Newsletter

I'lam, Media Center for Arab

Palestinians in Israel
April 2004
Issue 1

Achievements 2003…4 From the Director

Media does not have the power to engender
Upcoming Events….4 justice or reconciliation, but it can cultivate just
values and convictions through its messages.
Announcements…... 4 So it is crucial to formulate and approach these
messages with great caution.
Board/Staff………. 4 This is a complicated endeavor, because there
are no clear professional standards or
consensus on basic professional training. There
are no professional restrictions about entering
the profession and no fixed criteria to analyze
its products. What makes the field even more
complicated is that there is no consensus
between societies about the norms and the
In this ethics of the profession, even amongst
journalists in specific societies there is no
Issue…. agreement. And to make this more
complicated, the role of media, which is also
determined within local political, social and
cultural contexts, has a significant impact in
From the
the international realm.
Director…1
So how could we mediate between global role
and local interests; between regional disputes
About I’lam…… and local discourses?
….. 1 It seems that old answers are still valid for new
questions. The old and classical obligations of
New Funding…… the media are still adequate to answer current
…2 and modern challenges: to create an informed
citizenry, and to identify and alert the public to
Position Paper… the misuse of power. Through these obligations
….. 2 -universal, classical and still very current ones-
media can reconcile local interests and
Journalist universal values: justice, freedom, and human
Training….2 rights.
By informed citizenry we mean citizens
Co-Financing…… knowledgeable also about others’ reality. By
…3 abuse of power we mean also those sorts of
power, which are exerted by our own regimes
Media upon others.
Graduates……3 By believing in these obligations we must then
stick to professional norms and ethics that
Journalist Forum… allow and advance the practical
…3 implementation of such obligations. I’lam thus
believes that the norms of the profession are
1

P.O. BOX 101, 16000 NAZARETH

TEL. ++972-4-6001370, FAX. ++972-4-6001418, E-MAIL: ILAMCENTER@YAHOO.COM, WWW.ILAMCENTER.ORG
Newsletter
I'lam, Media Center for Arab
Palestinians in Israel
an outcome of the About I’LAM… I’LAM has two major programs:
function and the I’LAM, Media Center for Arab The “Empowerment Program” aims to
role of the media Palestinians in Israel is a unique civil strengthen the commitment of Arab media
and not the society initiative dedicated to analyze institutions to democratic values and to
opposite. We and strengthen the relationship increase the capacity and the professionalism
oppose dogmatic between media and democracy in of Arab journalists, media practitioners, and
adherence to Israel. We reach this by empowering media institutions. An important goal of this
certain definitions the Arab media landscape and by program is to encourage and support Arab
of professional democratizing Israeli media policies journalists in their attempt to organize
norms. Definitions and practices, influencing Israeli themselves. In addition, I’LAM offers media
should not be media institutions to adopt more training and workshops to different target
taken for granted. professional and unbiased standards groups such as Arab journalists, media
After all, the in their coverage of Arab citizens of teachers and students, Arab NGOs and local
impact of Israel. municipalities, civil society actors, and
professional community members. Our Production Center
norms is part of With its commitment to media
democracy, expertise, offers a unique opportunity to the Arab society
the ethical and in Israel to build its skills and to acquire
social professionalism, and high level of
staff motivation, I’LAM plays a role in practical experience with audiovisual
responsibility of equipment.
the media. invigorating civil society and
promoting democracy and human The “Media Rights Program” focuses on
-
rights within the Arab society in Israeli media coverage, laws and regulations
Haneen Zoubi,
Israel, the Israeli society, and the conducting media monitoring, analysis and
General Director
Israeli political system through its advancing recommendations to democratize
media institutions. the media landscape and media policies in
I’LAM was founded in 2000 by a Israel, to reach fair allocation of resources, and
group of Arab journalists, and to increase the participation of Arab
academics. The events of October professionals, media people, and scholars in
2000 shaped the early work of the decision making agencies. In addition, we
organization, as it sought to encourage the Israeli media to move beyond
document the massive violence used echoing the government’s standpoint and to
against Arab demonstrators and the improve the quality of the Israeli media
role of the media in this period. The coverage. Together with other media
tragic outcome: Thirteen citizens organizations and journalists from the Hebrew
were killed and hundreds injured. The media, I’LAM aims to bring about a sustainable
Israeli media for its part legitimized, and holistic improvement of the Israeli media
to a large extent, such use of system.
violence.
“Responsible and Professional information and knowledge about
I'lam's Media Project Accepted Under Media” program which aims to human rights and to empower
EU Human Rights Program develop local Arab media, the Arab society in its
enhance the quality and relationship with the media. The
The I’LAM Media Center was coverage of human rights, and project adopts a holistic
recently awarded funding from bring attention to the condition of approach, addressing the issue of
the European Initiative for the Arab minority in Israel. responsible media at the local,
Democracy and Human Rights. Moreover, the project aims to national and political levels.
The funds will support I’lam's new improve the dissemination of Activities include:
2

