Israeli Election Coverage Lacks Excitement Despite High Stakes
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Israeli election coverage is surprisingly dull on television, despite the elections being called potentially the most consequential in the country's history. Television critic Einav Schiff attributes this to the mainstream media's struggle against digital platforms and a growing polarization of news channels. This "ghettoization" of coverage creates a "media wall" between political blocs, leading to a lack of engaging content.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli election coverage is surprisingly dull on television, despite high stakes.
- Einav Schiff, a television critic, noted a disconnect between election importance and media coverage.
- Mainstream media struggles against digital platforms, contributing to the lack of engagement.
- The emergence of Channel 14 and declining ratings have led to fragmented coverage.
- Polarization creates a "media wall" between political blocs, making coverage boring.
Despite being labeled as potentially the most consequential elections in Israel's history, the current election campaign is surprisingly dull on television, according to Einav Schiff, television critic for Yedioth Ahronoth and ynet. Schiff noted a significant disconnect between the perceived gravity of the elections and the unmemorable media coverage, making it difficult to identify consensus-building, unforgettable moments.
Schiff attributes this lack of engagement partly to the mainstream media's struggle against digital platforms. He pointed to the 2015 and 2019 elections as turning points where both political sides actively engaged across most traditional media. However, he recalled that in 2015, then-candidate Netanyahu actively sought out interviews on major channels like Channel 12 and 13, regardless of their perceived political leanings.
The emergence of Channel 14 and declining ratings for major TV channels among certain demographics have led to a fragmented media landscape. Schiff described this as a "ghettoization" of election coverage, where supporters of certain politicians, like Avigdor Lieberman or Naftali Bennett, are primarily exposed to their viewpoints, while the Likud party appears predominantly on Channel 14. This polarization, he likened to the CNN and Fox News dynamic, creates a "media wall" between political blocs, contributing to the overall sense of boredom despite the elections' importance.
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