Online Webinar Teaches Students How to Tackle Threat of Rising Antisemitism in Campus Media
NEW YORK/BOSTON, September 19th, 2022 — The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) and CAMERA on Campus hosted an online panel discussion this weekend highlighting students engaged in the fight against antisemitism and the defense of journalistic ethics, followed by an interactive workshop led by Times of Israel Founding Editor David Horovitz.
Panel participants included Alexandra Orbuch of Princeton University, Jonah Fried of McGill University, and Abigail Darwish of University College, London, all students committed to turning the tide of rising Jew-hatred.
“Journalism is one of my passions,” said Orbuch, a reporter for the Princeton Tory. “I am honored to provide students with fair and comprehensive coverage of all issues, especially now that these approaches have become the exception, not the rule.”
Fried, who served as an editor of a McGill campus paper, commented, “The key is to never to give up the fight; to never compromise on your principles. If anti-Zionist groups and their supporters in the newsroom promote an anti-Israel agenda instead of reporting the facts, we must ensure that our peers know the truth.”
Darwish shared the challenges she faced after writing a pro-Israel article for the campus paper at the University College London. “After many tedious revisions, editors at Pi Media published my article but barred me from sharing the piece on the CAMERA on Campus website and social media platforms,” she recalled. “When I examined Pi Media’s publishing history, it became clear that this policy was not being applied to other students. I got them to reverse their decision.”
CAMERA International Campus Director Aviva Rosenschein — who moderated the discussion — noted, “Speaking openly about challenges that Jewish and pro-Israel students face concerning campus media is imperative to tackling the issue writ large. These students are not the only ones encountering chill speech, bureaucracy, and anti-Israel bias. May their experiences serve as inspiration for those who are willing to take a stand.”
The “Shark Tank”-style workshop featured students Alex Grosman from The Ohio State University, David Getter of Rice University, and Alexandra Berman of the University of Miami. Each student presented Horovitz with an article pitch responding to a recent BDS effort to at the UC Berkeley School of Law.
Horovitz also shared his professional insights with the students and audience, outlining best practices for drafting and publishing articles.
Combat Antisemitism Movement CEO Sacha Roytman Dratwa stated, “The global surge of antisemitism in recent years has hit colleges and universities particularly hard, and campus media has become a new front in the age-old fight against Jew-hatred. It’s vital that Jewish and pro-Israel students know they are not alone in this struggle, and that they be provided with the confidence knowledge, and tools to effectively counter the bigotry and prejudice they face and have their voices heard.”
A full recording of the panel discussion, remarks from Horowitz, and the workshop can be viewed here:
At the event, the Combat Antisemitism Movement and CAMERA on Campus announced the launch of a new campus media contest to encourage the publication of articles in student papers to counter antisemitic and anti-Zionist narratives. Participants will be eligible for prizes up to $350. For more details, click here.
Media Contacts
Barney Breen-Portnoy — Editor-in-Chief, Combat Antisemitism Movement:
Douglas Sandoval — Managing Editor, CAMERA on Campus:
About the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM)
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) is a global coalition engaging more than 600 partner organizations and 1.7 million people from a diverse array of religious, political, and cultural backgrounds in the common mission of fighting the world’s oldest hatred. CAM acts collaboratively to build a better future, free of bigotry, for Jews and all humanity.
About CAMERA
Founded in 1982, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA) is an international media monitoring, research, and membership organization devoted to promoting accurate and balanced coverage of Israel and the Middle East. CAMERA fosters rigorous reporting while educating news consumers about Middle East issues and the role of the media. Because public opinion ultimately shapes public policy, distorted news coverage that misleads the public can be detrimental to sound policymaking. A non-partisan organization, CAMERA takes no position regarding any government’s political policies or ultimate solutions to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
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