Some interesting media developments surrounding Israel this week:
- Patrick "Pat" Condell, a British comedian released a video titled “The ugliest newspaper in Britain”, which discussed The Guardian newspaper and some of their egregious behavior towards Israel. The video amazingly attracted over 100,000 views in under a week, and is worthwhile and enjoyable viewing for anyone concerned about media bias
- 14-time Grammy winning recording Ricky Skaggs appeared on the Jay Sekulow show to discuss media bias against Israel at the Olympics this year. The Evangelical artist discussed the importance of the American-Israel relationship.
What better place for Gold-winning American Jewish gymnast Aly Raisman to celebrate with
her family than in Israel – where she will be making her first trip this week.
Recent celebrity visitors have included David Arquette, Mekhi Phifer, House star
Omar Epps, 21 Jump Street’s Holly Peete and others. Vital that high-profile people visit Israel.
- Amazing how much attention billionaire mogul Sheldon Adelson’s libel lawsuit against The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) has received. Largely overlooked is that last election their executive director called upon organizations and individuals to “take the responsibility for outing and yes, even shaming, the purveyors of sinat chinam [baseless hatred] in our community.”
Are their actions of shamelessly libeling the biggest donor to Jewish causes worldwide anything other than baseless hatred? At least when Adelson wins his lawsuit it will be $60 Million spent on great programs like Birthright rather than helping Obama. – and people should remind them of this pledge they made last election. Hold them responsible for their words.
- The Begin Center in Jerusalem has launched the Harry Hurwitz Memorial “Hasbara in Action” scholarship for a student who excels in the field of Hasbara for Israel on campus. Hurwitz worked closely with Menahem Begin and Yitzchak Shamir as a student of Ze’ev Jabotinsky, and founded the Begin Center in Jerusalem.
The Begin is one of the few real institutions of the nationalist movement - and it’s so important that the right focuses as well on education and hasbara and not allow the liberal left to monopolize and control it.
Ronn Torossian is CEO of PR firm 5WPR, and Author of PR Book “For Immediate Release”.