Our latest Watchdog of the Week is Joel Schneider from Los Angeles. Joel was reading the BBC Travel website when he spotted the reference to “native people” revolting against the Romans in ancient Israel between 66 and 70CE.
Who were these “native people”?
The Jews of course, who, in this BBC story, had been erased from the history of the region as opposed to a number of other peoples who were specifically named.
While HonestReporting looks at an enormous number of media outlets, we rely on you, our readers, to alert us to serious problems in places that might not necessarily be on our extensive radar. BBC Travel was one of those places.
Joel contacted HR through our Red Alert page enabling us to take prompt action and demand a correction from the BBC. Following HR’s complaints and a significant wave of anger on social media prompted by our exposure of the issue, the BBC amended its story to include specific mention of the Jewish people and included an Editor’s Note explaining the change.
This was possible thanks to Joel’s actions. After learning of his Watchdog of the Week recognition, he said:
I follow news media from all sides and countries to be better informed.
Thank you for naming me Watchdog of the Week, but the accolades should go to HonestReporting for your continuing exposure of the omissions, distortions, and falsifications employed by headline writers, reporters, and editors of some of the main stream media to promote a negative opinion of Israel and the Jewish people.
HonestReporting monitors an enormous number of media outlets around the world but we still need your help. Let us know if you see something that deserves our attention by contacting us through our Red Alert page and maybe you can be our next Watchdog of the Week.
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