Live-Streaming Activists Redefined Protest Coverage in Israel

During the 2020 Balfour Street protests against the Netanyahu government in Jerusalem, a significant portion of the activism occurred online through live streams on platforms like Facebook. Activists used their phones to broadcast events in real-time, offering viewers shaky camera work, spontaneous interviews, and direct footage of confrontations with police. These streams, some drawing hundreds of thousands of viewers, created a community of independent broadcasters who documented, disseminated information, and sometimes intervened in events.

A new study by Idan Ring from Ben-Gurion University, published in "Media Frames," coins the term "activist-broadcaster" for these individuals who simultaneously participate in, document, interpret, and speak for a protest. The research, based on interviews and analysis of live streams, suggests these broadcasts not only recorded the protests but also shaped their perception and management.

Unlike traditional reporters, these activist-broadcasters operated from within the crowds, moving with protesters, approaching police lines, and following arrests. They went beyond mere documentation, with some collecting details from arrested individuals to help connect them with legal aid or family, and others directly confronting police while broadcasting, reminding officers of the live audience. This presence altered power dynamics, with the phone camera serving as a real-time oversight tool for viewers and a deterrent for law enforcement.

The live streams also fostered a sense of community for those unable to attend in person, described by one broadcaster as "the tribal campfire of the worried democrats." Viewers engaged actively, influencing the broadcasters' focus and encouraging them to cover key events. This created a hybrid community blurring the lines between the street and the screen, transforming passive news consumers into active participants in constructing the protest's narrative.

While not claiming objectivity in the traditional sense, these broadcasters emphasized transparency and their direct, continuous presence as sources of credibility. They presented their streams as an unfiltered "window" into events, a perspective acknowledged even by some established journalists who used the footage as a source. However, the study also points out the inherent editorial choices in live streaming, such as focusing on confrontations over quieter aspects of the protest, which could amplify drama and conflict, potentially at the expense of other elements. This phenomenon, where emotional content and urgency drive viewership, reflects broader trends on social media platforms.