P.O. BOX 101, 16000 NAZARETH

TEL. ++972-4-6001370, FAX. ++972-4-6001418, E-MAIL: ILAMCENTER@YAHOO.COM, WWW.ILAMCENTER.ORG
Newsletter
I'lam, Media Center for Arab
Palestinians in Israel
 Media Monitoring and Media
Surveys
 A Forum of Journalists
 Intensive Training for Arab
Palestinian Journalists
 Codes of Ethics and Best
Practices
 Legal Media Advice
I'LAM's Responsible and
Professional Media project was
accepted under a worldwide call
for proposals under the theme of
'Support for Democratisation,
Good Governance and the Rule of
Law." Of a total of 580 proposals
that were received, I'LAM's was
selected as one of the 50
organizations to receive funds.
The EIDHR grant will be activated
on May 3, 2004, World Press
Freedom Day. This is significant
for both I’LAM and its funders, as
this date is recognized,
worldwide, as an occasion to
publicize violations of freedom
expression and the importance of
a free press.
TEL. ++972-4-6001370, FAX. ++972-4-6001418, E-MAIL: ILAMCENTER@YAHOO.COM,
the poverty line, and 100% of the
I’lam Position Paper Released Arabs in Israeli are ranked within
Democratic Reforms Demanded the lowest socio-economic index,
the economic capabilities of the
Arab society in Israel prevent
The media, as the most powerful
“ideological political and cultural” their investment in diverse media
influence on Israeli public outlets such as the planned
opinion, occupies a critical post in Arabic commercial channel.
the democratic landscape. In its unilateral policy and
The main role of the public media practice, the International
in Israel, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has
Broadcasting Law is to represent marginalized the Arab citizens of
the Jewish society, to reinforce Israel – who constitute over 18%
the Jewish culture, and to of the population.
establish a bond between Jews
living in Israel and those living in
the Diaspora. Israeli Broadcast
Laws blatantly ignore Arab
citizens of Israel, their culture and
identity, and neglect the
essential commitments and role
of the media as promoter of
democracy, civil society, and
pluralism.
Israeli media in general, including
the public service media,
disregards the Arab citizens of
Israel as an audience. Moreover,
they fail to recognize Arab
citizens as belonging to Israeli
civil society. Thus, only a small
fraction of public radio and
television’s programming is
intended for the Arab citizens of
Israel, and even a lower
percentage of the programs treat
issues of importance to the Arab
society. Furthermore, Arabs
comprise approx. 1% of the total
number of people working within
the Israeli media and are almost
non-existent in either media or
media-related high-ranking
administrative positions.
Owing to the fact that 50% of the
Arab public in Israel lives below
3
P.O. BOX 101, 16000 NAZARETH
WWW.ILAMCENTER.ORG
Newsletter
I'lam, Media Center for Arab
Palestinians in Israel
 To establish a public Arabic
The Israeli press’ exclusion of the channel
Arabs and its unbalanced  To include Arab experts and
practices stand in violation to professionals at all levels of
both national and international media, including decision-
legal obligations. Israel is, for making positions
example, a party to the To date, no response has been
International Covenant on Civil received either from the IBA or
and Political Rights (ICCPR) which the Dinur Commission. However,
requires the country to protect a number of media researchers
freedom of speech. and Knesset Members did
In 2003, the Dinur Commission respond positively forwarding
was created to formulate and their support. If you would like to
provide reform suggestions to the support this position paper,
Israeli Broadcast Authority. contact the I'LAM Center at
ilamcenter@yahoo.com.
To aid this Commission in its
efforts to guide democratic
reform, the I’LAM Center, outlined
its most immediate concerns and
recommendations regarding the
state of Israeli Broadcast
Authority reform. In February of
2004, the I’lam Position Paper
was sent to the Dinur
Commission, the IBA and a
number of influential media
figures.
In this paper I’LAM affirms its
position that, in order to ensure
the role of the media in the
advancement of democracy, the
Israeli Broadcast Authority must
initiate and promote efforts
towards a more pluralistic,
transparent and balanced media
system. Among the
recommendations were the
following:
 To implement a proportional
professional quota in the
Israeli Broadcast Authority
 To consider the Arabs in Israel
as a target audience of public
service programming

