Ultra-Orthodox Women Demand Fair Media Representation
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox women have written to Israeli news editors demanding an end to male-only interviews when reporting on their community. The letter highlights that women are integral to Haredi society and have distinct opinions on key issues, yet are consistently excluded from media coverage. Citing specific examples of news reports, the women argue this practice distorts public perception and perpetuates exclusion. They propose a database of willing female interviewees to ensure more representative reporting.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox women are demanding fair media representation, protesting male-only interviews on their community.
- A letter argues that reporting on the Haredi public through only men provides a distorted and incomplete picture.
- Women are active participants in Haredi society with opinions on politics, employment, and cost of living.
- Recent news reports on Channel 12 and Channel 13 are cited as examples of this exclusionary media practice.
- The women propose a database of Haredi women willing to be interviewed to improve media inclusivity.
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox women have penned a sharp letter to Israeli news editors, demanding an end to the practice of exclusively interviewing men when reporting on their community. The letter, titled "It Is Impossible to Cover the Haredi Society Through Men Only and Call It a Picture of the Haredi Public," argues that this approach distorts the public's understanding of the ultra-Orthodox community.
Women are a significant part of the ultra-Orthodox population, participating in elections, working, raising families, and engaging with educational, health, and welfare systems. They possess clear opinions on politics, employment, conscription, housing, and the cost of living. Despite this, the letter states, media outlets consistently turn to the same male rabbis, activists, commentators, and media figures when seeking to understand the Haredi perspective, effectively excluding women from the narrative.
The letter cites two recent examples: a Channel 12 news report on the political situation and frustration within the Haredi street, which allegedly featured only men, and a Channel 13 discussion program with Ravid Drucker and Michael Shemesh that included Haredi speakers but no women. The signatories emphasize that these instances are representative of a broader, recurring phenomenon across various media platforms.
The women criticize Israeli media for perpetuating the same exclusionary patterns found within the public sphere of the ultra-Orthodox community, even when the reporting directly concerns women's lives. They acknowledge that it may be easier to reach familiar male interviewees but stress that convenience should not lead to the erasure of half the population.
To address this issue, the women propose creating a database of dozens of ultra-Orthodox women from diverse backgrounds and fields who are willing to be interviewed. This initiative, spearheaded by Efrat Shukron and Feini Suknik, aims to counter the excuse that suitable female interviewees are difficult to find. They urge newsrooms to ask not only "who can we reach now?" but also "who is missing?" to ensure more accurate and inclusive reporting.