The ONLY active voice for American Arab Journalists.

Friday, February 18, 2011

SPJ President attacks American Arab journalists saying criticism of her is based on her "birthright"

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Hagit Limor, the president of the Society of Professional Journalists, has launched a vicious assault against American Arabs claiming that our criticism of the SPJ decision to terminate the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award is based on her "birthright"being Jewish and Israeli.

It is so outrageous. Tragically, we have never had the opportunity to speak with each other, so naturally instead of coming together with understanding, we find ourselves fighting over someone else's battles.

Here is the link to the article published Jan. 31, 2011 (which means the interview had to have been made sometime in late January). CLICK HERE TO READ NEWS STORY ON HAGIT LIMOR.

AND, here is my letter to the Jewish News in Dayton responding to Hagit Limor's claims that this debate is about her birthright. It is about leadership, accountability and transparency, all of which she apparently feels are inconsequential. The real issue predates Hagit Limor and involves Kevin Smith as president of the SPJ.

LETTER TO EDITOR

I am shocked by the allegations of Hagit Limor, president of the Society of Professional Journalists, made nearly four weeks ago, that criticism of the SPJ's decision to terminate the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award is because of her "birthright" as a Jew or Israeli.

She asserts that she has been targeted, and points to the National American Arab Journalists Association, in her assertions.

President Limor has refused to address how the SPJ, under her leadership, came to the decision to terminate the award. NAAJA has sought many explanations but has received no response from Ms. Limor.

We've criticized the Helen Thomas decision because it also came right after the SPJ (under a prior president) shut down the SPJ's Arab Section without notifying any American Arab SPJ members. When we asked for a justification, all we have received have been namecalling and accusations not just from her predecessor but also from her.

If anyone is being targeted because of their birthright, it is American Arab members of the SPJ who are being told basically that we have no right to ask our elected SPJ leaders to be accountable. They have a fiduciary responsibility to answer to the members, but Hagit Limor and her predecessor have refused to be accountable. They have responded to calls for accountability by attacking, personally, individuals who have expressed any opinion they disagree with.

For the record, I am Palestinian and am proud of that fact. But my wife and son are Jewish and to interject religious or even Palestinian-Israeli differences in to this discussion is absolutely outrageous.

Clearly Ms. Limor does not want to detail how the SPJ, under her leadership and her predecessor's leadership, decided to shut down the Arab Section without notice and to terminate the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award.

Her comments only further underscore her inability to properly and professionally lead the SPJ.

Ray Hanania
National Coordinator, NAAJA

Friday, February 11, 2011

Open Letter to the SPJ board to conduct a full investigation of the actions of the President and the Past President regarding Helen Thomas

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Open Letter to the SPJ board to conduct a full investigation of the actions of the President and the Past President regarding Helen Thomas

Greetings from Chicago. 

My name is Ray Hanania. I am an SPJ member who first joined the Society in 1978. I am a recipient of many SPJ and SPJ chapter journalism awards, among many other journalism awards. I covered Chicago City Hall as a political reporter from 1978 until 1992 and I currently write for Creators Syndicate and every week for the Jerusalem Post Newspaper in Israel. I write for three Chicago community newspapers and I manage a media communications company.

Though I realize the committees to which they have been appointed serve at the pleasure of the president, I respectfully ask that members of the Society of Professional Journalists' national ethics, freedom of information and diversity committees investigate recent actions of President Hagit Limor and Past President Kevin Smith and that those members also generally examine how the national board of directors has handled the controversy surrounding the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award. 

I respectfully ask members of these national committees to tackle this important work because I hope what we learn will guard SPJ from the arrogance, prejudice and outrageously bad conduct we have seen evidence of in the Society's current leadership. 

After conducting my own review of Ms. Limor and Mr. Smith's behavior, I have concluded that they have some serious explaining to do to all SPJ members. I believe they have willfully taken steps to marginalize and muzzle the voices of American Arab members of this organization. They have acted in violation of SPJ's code of ethics, and I believe they have acted contrary to the SPJ mission they were entrusted to protect and live by as SPJ officers. I also happen to believe that Ms. Limor and Mr. Smith are guilty of arrogance and unprofessionalism that has reflected very poorly on SPJ. 

I hope SPJ's national committee members and members at large will join me in asking hard questions and demanding straight answers. I present some of my chief complaints here: 

June 16, 2010. I wrote a letter directed to Executive Director Joe Skeel. It asked that the national board not suspend the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award. The following day, on June 17, then-President Kevin Smith responded with a sharp e-mail stating that my criticism of SPJ was intolerable and that, as of that day, he was further directing SPJ staff to shut down the Arab-American Journalists' blog maintained on SPJ.org. I quickly started asking questions of staff and quietly learned that Kevin had actually ordered that blog's shutdown weeks before our e-mail exchange without ever speaking with anyone including myself. He was attempting to justify his decision as a reaction to my criticism of this organization. But I found out he'd actually been making these plans for awhile. When I protested the Arab blog's closure, I heard from other SPJ members that the blog had been deemed "too political." Too political for whom? In the end, I realize now that when too many of SPJ's national leaders are inconvenienced by members' speech, they simply get rid of it. 

