Veteran CNN journalist Christian Amanpour reportedly clashed with his new boss Mark Thompson and other executives over what they called a “double standard” in the network’s coverage of Israel and Hamas.
on friday, The Intercept reported Tensions flared over an internal meeting of CNN’s London bureau last month to discuss the network’s procedures for reporting on the ongoing war and what it described as a “hostile atmosphere for Arab journalists.”
A recurring issue among CNN journalists who attended the meeting was the process of reporting through CNN’s verification program Second Eyes at CNN’s Jerusalem bureau. The Intercept reports that this “delays reporting on Gaza and filters news about the war through journalists.” They operate in Jerusalem under the shadow of Israeli military censors. ”
“You’ve heard my real troubles with Second Eyes: copy changes, double standards,” Amanpour said, according to a leaked recording of the meeting. “You’ve heard it, and I’m listening to your response, and I hope it makes great progress.”
CNN’s Amanpour said “the rest of the world” agrees with the Queen of Jordan’s opinion that there is unilateral support for Israel.
Christiane Amanpour reportedly clashed with CNN bosses over the network’s alleged “double standards” regarding its coverage of Israel. (Mike Marsland/Getty Images, SeriousFun)
Several staffers reportedly slammed CNN’s war coverage, saying it “undermines the station’s position in the region and makes Arab staffers feel as if their lives are expendable.” ” he said.
“I was in southern Lebanon in October and November…and turning on CNN was more painful than having bombs falling nearby,” one CNN journalist told his boss. “I have noticed over and over again that my colleagues and family have platformed people who have called for my death, who have used extremely dehumanizing language towards me, and people who look like me. And obviously this has a huge impact on society: our credibility in the community.”
The journalist then asked Thompson directly. “What have you done and what are you doing to address the hate speech that filled our air and influenced our coverage, especially in the first months of the war? mosquito?”
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According to The Intercept, Thompson initially responded by promoting CNN’s war coverage, but said that “there are people on both sides with incredibly strong opinions,” and that “sometimes it’s wrong” to push this type of reporting. It’s impossible to draw a picture without also committing a crime,” he added.
“For us, the fact that until relatively recently, and even now, it was very difficult to be fully on-the-ground within the Gaza Strip has given rise to a personal understanding of what the Gaza Strip was like. I think it makes it difficult for us to tell the personal stories of people who were killed and kidnapped by Hamas in the first Hamas attack on Israel.” Same with the people of Gaza. ” Thompson said.
CNN President Mark Thompson has come under fire for CNN’s coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, according to The Intercept. (Sanjit Das/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Thompson went on to claim that without the restrictions, CNN would provide “the same” sympathetic coverage of the victims in Gaza as the families of the Israeli hostages.
“I think we have, for the most part, tried very hard to understand the situation…Our job is not to adjudicate morality, but to report what’s going on.” Thompson told staff.
Legacy media condemns ‘bilateralism’ except when Israel and Hamas are involved
Another CNN staffer said that “very senior anchors” did not adequately challenge Israeli officials on air, and that CNN’s Muslim and Arab journalists “have cleared their names and are being taken seriously as journalists.” They are made to feel they have to denounce Hamas in order to be punished.”
“I’ve heard this before. A lot of my younger colleagues now feel like they don’t want to raise their hand and speak, even in meetings like local stations,” the official told Thompson. Told. “People were removing their names from the signature line.”
CNN staffers slammed the station’s coverage of Israeli military action in Gaza, with one staffer telling Thompson, “I was in southern Lebanon during October and November…and I’m more concerned about CNN than for bombs falling nearby. It was more painful for me to watch.” (Jon Graeme/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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According to the Intercept, “Mr. Thompson interjected, saying that people seemed to be speaking out now and that he welcomed editorial debate.” Another staffer took issue with that characterization, saying that Arab and Muslim of journalists walk a difficult line between feeling proud working for CNN while facing pressure.” It’s being done. ”
Mr Amanpour also urged Mr Thompson to bring in “experts” in the area to conduct on-the-spot interviews, adding: “With all due respect, this is the place for people we want to promote or have something to teach us. It’s not a place to send them. Maybe there’s going to be a second wave, maybe a third wave, but the first wave is to have people in power from all walks of life understand what they’re seeing. It has to be people who know through experience how to tell the story, whether it’s politics, whether it’s a terrorist attack, whether it’s humanity, and all of that can be brought to bear in reporting.”
“For me, video is not like speaking on a balcony in the capital. It’s just not that. For me, video is reportage,” she added.
A CNN spokesperson declined to comment to FOX News Digital.
Amanpour has never been afraid to tell her boss what she thinks. Last year, she clashed with ousted CNN chief Chris Licht over her disapproval of the station’s response to the Trump town hall.
