HonestReporting’s efforts to promote integrity and fairness in media coverage of Israel continue to produce far-reaching results across the globe.
On February 1, 2023, we drew attention to a news podcast published by Australia’s publicly-funded Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). We noted, among other examples of bias, that SBS failed to make clear that a Palestinian who was shot by Israeli forces had attempted to carry out a terrorist attack.
Upon further inspection, HonestReporting discovered that SBS journalist Essam Al-Ghalib had once tweeted “#F*ckIsrael” and called the Jewish state “the BIGGEST terrorist in the world.” Al-Ghalib moreover described IDF troops as “bloody murderers” and claimed Jerusalem put Palestinians in “concentration camps” — shocking, nauseating charges that would be considered antisemitic under the widely-adopted International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition.
🇦🇺 @SBSNews readers: Do you trust @EssamAlGhalib2 to report on the Arab-Israeli conflict without bias?
Essam Al-Ghalib also described the Jewish state as "bloody murderers," called for the arrest of @Netanyahu, and claimed Israel put Palestinians in "concentration camps." https://t.co/YV829BXXKH pic.twitter.com/W0M52jZtHO
— HonestReporting (@HonestReporting) January 31, 2023
With the help of Peter Wertheim, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, we filed a formal complaint under the SBS Code of Practice while simultaneously asking the broadcaster if Al-Ghalib could be trusted to report on the Arab-Israeli conflict without bias or agenda.
This week, SBS Ombudsman Amy Stockwell upheld HonestReporting’s complaint, assuring us in writing that steps have been taken to prevent future instances of anti-Israel bias:
SBS apologises for the breach of Code 3.3.1 (Balanced and impartial news and current affairs). The Director of News and Current Affairs has spoken with the relevant team to remind them about the criticality of a clear and balanced presentation of issues and events, including through the provision [of] relevant and material viewpoints. Additional training will be provided. I am advised the podcast has been removed [link].”
Meanwhile, SBS launched an internal investigation into Al-Ghalib’s hateful tweets, during which he was forced to stand down from his duties. On Wednesday, an SBS spokesperson confirmed to HonestReporting that, while the reporter was allowed to return to work, “appropriate measures have been taken to manage this issue”:
SBS is a public broadcaster and all our journalists are expected to be, and be perceived as, impartial and balanced in their reporting. Essam Al-Ghalib was stood down pending a review, after SBS became aware of historical tweets that did not align with SBS standards and values, or community expectations. Following the outcome of the review, Mr Al-Ghalib continues to be engaged on a casual basis with SBS as a cross-platform journalist, and appropriate measures have been taken to manage this issue.”
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As a public service broadcaster, SBS has a responsibility to report fairly, accurately, and without a politicized or hate-driven agenda. These “appropriate measures” should undoubtedly include keeping Al-Ghalib as far away as possible from anything related to Israel, where his openly-expressed and hateful bias has evidently impacted his work.
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