P.O. BOX 101, 16000 NAZARETH

TEL. ++972-4-6001370, FAX. ++972-4-6001418, E-MAIL: ILAMCENTER@YAHOO.COM, WWW.ILAMCENTER.ORG
Newsletter
I'lam, Media Center for Arab
Palestinians in Israel
Training Opportunities at I'LAM
In its ongoing effort to build the
skills and capabilities of the Arab
society in Israel, the I’LAM Center
has piloted several recent
training programs. From
September to December 2003,
we hosted a series of media
training workshops for local civil
society representatives. The
workshops consisted of seven 4 –
6 hour session and two full day
sessions led by professionals
such as Linda Lovitch from Linda
Lovitch Communications, and
Robert Bray from the SPIN Project
in California.
In late 2003, I’lam offered the
first “Premiere Training Course”.
This course, created in response
to requests from local media
teachers, is led by media
professionals and provides hands
on training in Adobe Premiere,
and other state-of-the-art video
editing software.
I'LAM also provides media
training for students from the
local Nazareth High School. The
courses, which overview
the fundamentals of research,
filming and editing, provide these
students with the basic skills to
produce a documentary film. The
training, now in its second month,
brings the students to the I’LAM
Center, once a week for three
hours. Safa Adawi, a freelance
journalist with the I’LAM Center
has guided the students as they
work to prepare two documentary
films.
TEL. ++972-4-6001370, FAX. ++972-4-6001418, E-MAIL: ILAMCENTER@YAHOO.COM,
Intensive Training for Local Arab
Journalists at I’LAM
I’LAM is pleased to announce the
Intensive Training Program for
Arab Journalists, which will be
launched shortly. This program,
funded by the EU Initiative for
Human Rights and Democracy,
will provide 10-15 Arab journalists
in Israel with intensive training in
written journalism, human rights
and investigative reporting. The
9 month long program will
include theoretical courses in
Arab-Palestinian History, Human
Rights and Gender Studies, as
well as practical courses in such
areas as Journalistic Technique
and Investigative Journalism.
The participants will participate in
a one-month internship with a
major Arabic-language
newspaper in Europe. This
internship is designed to allow
Arab journalists first-hand
knowledge of a large and very
professional media institution.
There, the participants will be
exposed to critical processes
such as decision making and
policy implementation. Arab
journalists participating in this
intensive training will be
expected to actively participate
in reporting and submit, at the
conclusion of the internship, a
report to I’LAM.
Development and Empowerment:
I'LAM Trains Local Organizations
The Development and
Empowerment Project, supported
5
P.O. BOX 101, 16000 NAZARETH
by the Heinrich Boell Foundation
and the European Commission,
allows I'LAM to provide media
training for local partners. These
local organizations participate in
the process of researching,
filming and producing a
documentary.
In early 2003, I’LAM began work
with the first of its’ co-financing
project partners, the Laqiya
Women Association in the Negev.
Hanna Shamas, a practical
trainer with I’LAM, worked
directly with the women of
Laqiya, providing 100 hours of
practical training. Forty hours of
theoretical training were provided
by experts from the fields of
media, human and minority
rights, and artistic expression
among others.
This training included sessions on
the basics of shooting and editing
as well as the artistic
requirements of film and the use
of music. At the completion of
the training, the Laqiya Women
Association produced a 12 minute
profile film on the organizations
activities. This film was taken to
Germany for screening in
November 2003.
I'LAM has planned, according to
the original proposal, the training
of 3 additional organizations to
be completed by January 2006.
Forum of Graduates
The Forum of Graduate Students
of Communications, launched in
October 2003, offers Arab
students of journalism a valuable
venue to share their experiences,
resources and training and
WWW.ILAMCENTER.ORG
Newsletter
I'lam, Media Center for Arab
Palestinians in Israel
creates an opportunity for dissemination of accurate
professional journalists to reach information about Arab citizens in
out to students. Israel.
In past sessions, professionals Furthermore, the forum turned to
such as Jalal Bana, editor at Radio address a number of major
Shams, and Marwan Athamla, concerns to the media
reporter for Channel 2 shared community. Foremost among
their experiences with the these issues was the flight of
students. Arab viewers to foreign media.
In the most recent session,
attended by nearly 30 students,
journalist Toli Shergi lectured on
the fundamentals of investigative
reporting. The students are
currently completing reports on
such topics as “Arab employment
in Private Israeli Companies”,
“The Arab ‘Brain Drain’ from
Israel”, and “The Motivations of
Arab Volunteers within the Israeli
Police Force.”
In future sessions, the Forum of
Graduates has planned the
creation of a newspaper to be
guided by journalist and I'LAM
Board Member, Wadea Awawdy.

