(LOS ANGELES, CA – 11/30/2023) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned the Los Angeles Times’ decision to prohibit more than three dozen journalists from covering Israel’s ongoing violence in Gaza.
SEE: LA Times blocks reporters who signed open letter criticizing Israel from covering Gaza
Nearly 40 LA Times journalists signed an open letter condemning Israel’s indiscriminate bombing and media blockade in Gaza. The letter, which was signed by hundreds of journalists worldwide, demands that Israel end the violence against journalists and lift its widescale suppression of speech. It also called for accountability from Western newsrooms that have largely issued biased reporting and fueled dehumanizing, Islamophobic, and racist rhetoric.
As of Nov. 28, Israel’s military has killed at least 57 journalists and detained 44 more, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Countless others have been injured or seen their family members killed. The Israeli government has blocked the entry of foreign press into Gaza, heavily restricted telecommunications, and targeted press offices in its bombardment of Gaza.
Despite being the first major U.S. newspaper to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, the LA Times has reportedly imposed a three-month coverage ban on staffers who signed the letter, claiming those who signed the letter violated the company’s policy by taking a public stance on an issue. The ban prohibits them from being involved in any coverage of Israel and Gaza and relevant issues, including covering antisemitism and Islamophobia in the U.S. The journalists affected by the ban were disproportionately Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian staffers.
SEE:
- Hundreds of journalists sign letter protesting coverage of Israel
- Editorial: Cease-fire now. The killing in Gaza must stop.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“The decision from the LA Times to ban nearly three dozen journalists from reporting on Gaza raises concerns about how news surrounding Israel and Gaza will be covered going forward. This move disproportionately censors Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab journalists whose insights are key to informing newsgathering and building trust in the community.
“The LA Times has worked to reckon with its past of racist coverage and communities of color, including Black, Latino, and Asian communities, but this decision threatens to undermine that trust and calls into question the LA Times’ credibility in reporting on Gaza.”
Since the letter’s publication, more than 30 journalists have asked to have their signatures removed, fearing retaliation from their employers.
CAIR-LA and countless other organizations had applauded the LA Times for its ceasefire editorial, but this recent decision to silence staffers who voiced support for Gaza stands to undermine its credibility as a source of truth for the community.
CAIR-LA sent a letter to LA Times Editor-in-Chief Kevin Merida expressing disappointment in the newspaper’s decision to block its staffers from covering Israel’s violence in Gaza and calling on the newspaper to reinstate the staffers and to commit to an open dialogue with staffers and communities affected by the events in Gaza.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com