Israeli Media Biased and Hostile, Channel 12 Commentator Claims

Amit Segal, a prominent news commentator for Israel's Channel 12, has sharply criticized the Israeli media landscape, describing it as largely biased and hostile towards one political camp. Speaking at a Channel 7 conference, Segal addressed the rise of Channel 14, the future of journalism in the social media era, and the media's historical treatment of the national camp.

Segal clarified that his critique was not necessarily aimed at specific journalists within Channel 12, mentioning colleagues Yaron Avraham and Nir Dvori as not exhibiting malicious intent. However, he maintained that the broader media picture remains problematic. He illustrated this with a running joke about himself and a security guard being the only ones in his building who haven't won a media award, quipping that the guard still has a chance.

Discussing Channel 14's emergence, Segal likened it to a potential aggressive correction to long-standing political bias in established media. He recalled warning IDF radio (Galei Tzahal) commanders years ago that failure to address their broadcast's "25-degree bias" would lead to a more violent correction. He suggested that the lack of proactive change in stations like Galei Tzahal paved the way for more assertive voices, such as Yaakov Bardugo, whose program became unexpectedly popular and controversial.

Segal cautioned those aligned with Channel 14 and the right-wing camp against abandoning professional journalistic principles in their anger towards the mainstream media. He warned against discarding practices like seeking responses or presenting multiple sides, simply because they are associated with the old establishment, emphasizing the power of professional journalism and advising not to "throw the baby out with the bathwater."

Addressing the relevance of traditional media in the age of smartphones and instant information dissemination via platforms like Telegram, Segal conceded that journalism has lost its edge in initial reporting. He stated that the era of reporters racing to be first at a scene is over, as millions of citizen-photographers now capture events. However, he argued that professional journalism remains vital for providing meaning through expert interpretation and in-depth investigations, comparing its strength to a marathon rather than a sprint. He cited journalist Ilan Dayan's work in transforming a hostage interview into a significant public event through thorough research and editing.

Segal also dismissed nostalgia for a past era of clearer separation between news reporting and opinion, recalling the limited coverage of massive protests against the Oslo Accords and the disengagement from Gaza. He noted that during the disengagement, mainstream media failed to adequately represent opposing viewpoints, citing a sign at Gush Katif reading "Terror Won" as an example of a sentiment not expressed in major outlets.

Finally, Segal stated he would interview any public figure, expressing a desire to interview Balad Chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh and noting his own role in bringing attention to the petition to disqualify Abu Shehadeh's candidacy.