CNN on Obama-Netanyahu meeting, July 6, 2010

This is the product of CNN's Abu Dhabi studio done by Prism, with Stan Grant. A long and unchallenged "Interview" Saeb Erakat Chief Palestinian Negotiator. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux describes the US political stakes and then the Israeli perspective is left to CNN correspondent in Israel, Frederick Pleitgen. Settlements is at the heart of every discussion.

CNN: Clancy anchors an analysis of Netanyahu-Obama meeting 6-7-10.

CNN: Zakaria interviews Danny Ayalon 13 June 2010

CNN handles the Ground-Zero Mosque controversy June 7, 2010

Compare this presentation with the news report in TV series "True Blood."

CNN Clancy tackles the Flotilla 1 June 2010

CNN: Interview with Nabil Shaath on the flotilla 31.5.10

Not a tough question; on the contrary, he gives Shaath every opportunity to present the Palestinians as peaceful negotiators constantly frustrated by Israeli warmongers. The interviewer seems primarily interested in "uniting" the Palestinians.

CNN: Holmes does Backstory on Palestinian Activists 31.5.10

In the midst of the flotilla fiasco, Michael Holmes does a background story on the people behind the flotilla. Rather than look into the story behind the people who started the fighting and got killed - IHH - with their jihadi chants and terror ties, he does a puff piece on a couple that founded ISM, including a long piece he did on their marriage in 2002. It's a good reminder of the kind of romanticization of the Palestinian cause that CNN's coverage offered during the intifada - no mention of the suicide bombing that ISM both justified and abetted. Holmes today is neither sadder nor wiser; and the public continues to suffer.

CNN: Anderson interviews Livny and Youssef 31.5.10

Becky Anderson interviews Tzipi livni Fmr. Israeli Foreign Minister, and Ahmed Youssef (father of the apostate), Deputy Foreign Minister of Hamas on the flotilla fiasco. Good example of the way anchors feel they have the right to interrupt and challenge Israeli spokespeople, but suddenly lose their swagger when they deal with Arab interviewees.

CNN: Octavia Nasr explains Arab Rage and Social Media 31.5.10

Octavia Nasr, CNN's special consultant on Arab culture takes Arab rage for granted (no irony, she seems to share it), and then discusses how the pro-flotilla folks twitted around the world, taking the lead from the hands of a political leadership that is slow and impotent. It's hard to avoid the sense that she's rooting for these folks. This is just the kind of explanation the West needs.

Turkish CNN Footage from boat during fight 31.05.10

highest definition available, you can see soldier being swarmed with sticks, stabbed near a door, and a soldier with face wound.

Israeli thermal footage of battle on top deck 31.05.10

taken from above.

Israeli thermal footage of the attack on IDF soldiers 31.05.10

taken from boat alongside before dawn. you can see one soldier thrown down to the lower deck, lots of sticks beating soldiers.

CNN Covers the "Gaza Armada" 28.05.10

This is a perfect example of bad reporting, from the opening characterizations to the nature of the interview process, to the total imbalance of presenting sides. One could hardly expect someone coming away from this piece by Rosemary Church to understand what's going on. Planning both a VEA and a DWM for this, so comments welcome.

CNN: Clancy "hosts" a debate between J-Street and AJC 16.03.10

Jim Clancy hosts a debate between J-Street's Jeremy Ben-Ami and the American Jewish Committee's Ben Cohen. Clancy repeatedly interrupts Cohen so rudely that he was forced later to apologize by his superiors at CNN. In the meantime, it's a fine example of how anchors show their true colors when they see their favored figures getting a hard time.

BBC: Pakistani Demonstrations against Facebook 19.5.10

The demonstrations against Facebook, like those against the Danish Cartoons, included death threats. Would you even know that from this account? Ali Maqbool makes it (vaguely) about the problem of (potential) censorship. Very lightweight reporting, no hard questions.

BBC Kay with Crowley and Koppel on US-Israel tensions 17.3.10

US next move Kathy Kay interview with PJ Crowley Assistant Secretary of State about the crisis. Kay is aggressively hostile to Israel from the start - "The Vice President receives a very public slap in the face when he visits Israel..." and continues throughout. It's clear what she'd like to see: a slap in Israel's face. Crowley avoids her efforts to stir the pot, Koppel, distinguishing between "existential threats" where you can't push the Israelis and "facts on the ground," where you can, hopes to see, finally, some US backbone. 1707

BBC Bowen on Israel's Insult to US 15.3.10

Ambassador Oren said Israel face worst relationship crisis in 35 years. Jeremy Bowens on Axelrod interview in which he refers to the Biden affair as "an affront, an insult" & aspects of the crisis, building freeze, "the fundamental question is how this very small country can push a very large country around".

CNN Amanpour interviews Ben-Ami and Harris on Israel Lobby 20.11.09

Christiane Amanpour interviews Jeremy Ben Ami (J-Street) and David Harris (American Jewish Committee) on whether criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic. She interrupts constantly and repeatedly reveals what she thinks. This is a professional journalist? or an advocate for what she believes will bring peace?

CNN Clancy and Talal abu Rahmah, award winner 28.12.09

Jim Clancy interviews Talal abu Rahmah, whose contributions to Pallywood and staging of the al Durah libel have been extensively chronicled here. Clancy makes no mention of the controversy. Instead he fawns all over Talal, his good friend ("You are a journalist, a respected journalist...") and presents him as a model to aspiring journalists ("Making a difference in Gaza by telling the truth.") How can journalism learn from its mistakes when it deals with them like this?

CNN covers US drones targeted killings 19/10/09

American media is far less interested US targeted killings than Israeli, but finally events in Pakistan have prompted some concern about the "once secret program."  Here CNN tackles the issue in a tepid sort of way.  No one challenges the spokesman who claims that 1/3 of the 1000 casualties are civilian (well-known figures claim 700 civilians killed for 14 targets in Pakistan).  No scenes of Pakistani civilians, no interviews with outraged Pakistani officials, just suits discussing whether the CIA should be ordering these strikes.  Imagine CNN reporters being told by an Israeli official that TKs are "the only game in town."  Double standards, anyone?