Media Report Cards
Grading Accuracy in News Coverage
of Israel and Palestine
Beginning in 2003, If Americans Knew began issuing report cards to newspapers across the country on their coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Given that the media have a desire and a responsibility to cover this topic accurately, we provide these reports in the hope that our analyses can assist them in this goal.
In addition, we are making these reports public, as a way to help readers evaluate for themselves the reliability of their sources of information on this issue.
 Deadly Distortion: AP Coverage of Israeli and Palestinian Deaths
Jan. 1, 2004 - Dec. 31, 2004
If Americans Knew Report Card - A new study reveals that Associated Press Newswire coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict significantly distorts reality, essentially over-reporting the number of Israelis killed in the conflict and underreporting the number of Palestinians killed. The study found that AP reported on Israeli children’s deaths more often than the deaths occurred, but failed to cover 85 percent of Palestinian children killed. Read Full Report | FAQ |
 AUPHR: Excluded Voices: Palestine/Israel in the Opinion Pages of the Oregonian Newspaper
Jun. 1, 2004 - May 31, 2005
AUPHR & PMWATCH - Rather than make the newspaper a forum where the Israeli-Palestinian conflict might be debated and discussed, little in the Opinion Pages has deviated from the official Israeli government positions. This is reflected in what is or is not discussed, the timing of the issues presented in the editorials and commentaries, and how those issues are framed. more |
NEW PMWATCH REPORT: US op-ed pages let Israelis speak for themselves, but not Palestinians
Sep. 29, 2000 - Dec. 31, 2005
The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and The Washington Post
An exhaustive study of the op-ed pages of the five largest newspapers in the US reveals that these papers are, on average, 2.5 times more likely to print the opinions of an Israeli than a Palestinian. more |
 Off the Charts: Report on ABC, CBS, and NBC’s Israel/Palestine Coverage
Sep. 29, 2000 - Sep. 28, 2001
Jan. 1, 2004 - Dec. 31, 2004
Our analysis reveals troubling patterns of omission and disparities in emphasis that, we feel, profoundly hamper the ability of viewers to understand this conflict. In the first year of the current uprising, when there were four times more Palestinians being killed than Israelis, two out of three networks reported on more Israeli deaths than Palestinian deaths. Reporting on children’s deaths was even more flawed. more |
Report Card on Major Media to be Released on Capitol Hill May 9th
If Americans Knew will release its latest media studies of news coverage on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Monday, May 9th, at a Capitol Hill Policy-Makers Briefing. more
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 Off the Charts: Report on New York Times Israel/Palestine Coverage
Sep. 29, 2000 - Sep. 28, 2001
Jan. 1, 2004 - Dec. 31, 2004
In the first study period The New York Times reported Israeli deaths at a rate 2.8 times higher than Palestinian deaths, and in 2004 this rate increased by almost 30%, to 3.6, widening still further the disparity in coverage. The Times’ coverage of children’s deaths was even more skewed. In the first year of the current uprising, Israeli children’s deaths were reported at 6.8 times the rate of Palestinian children’s deaths. In 2004 this differential also increased, with deaths of Israeli children covered at a rate 7.3 times greater than the deaths of Palestinian children. more
New York Times Distortion: Up Close and Personal
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AUPHR: Oregonian Biases Covering the Palestine / Israel conflict
May 1, 2004 - Oct. 30, 2004
In the first study period The New York Times reported Israeli deaths at a rate 2.8 times higher than Palestinian deaths, and in 2004 this rate increased by almost 30%, to 3.6, widening still further the disparity in coverage. The Times’ coverage of children’s deaths was even more skewed. In the first year of the current uprising, Israeli children’s deaths were reported at 6.8 times the rate of Palestinian children’s deaths. In 2004 this differential also increased, with deaths of Israeli children covered at a rate 7.3 times greater than the deaths of Palestinian children. more
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Report on San Francisco Chronicle Israel/Palestine Coverage
Sept. 2000 - Mar. 2001
The San Francisco Chronicle reported 150 percent of the deaths of Israeli children and only 5 percent of the deaths of Palestinian children. more |
 Report on San Jose Mercury News Israel/Palestine Coverage
Oct. 2002 - Mar. 2003
The San Jose Mercury News reported 70 percent of Israeli deaths and only 3.6 percent of Palestinian deaths in front-page headlines. more
View the preliminary SJ Mercury News Report (April - Sep. 2002). |
 Report on New London Day Israel/Palestine Coverage (CT)
March - June 2003
The New London Day reported 44% of Israeli deaths and only 10% of Palestinian deaths on the front page. more |
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