. Thus many of our protests and public education efforts are thwarted and/or overwhelmed by their counter-measures.
• (5) But with the US Media we find that we do have a way to compete with them despite their greater wealth and power, because:
  • A. Journalists still feel the responsibility of their journalistic ethics to respond to truth over money and power.
  • B. Journalists have a tradition of rebellion against the status quo and blind acceptance and obedience.
  • C. Stories which are controversial or express a new perspective tend to sell more, and hence are attractive to journalists.
• (6) But the US Media needs the facts and ideas about the law and morality. Thus our effort is two-prong -
  • A. To give feedback to the Media when they are inaccurate or biased.
  • B. To provide the Media with the facts and information about the lawfulness and morality of the Palestinian cause so that they can write more accurately and unbiased about it.
• (7) Thus focusing on the US Media has important strategic reasons:
  • A. The US Media has tremendous influence over US public opinion.
  • B. It is one of the few ways to compete with the overwhelming wealth and power of the pro-Israel groups.
  • C. Media work is a very powerful way to develop and distribute free public education.
  • D. Once the Media is more sensitive to our cause, it will then cover all of our other events more sympathetically.
  • E. Media work is easy to develop pro-Palestine events around, and to motivate activists with.

WRITING MEDIA ACTION ALERTS:

Thus because the facts, law and morality are on our side, and we don't need to use manipulative tactics to win influence, when writing alerts or meeting with media professionals:

• (1) Be polite and respectful. Let the facts speak for themselves. If you are pushy or over-dramatic then your audience will feel pushed and manipulated, and then lose their trust and respect for you. Also, remember - these are the tactics of desperate people who are having a difficult time defending their cause - that is not our situation.
• (2) Please use non-emotional, objective, academic language - let the facts speak for themselves. This conveys the impression to the reader that you are objective about the material, and hence are a trustworthy source of information. Over-emotional expressions reduce trust because they suggest the writer's thinking is being swayed too much by their emotions.
• (3) If possible, give sources for your information - this increases the trust that you are a reliable source of information because you can back up your facts.
• (4) Do not exaggerate or distort or leave out information about an issue if some of it does not support your position - this will help convey the fact that you are objective and can be trusted, and remember - ultimately, the facts, morality and the law support the Palestinian position. It is very difficult to defend the policies and actions of Israel - that is why Israel supporters often distort the facts and bully editors. We are known for being polite and clear in our expressions because we do not need to resort to such tactics to make our points. Let's keep this up and maintain this reputation.
• (5) Please, do not copy us directly in your emails to the editors, or forward our Action Alerts to editors or authors. This is so they do not get the impression that you only represent or are only expressing an organizational point-of-view. It is important that they see that truly you are expressing your personal individual opinion.

IN CONCLUSION:

We believe that this strategy will ultimately help the Palestinian cause by providing an increasing quantity of accurate information to the public through their news media, who will then be more motivated to support efforts to influence US politicians to stop support for Israeli policies which violate Palestinian human and political rights.

Once the US support ends, then it will be easier for the UN and international community to then prosecute Israel for its crimes and thus force change.

And we are already seeing signs of success.