The Journalistic Malpractice that Fueled a Genocide: Robin Andersen on “Complicit Lens”

In today’s discussion with veteran media historian and critic Robin Andersen, we discuss in depth the ways that the New York Times, CNN, and other legacy media outlets became little more than Israeli propaganda organs, uncritically feeding IDF narratives, images, and self-declared expertise while not only discrediting Palestinian voices, but also becoming  complicit with Israel’s policy of censorship by murder. We talk about the distortions and lies surrounding the destruction of hospitals, patients and medical staff, the purposeful killings of journalists and the cover-ups that followed, and the media attacks on the student encampments that turned peaceful demonstrations into scenes of violence. We come away with a profound respect and admiration for courageous and dedicated Palestinian journalists, the global social media that bore witness, and independent and alternative media that stood steady in their commitment to speak the truth.

Robin Andersen, professor emerita of media studies at Fordham University, author of a dozen books, and writer and member of the Board of Directors for Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR). She serves as a judge and   contributing writer for Project Censored, and her work can be found at a number of online publications. Her latest book is The Complicit Lens: US Media Coverage of Israel's Genocide in Gaza.