As a young Jewish journalist, thank you Emily

When major news outlets refer to Hamas as “militants” rather than terrorists, or blame Israel for being in the wrong rather than acknowledging its right to self-defense, it is a prime example of how the media perpetuates harmful anti-Jewish and anti-Israel stereotypes.

As we know, truth, the top major ethic of journalism is dying. The first rule in the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) code of ethics is to “Seek truth and report it.”

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What is even more shameful is that the “journalists” who fully participated in murdering our brothers and sisters on October 7 are winning awards for their work. It’s absolutely gruesome, I know. Also, what frightens me is that journalists across the West are falling for this harmful narrative. It’s a web of lies, literally.

Former hostage Emily Damari in recovery

Why should “journalists” be recognized for their participation in a deliberate crime that they actively conspired to commit? To the antisemitic individuals who consistently try to challenge our history whenever we cling to victory, just know you are being lied to, brainwashed, and indoctrinated. A journalist who involves themselves in any criminal or terroristic act should never be allowed to have a press pass again.

Former hostage Emily Damari wrote a letter to the Pulitzer Prize Board, in which she slammed them for purposely awarding Mosab Abu Toha, a Gazan poet, for his work throughout the war. Abu Toha questioned Damari’s legitimacy as a hostage and the murders of the Bibas brothers, Ariel and Kfir, and their mom, Shiri.

Emily is a true symbol of resilience, and her unapologetic approach to calling out journalism in today’s society is one that is needed. As a journalist (current and former) who still does lots of opinion writing and truth content creation, it is a real shame that the general population now has to hold journalists accountable for not doing their job: telling the truth and upholding democracy and humanity. It was never about politics, but the basic lack of humanity and morality that have made our enemies look even dumber and scarier.

Even after October 7, many Western news outlets have yet to fire their Gazan based reporters for being associated with Hamas, and have yet to stand up to the antisemitism happening in the West. Former hostage Noa Argamani revealed after she was rescued that she was held in the home of an Al-Jazeera reporter. Talk about how Gazan news reporters are just Hamas spokespeople and trying to cover up their actions.

I am glad to say I have been back working at the English speaking Israeli news outlet I interned for in 2022 on my gap year, since September 2024. Although the work is unpaid, it is great to be back on the team, especially in this challenging time for Israel and for me personally. Through my time there, I have fully grown as a writer and truth teller, and have rediscovered my journalistic identity. As always, I remain committed to telling the truth only as it is, because that is what fair, accurate, and honest journalism is all about.