Watchdog of the Week: Exposing CNN’s “Palestina” Map

Our Watchdog of the Week alerted HonestReporting to CNN's "Palestina" map, prompting its replacement as a result of HR subscriber complaints.

By November 30, 2015

Our latest Watchdog of the Week is awarded to Lorne Brown of Beit Shemesh, Israel, for his part in the successful removal of a CNN map that erased Israel and replaced it with “Palestina.”

 

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The map in question was spotted by Lorne in a story on CNN’s Money website, not the most obvious place to go looking for anti-Israel media bias. The map may very well have remained online had Lorne not contacted HonestReporting through both its Twitter feed and also via the Red Alert contact page.

With the information that Lorne gave us, HonestReporting exposed the CNN map to a wider audience and thanks to our many subscribers who complained to CNN, the map was promptly replaced with a more appropriate image.

CNN’s faux pas and HonestReporting’s role in getting the correction were featured in a number of media outlets including the Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, Israel Hayom, YNet News, Israel National News, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Breitbart News, Fox News Nation and The Blaze.

The story also created a huge amount of engagement online through both the HonestReporting website and Facebook page.

Lorne’s action is a real example of how both individuals and thousands of us together can make a real impact on the media as well as getting others to get involved.

Lorne, a veteran Canadian immigrant to Israel, commented to HonestReporting:

I will continue loyally keeping my eye on unfair maligning of our wonderful country. I urge everyone who loves Israel and who values truth to follow suit- don’t think “someone else will complain” – the more people refuse to accept lies and the maligning of Israel, the stronger the fight for truth and justice will be.

Are You the Watchdog of the Week?

Have you achieved a success in the fight against anti-Israel media bias? Want to share your success with thousands of HonestReporting’s readers?

If the answer is yes, you could be the next Watchdog of the Week!

Here are just a few of the things you could do to qualify:

  • Sending a tip-off to HonestReporting through our Red Alert page  that we act upon;
  • Get a letter published in a media outlet;
  • Or perhaps you’ve achieved something else that you feel is deserving of this accolade.

 

[sc:graybox ]Let us know by sending an email to [email protected] describing your recent achievement and maybe you can be the Watchdog of the Week.

 

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© 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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