Kevin Smith also ordered the disbanding of SPJ's American Arab Journalism Section when he was president and Hagit Limor was president-elect. This section offered the bios and talents of prominent American Arabs who were members of SPJ. Our many activities included working with Peter Sussman, who was then a member of SPJ's national ethics committee, to translate SPJ's code of ethics from English to Arabic. Under Mr. Smith's direction, this section was closed without any explanation or notice to me and any of the section's other members. SPJ simply stopped accepting these members and made plans to fold this section. There was no discussion with our members before any actions were taken. No complaints (except one from the prior year regarding the issue of throwing shoes, a cultural tradition in the Arab World not understand in the same context in the United States or the West, and we had an email discussion about the topic). When SPJ members did take the time to question and write, they never were spared even the courtesy of a short message confirming that their e-mails had been received.

Hagit Limor initiated action against Helen Thomas, an American Arab journalist, during the executive committee meeting of summer 2010. Ms. Limor should stop claiming that she has been "100 percent neutral" and that she "stepped aside" during this controversy. She did not. It is insulting to everyone's intelligence that Ms. Limor wants us to believe that she made an impassioned case to punish Ms. Thomas with an award suspension and, only a few short months later, was maintaining neutrality for "the good of the Society." SPJ members deserve a detailed account of what Ms. Limor told executive committee members -- several of whom sit on the current national board -- that day. Ms. Limor also needs to explain the phone calls she made in late 2010 and early 2011 to some national board members, urging them to vote a certain way regarding the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award. 

SPJ's leaders need to show all of this organization's members just where the calls of complaints regarding the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award were coming from. Because of how poorly our current leaders made this decision and have explained it, they should prepare to make public to us logs demonstrating that, indeed, a vast majority of protests were coming from actual SPJ members. I strongly suspect that never was the case -- especially because several SPJ chapters are speaking up in protest because they weren't even aware that the board was going to tackle this decision in the first place. No, the calls and complaints were coming from groups outside SPJ -- and this Society's current leaders, under the direction of Ms. Limor, bowed to them. 

The voices of American Arab journalists -- and really anyone reacting in support of Helen Thomas -- were cast aside and practically ignored. When American Arab journalists, including me, wrote letters to SPJ, they weren't published -- or, once again, even acknowledged. However, views expressed by the Anti-Defamation League -- which isn't even a journalism group -- received high prominence in Quill magazine. Even worse is that it wasn't until AFTER the Helen Thomas decision was made that Quill Online acknowledged American Arabs' protests. This alone reflects very, very shamefully on SPJ. It gets more interesting: Ms. Limor has made herself available to news organizations and journalists who supported punitive measures against Ms. Thomas. However, Ms. Limor can't say that she has granted nearly as many, if any, interviews with journalists who took the opposite view. 

What's with not responding to members' correspondence? SPJ's current leaders and staff need to get a sense of decency and professional courtesy. They need to respond to every member who writes them. That certainly hasn't been the case throughout this controversy -- at least not if you've been a member who has expressed support for leaving the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award alone. 

What's with the highly insulting e-mail -- and what do members need to do show their leaders that this kind of correspondence is inexcusable? I have been personally attacked in e-mail sent by Ms. Limor and Mr. Smith, and I'll be glad to provide my copies of that correspondence she made to a US media ethics news website.

Just this week, yet another example of this bad behavior emerged when Kevin Smith launched a vicious assault against Christine Tatum, a former SPJ national president. Mr. Smith sent his screed to the full national board and to the director of the Spring Media College Conference after learning that Ms. Tatum will interview Ms. Thomas at that event. Read the e-mail for yourself, and tell me that his tirade was professional or in any way called for. In that message, Mr. Smith accused Ms. Tatum of launching a "campaign" to defend Helen Thomas. Wow! And then he complained that he -- or someone else from the national board -- should be given the right to respond and challenge Ms. Tatum and speak directly to Ms. Thomas herself. That leads me to this ... 