Forum of Journalists

The first Forum of Journalists

convened on March 12, 2004. In
this meeting, 36 Arab journalists
gathered to discuss the I’LAM
Center’s proposal for a
permanent Forum and the
potential role of the forum.
The participants enumerated a
number of central aims for the
forum: to develop professional
training programs, to formulate
position papers about media
ethics, to develop networks with
Arab and foreign journalists, to
develop critical dialogue and
cooperation with Jewish
journalists, and to promote the
6

P.O. BOX 101, 16000 NAZARETH

TEL. ++972-4-6001370, FAX. ++972-4-6001418, E-MAIL: ILAMCENTER@YAHOO.COM, WWW.ILAMCENTER.ORG
Newsletter
I'lam, Media Center for Arab
Palestinians in Israel
Recent Achievements than 40 hours intensive training designed to
develop media capabilities to civil society
At this point, I’LAM would like to take the representatives and community members. In
opportunity to highlight some of the addition, I’LAM offered a series of courses aimed
organizations’ accomplishments of the past year. at improving the media capacities of media
In 2003, the organization realized significant teachers and students, civil society actors, and
developments in the fields of empowerment and community members in the usage of audiovisual
media rights, outreach and networking, equipment.
organizational structure and funding. Through our I’LAM is grateful for the support of its funders,
training and media consultation activities, I’LAM including the Swiss Federal Department of
reached around 200 beneficiaries. In terms of Foreign Affairs, Heinrich Boell Foundation, the
outreach, we reached more than 400 Open Society Institute, and the New Israel Fund,
beneficiaries through our different activities and without which such success would not have been
dissemination of information. In funding, I’LAM realized.
welcomed, for the first time, the support of Open
Society Institute which has granted the Center
$50,000 for one year. I’LAM was also pleased to
receive increased support from the Swiss
Embassy (from $30,000 to $40,000) to support
our Advocacy programming.
In addition to this expanded support, I’LAM
participated at four international media activities,
among others the World Summit on the
Information Society in Geneva, and International
Seminar on “The Role of the Media in Peace
Building”, organized by the European Center for
Conflict Prevention in Amsterdam. Furthermore,
I’LAM was able to strengthen cooperation with
new and existing partners. Equally as important,
I'LAM has cultivated direct relationships with 40
Arab journalists as well as a number of Arab
media teachers, Israeli media researchers and
Israeli media decision makers. Moreover, the
organization has established an international
network in which I'LAM enjoys a direct
partnership with more than 25 leading NGOs.
In advocacy, I’LAM concentrated its energies on a
number of critical issues such as the proposed
establishment of a Commercial Channel in Arabic.
On May 5, 2003, I’lam conducted a very
successful roundtable. Twenty eight media people
attended to this event, among them professors,
media teachers, and journalists
The Center has been equally succesful in its
empowerment programming. I’lam provided more
7

P.O. BOX 101, 16000 NAZARETH

TEL. ++972-4-6001370, FAX. ++972-4-6001418, E-MAIL: ILAMCENTER@YAHOO.COM, WWW.ILAMCENTER.ORG
Newsletter
I'lam, Media Center for Arab
Palestinians in Israel
Announcements Safa Adawi, Freelancer
Yathreb Zoubi, Media Monitoring Staff
Nayera Nqula, Media Monitoring Staff
We moved! In September of 2003 the I’LAM
Rana Fahoum, Media Monitoring Staff
office moved from its original location on Dr. Amal Jamal, Researcher
Habankem Street in Haifa to its new office in Jennifer Scott, Research and Development
Nazareth. The new location has allowed I’LAM
unprecedented access to the Arab Palestinian
media. Nazareth, home to the largest Arab
population in Israel, has offered the organization
increased access to more Arab schools,
journalists, and facilities. The new address is:
Road 720 (16014), House No. 4, POB 101,
Nazareth 16000

Upcoming Events

1. Forum of Journalists
Date: April 24, 2004
Location: I’LAM Center

2. Day Tour for Editors and Journalists

Date: April 30, 2004
Location: Tour will convene at the I’LAM Center

3. Responsible and Professional Media Project -

Reception
Date: May 3, 2004
Location: I’LAM Center

BOARD

Wadea Awawdy, Journalist

Rana Balan, Media Teacher
Marzouk Halabi, Group Facilitator/Media Expert
Mustafa Kabaha, Ph.D., Media Lecturer, Aemez
Israel
Anton Shalhat, Journalist and Editor

STAFF

Haneen Zoubi, General Director

Heidi Paredes, Development Director
Kholod Mashalha, Empowerment Program
Coordinator
Nadim Natour, Production Center Coordinator
Hanna Shames, Pratical Trainer

P.O. BOX 101, 16000 NAZARETH

TEL. ++972-4-6001370, FAX. ++972-4-6001418, E-MAIL: ILAMCENTER@YAHOO.COM, WWW.ILAMCENTER.ORG