subject: Filming in Israel – Thoughts about Israel and the Foreign Media [print this page] Filming in Israel Thoughts about Israel and the Foreign Media
By the Mavi Marmara arrived at the Port of Ashdod, many correspondents from foreign news networks have been awaiting it for hours. Throughout that tense morning there was no IDF spokesperson or Israeli Foreign Ministry representatives in the area. I asked myself why Israeli authorities shy away from the foreign media instead of taking advantage of them.
Correspondents waiting for something to happen will shoot anything, whatever happens nearby. This could be a perfect time for the IDF to talk to them and explain what's going on. Since there was nobody there, they shot the right-wing demonstrators who did everything they could to obstruct Arab correspondents. Eventually, the correspondents asked the IDF spokesperson to interview an Israeli commando. Their request was accepted, albeit hesitantly. It took several hours for a Foreign Ministry liaison (who later turned out to be an IDF Spokesperson representative) to finally lead the foreign correspondents to a bus that took them to the nearby navy base, where a press conference was scheduled with a commando soldier.
The journalists went on a bus all covered in plastic sheets, and waited almost an hour for it to leave. They were treated like POWs. It took a long while for the bus to reach its destination. Upon arrival, the journalists were told that the soldier will speak briefly, and that no questions may be posed to him since this has not been approved by IDF spokesperson.
The soldier stood on the stage, almost frightened, and explained in a weak voice that the IDF navy commandos were surprised to encounter violent people on board the Marmara, armed with clubs, who forced them to defend themselves. He spoke for about a minute. The correspondents then tried to ask him some questions, but were told that the soldier will repeat his words and that will be the end of the "press conference". Apparently the IDF spokesperson felt its duty to the foreign media was fulfilled, its promises kept. The correspondents left bitterly disappointed and mainly angry. This is not how they imagined a commando soldier. Pro-Israeli or even sympathetic coverage now seemed farther than ever.
As a provider of production services to foreign crews filming in Israel , I am well aware of the way the Israeli propaganda system works. The first thing you should know is that there is a strong tendency not to explain anything before a "line" is being formally adopted. In other words, many people would have been more than willing to be interviewed, had they been briefed accordingly. But when the Information Minister is in Canada, and really knows nothing about the media in any case, it seems that briefings of this kind are nowhere on anybody's list of tasks.
Today, in the age of Facebook and Twitter, time is of the essence. A mistake made by a paramedic treating a patient in the first few seconds after the injury, cannot be remedied by even the most advanced hospital technologies. Likewise, whoever covers first talks about what actually happened whoever covers last can only interpret. It is hard to erase initial impressions.
The day the Marmara arrived in Israel reminded me of the long days of the Second Lebanon War, when I worked as a producer for a foreign press. We had a broadcasting station on Mount Carmel in Northern Israel. Many other foreign correspondents worked by our side, together with film and production crews who came to cover the war. for the media who camefor filming in Israel a huge "war room" was established by the Israeli Foreign Ministry in the nearby hotel.
Every hour on the hour, we went on air with up-to-date reports, interviewees and interpreters. I remember that despite the massive presence of Foreign Ministry and IDF spokesperson representatives, it was very difficult for me to find people who would be willing to be interviewed themselves. I got used to having to rely on standby interpreters and academics for each time an IDF or Foreign Ministry representative would cancel a scheduled interview. I particularly remember the day after the Kafr Qana air strike on July 30 (where an estimated 28 villagers died). On that day, and for two days later, I couldn't find a single Israeli representative who was willing to stand in front of the camera and explain what happened there. To fill in the empty airtime, I again had to rely on the other side.
It is not completely mistaken to claim that foreign media is sometimes biased against Israel. But when only one side is willing to talk, what can you expect? Minimal understanding of how the foreign media operates in Israel and some intelligent strategy, have never hurt anyone.
