The editorial page editor of The Jerusalem Post, Saul Singer, has informed the media watchdog organization "Israel Media Watch" (IMW) that the paper will discontinue the organization's regular column, entitled Watching the Israeli Media. IMW Chairman Prof. Eli Pollack and member Yisrael Medad of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center jointly wrote the column, which appeared in the Post for 2.5 years.
One of the reasons for the Post's decision, Singer explained in a phone call to IMW, was that the paper intends to adopt a centrist political line.
IMW, for its part, issued an announcement saying it "regrets the decision... The column is a professional one dealing with issues of media, and has often uncovered exclusive items that were not publicized in any other paper, and was praised by readers and the academia - such that there is no connection at all between the change in the Jerusalem Post's political line and the removal of our column."
IMW stated that Singer did not agree to meet with Pollack and Medad before issuing his final decision. Speaking with Arutz-7, Medad said that the column was originally even considered a "news" column and had appeared on page 3. "After a year, however, we were relocated to the opinion page, despite our objections. Now, after 'centrist-thinking' David Horowitz has been appointed the new editor, we suddenly are informed that we no longer have a column. This is unfortunate, because the Jerusalem Post had a reputation for fighting against 'hostile media,' and was the only one that stood against the radical left-wing Haaretz. But now it is giving in, and removing columns. If it saw the need to do so, it could have just balanced our column - which merely brings data from the field - with a left-wing column."
One of the reasons for the Post's decision, Singer explained in a phone call to IMW, was that the paper intends to adopt a centrist political line.
IMW, for its part, issued an announcement saying it "regrets the decision... The column is a professional one dealing with issues of media, and has often uncovered exclusive items that were not publicized in any other paper, and was praised by readers and the academia - such that there is no connection at all between the change in the Jerusalem Post's political line and the removal of our column."
IMW stated that Singer did not agree to meet with Pollack and Medad before issuing his final decision. Speaking with Arutz-7, Medad said that the column was originally even considered a "news" column and had appeared on page 3. "After a year, however, we were relocated to the opinion page, despite our objections. Now, after 'centrist-thinking' David Horowitz has been appointed the new editor, we suddenly are informed that we no longer have a column. This is unfortunate, because the Jerusalem Post had a reputation for fighting against 'hostile media,' and was the only one that stood against the radical left-wing Haaretz. But now it is giving in, and removing columns. If it saw the need to do so, it could have just balanced our column - which merely brings data from the field - with a left-wing column."