CNN is facing a backlash from its own staff over its coverage of the war in Gaza, which they say has been influenced by an editorial line that favors Israel and obscures the atrocities committed by the Israeli military.
According to sources within the network, who spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity, CNN executives have been issuing directives and guidelines that have resulted in a skewed and partial coverage of the conflict, which has killed more than 300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis, according to official sources.
The sources said that the directives have included:
- A restriction on quoting or interviewing Hamas officials or representatives, while giving ample airtime and credence to Israeli government statements and spokespeople.
- A requirement that all stories on the conflict be approved by the CNN Jerusalem bureau, which is headed by Oren Liebermann, a former Israeli soldier and a perceived partisan of the Israeli cause.
- A pressure to focus on the Israeli narrative of the war as a defensive operation against Hamas and its tunnels, and to downplay or ignore the Palestinian narrative of the war as a resistance against the Israeli blockade and occupation.
- A discouragement to report on the civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and to avoid showing graphic or disturbing images of the destruction and the suffering caused by the Israeli bombardment.
- A dismissal or marginalization of the voices and the perspectives of the Palestinian people, civil society, and human rights organizations, and a preference for the voices and the perspectives of the Israeli people, civil society, and human rights organizations.
The sources said that the directives have led to a loss of trust and morale among the CNN staff, especially the journalists and the correspondents who have experience and expertise in covering the region and the conflict.
The sources said that some senior staff have refused to accept assignments to the region, because they do not believe they will be free to tell the whole story, and because they fear they will face censorship or retaliation from the management.
The sources said that others suspect they are being kept away from the region by the editors, who fear they will challenge or resist the restrictions, and who favor the reporters who are more compliant or sympathetic to the editorial line.
The sources said that the directives have also sparked criticism and complaints from some CNN staff, who have expressed their dissatisfaction and dissent through internal memos and emails, and who have called for more balance and accuracy in the coverage of the war.
The sources said that the directives have also damaged the reputation and the credibility of CNN among the viewers and the media critics, who have accused the network of bias and propaganda, and who have compared its coverage to that of Fox News, which is known for its pro-Israel and pro-Trump stance.
The sources said that the directives have been imposed by the CNN headquarters in Atlanta, and that they reflect the views and the interests of the network’s new editor-in-chief and CEO, Mark Thompson, who took up his post two days after the war began on Oct. 7.
History of Bowing to Israel
The sources said that Thompson, who was previously the director general of the BBC, has a history of bowing to the Israeli government pressure and influence on several occasions, such as removing one of the BBC’s most prominent correspondents from her post in Jerusalem in 2005, and blocking the broadcast of a charity appeal for Gaza in 2009.
The sources said that Thompson, who is also a board member of the New York Times Company, has a personal and a professional relationship with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is a close friend of the New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr.
The sources said that Thompson, who has been described by some CNN staff as a “micro-manager” and a “control freak”, has been personally involved and invested in the coverage of the war, and that he has been in frequent contact and consultation with Liebermann and other CNN staff in Jerusalem.
CNN has not responded to the Guardian’s request for comment on the allegations and the evidence presented by the sources.
The war in Gaza, which has shown no signs of ending soon, has become a major challenge and a source of controversy for the media and the journalism, as they try to cover and report on one of the most complex and contentious conflicts in the world, and as they face various pressures and constraints from different actors and factors.
The war in Gaza, which has also become a humanitarian tragedy, a political deadlock, and a moral dilemma for the world, as the people of Gaza and Israel continue to suffer and die, while the rest of the world watches and waits, has also become a test and a reflection of the media and the journalism, as they reveal and expose their strengths and weaknesses, their biases and prejudices, their roles and responsibilities, and their values and principles.
