Headline Abuse: Israel Singled Out

One of the most common forms of bias against Israel in the media is simply how the country is singled…

By March 05, 2012

One of the most common forms of bias against Israel in the media is simply how the country is singled out for disproportionate attention compared to almost every other state. Take a look at this headline from The Sunday Times (subscription only):

Israel is, however, mentioned only once in the entire article in the second paragraph:

Using software to monitor the transmission of data from a Google Android mobile phone onto which a range of basic apps had been downloaded, The Sunday Times discovered private information — including telephone numbers, email addresses and the phone’s location — being sent to companies in China, India, Israel and America.

That’s right – only Israel is deemed worthy of inclusion in the headline presumably because in the eyes of The Sunday Times, only Israel conjures up nefarious and sinister images in the minds of its readers. Might that have something to do with the media’s portrayal of the country?

© Divuach Ne’eman R”A, 2025

Simon Plosker

Simon Plosker

With over two decades of experience in various non-governmental organizations in the UK and Israel, Simon Plosker returned to HonestReporting in October 2022 as Editorial Director having previously been part of the organization’s management team from 2005 to 2020.

Prior to his first spell at HonestReporting, Simon worked in Israel for NGO Monitor, BICOM, and served for a short period in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit. He was Managing Editor of the Geneva-based NGO United Nations Watch for two years before moving back to the frontline defending Israel from media bias.

Simon has a BSoc.Sc in International Studies and Political Science from the University of Birmingham and an MSc in History of International Relations from the London School of Economics. He immigrated to Israel in 2001 from London.

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