SPJ's national leaders should be ashamed of their communications with Helen Thomas. Go ahead and ask, and you will find that no one from SPJ ever invited Ms. Thomas to issue a statement, explain herself, meet with leaders, defend her actions, etc., before making this decision. That is disgraceful. (And NOW Mr. Smith is demanding an opportunity to speak with Ms. Thomas.) Perhaps even worse is that Helen Thomas learned from news reporters at Jewish news agencies about SPJ's actions (as I did also) before she ever heard from SPJ representatives. An SPJ representative spoke with Ms. Thomas roughly two days after the executive committee meeting -- but by then, she had already heard from reporters and was so disgusted that she hung up on our rep. Then, after the national board's decision, no one from SPJ contacted Ms. Thomas at all. It is shameful that our president, if she didn't want to ask anyone else to do the honors, did not in her touted "state of neutrality" think to handle them herself. This, too, is outrageous misconduct and poor leadership. 

It is disgraceful that Ms. Limor and Mr. Smith have conducted the business of the Society of Professional Journalists in such a shabby, unprofessional and possibly discriminatory manner. Take a look over time, and you'll see an alarming lack of respect for views that differ from their own -- especially if those views come from people who happen to be American Arab. 

I contend that Ms. Limor and Mr. Smith have violated specific mandates of SPJ's mission:

— To promote this flow of information. FAILED
— To maintain constant vigilance in protection of the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and of the press. FAILED
— To stimulate high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism. FAILED
— To foster excellence among journalists. FAILED
— To inspire successive generations of talented individuals to become dedicated journalists. FAILED
— To encourage diversity in journalism. FAILED AND FAILED
— To be the pre-eminent, broad-based membership organization for journalists. FAILED (Lacking diversity)
— To encourage a climate in which journalism can be practiced freely. FAILED

I will refrain from demanding Mr. Smith and Ms. Limor's resignations from the national board -- but in light of all of this, I can't say I find such calls entirely unreasonable. What I do want to see is an accurate account of what has really happened here in the last several months. Executive Director Joe Skeel's blog post is missing far too many important details and the true story MUST be told. That’s what we are mandated to do as journalists. Tell the whole story. Be fair and represent ALL sides. Be Honest. Those objectives have not been done in this case. 

I welcome hearing from you.  

Sincerely, 

Ray Hanania

PS … I have copied the members of the Chicago Headline Club and I URGE all of you to please pass along this letter to your chapter leadership so that we have a full and open discussion on this important matter.

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Al Jazeera English Nominated as News Channel of the Year

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Al Jazeera English Nominated as News Channel of the Year


Doha, Qatar, 8 February, 2011 - The Royal Television Society (RTS), the United Kingdom’s leading forum for television, has nominated Al Jazeera English for its News Channel of the Year award.

AJE will be up against the BBC and Sky’s news channels at the ceremony which will be held on 23 February 2011 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

It’s the second year running that the channel has been shortlisted. The nomination is for 2009/10 so comes before the recent acclaim for Al Jazeera's Tunisia and Egypt coverage.

Al Anstey, Managing Director of Al Jazeera English said:

“We are delighted to be nominated for such a prestigious award in the UK.  This is a testament to the dedication of all of our staff, as well as AJE’s commitment to the highest quality journalism, story-telling, and coverage of global news.” 

[ENDS]




About Al Jazeera English
Al Jazeera English is the first English language world news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East. Launched in November 2006, Al Jazeera English seeks to present every side and every angle to its stories and act as a bridge between cultures. With unique access, making it the channel of reference for Middle East events, and 65 bureaus strategically placed around the world, Al Jazeera English provides independent and impartial news for a global audience, giving voice to different perspectives from under-reported regions around the world.
Al Jazeera English is available in more than 100 countries to more than 220 million households worldwide.  The channel was awarded “Best 24 Hour News Programme” at the 48th and 50th Annual Monte Carlo Television Festival and has received awards from the Royal Television Society, Amnesty International and YouTube. The channel has also received a total of six International Emmy nominations in the News, Documentary and Current Affairs categories. 
Al Jazeera started out more than fourteen years ago as the first independent Arabic news channel in the world dedicated to providing comprehensive television news and live debate for the Arab world. Al Jazeera was formally named the Al Jazeera Network in March 2006, transforming its operation into an international media corporation – the Al Jazeera Network now consists of the flagship Al Jazeera Arabic channel, Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Documentary, Al Jazeera Sport, Al Jazeera.net (the English and Arabic web sites), the Al Jazeera Media Training and Development Center, the Al Jazeera Center for Studies, Al Jazeera Mubasher (Live), and Al Jazeera Mobile.
Visit www.aljazeera.net/english for more details.
For any press queries please send an e-mail to press.int@aljazeera.net

Sunday, February 06, 2011

Al Jazeera Demand Release of Egypt Correspondent

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Al Jazeera Demand Release of Egypt Correspondent

Doha, Qatar, 6 February 2011 - The Emmy nominated Al Jazeera English correspondent Ayman Mohyeldin has been detained by the Egyptian military. Al Jazeera are calling for his immediate release.

He was taken near Tahrir Square. Mohyeldin was Al Jazeera English’s correspondent in Cairo even before the uprisings.

An Al Jazeera spokesman said:

“We want him released immediately. Interference in the work of journalists should cease.”

[ENDS]

One Year Ago: US Congress seeks to censor Arab media critical of Israel

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The US. Congress in January 2010 adopted a resolution to punish any American Media outlet that broadcasts an Arab World media source that is critical of "the United States and Israel."

Click to read the story.

-- Ray Hanania

Friday, February 04, 2011

Al Jazeera investigate website hacking

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Al Jazeera investigate website hacking

The Al Jazeera Arabic news website was hacked into today, apparently by opponents of the pro-democracy movement in Egypt.

For two hours this morning (from 6:30am – 8:30am Doha time), a banner advertisement was taken over and replaced with a slogan of “Together for the collapse of Egypt” which linked to a page criticizing Al Jazeera. 

A spokesman for Al Jazeera said that their engineers moved quickly to solve the problem:

“Our website has been under relentless attack since the onset of the uprisings in Egypt. We are currently investigating what happened today. While the deliberate attacks this morning were an attempt to discredit us we will continue our impartial and comprehensive coverage of these unprecedented events.

“As with all the other obstacles that have been put in our path, whether that be the detention of journalists, confiscation of equipment, or having our broadcast signal interfered with, we will continue doing our job of reporting on events in Egypt.”

[ENDS]

AlJazeera offices in Egypt stormed by pro-Mubarak thugs and killers

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Al Jazeera office stormed in Cairo

The Al Jazeera Network have reported that their office in Cairo has been stormed by “gangs of thugs”.  The office has been burned along with the equipment inside it.

It appears to be the latest attempt by the Egyptian regime or its supporters to hinder Al Jazeera’s coverage of events in the country.

In the last week its bureau was forcibly closed, all its journalists had press credentials revoked, and nine journalists were detained at various stages. Al Jazeera has also faced unprecedented levels of interference in its broadcast signal as well as persistent and repeated attempts to bring down its websites.

A spokesman for Al Jazeera said:

“We are grateful for the support we have received from across the world for our coverage in Egypt and can assure everyone that we will continue our work undeterred.”

[ENDS]

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Al Jazeera Network demands immediate release of journalists

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Al Jazeera Network demands immediate release of journalists

Three Al Jazeera journalists have been detained by security forces in Egypt. One more is reported missing.

A spokesman for the Network said:

“All three of our staff should be immediately released. We are concerned for their safety and welfare.  We are taking every measure as a priority to obtain their release.”

Al Jazeera also had six journalists detained by Egyptian authorities in the past week, with equipment stolen and destroyed. It has also faced unprecedented levels interference in its broadcast signal across the Arab world.

Al Jazeera’s coverage of the Egyptian uprisings has won plaudits from around the world, with its journalists reporting from the heart of the events.

[ENDS]

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Unprecedented Interference in Al Jazeera’s Broadcast Signal Across the Arab World

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Unprecedented Interference in Al Jazeera’s Broadcast
Signal Across the Arab World

Doha, Qatar, 1 February 2011 - Al Jazeera has stated that their broadcast signal across the Arab region is facing interference on a scale they have not experienced before.

Signals on the Nilesat platform were cut, and frequencies on the Arabsat and Hotbird platforms were disrupted continually forcing millions of viewers across the Arab world to change satellite frequencies throughout the day.

Al Jazeera has been widely praised for their coverage from Egypt and Tunisia despite obstacles put in their path by those governments. Not only have their images and reporting been enthusiastically received by people in the Middle East, but there has been a massive surge in interest in Al Jazeera’s coverage from across the world.

Over the past week the Network has faced multiple attempts to disrupt their coverage from Egypt, with signals being interfered with on a continual basis, and journalists being banned and detained.  The latest disruption has come on the day of the historic ‘million man march’ in Cairo.

A spokesman for Al Jazeera said:

“We have been working round the clock to make sure we are broadcasting on alternative frequencies. Clearly there are powers that do not want our important images pushing for democracy and reform to be seen by the public.

“We appreciate the extraordinary support from the ten channels across the region who interrupted their own programming to live-broadcast our signal to their audiences.”

[ENDS]

 About Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera started out more than fourteen years ago as the first independent Arabic news channel in the world dedicated to providing comprehensive television news and live debate for the Arab world. Al Jazeera was formally named the Al Jazeera Network in March 2006, transforming its operation into an international media corporation.  The Al Jazeera Network now consists of the flagship Al Jazeera Satellite (Arabic) channel, Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Documentary, Al Jazeera Sport, Al Jazeera.net (the English and Arabic web sites), the Al Jazeera Media Training and Development Center, the Al Jazeera Center for Studies, Al Jazeera Mubasher (Live), and Al Jazeera Mobile.
For any press queries please send an e-mail to imr@aljazeera.net