Would you be interested in writing occasional blogs about Israel/Palestine for JNews?
Some of you already know about JNews as a media project that attempts to affect mainstream British media's coverage of Israel/Palestine from a perspective of human rights and justice.
We have finished our pilot phase and are now planning to expand to include, among other things, a journalists' tour to Israel/Palestine, a Democratic Audit of Israel and a Bloggers Corner on the website.
Bloggers Corner: As you know the JNews website already carries some original news items, analysis and commentary by experts.
We are now planning to start a bloggers corner in which Palestinian and Israeli bloggers and activists - whether in Israel/Palestine or in other countries - can provide their insight into Israeli and Palestinian politics, representations and realities. The idea is to bring local alternative voices to life in English, in the UK.
We can pay a fee of GBP 75 per completed blog, and will start out by publishing 2-4 blogs per month, growing from there. We also plan to link to other similar projects such as electronicintifada, 972mag and AICnews, and hope to coordinate and crosspost with them. Please note that this is not a 'joint' or 'normalising' project, nor does it advocate a particular political program. Rather it is a platform on which different bloggers can voice their views and perspectives against the voices of occupation and oppression.
We are planning a first meeting for potential bloggers - or other activists who know bloggers / wish to be involved - in London on 12 January, but we will be very glad to accept blogs from people who live in other countries as well.
Please let us know
a) If you would like to be involved in any way
b) If you can attend the 12 January meeting in London
c) If you want to contribute a blog occasionally, and if so, how often (once or twice a month? Once a quarter? Just once?)
d) If you know other activists or bloggers who might want to contribute
The material we are looking for includes political analysis that is linked to human rights or social justice discourse. We don't need information on violations that are already reported elsewhere, or information with no political context – most mainstream media have no idea what or where Ni'lin or Silwan are and what their significance is, so isolated reports of developments there will add nothing to their understanding of the issues. Rather, we seek analysis and opinion on everyday social developments and on politics behind the scenes, and insight on the realities that are represented in the media.
This can include e.g. descriptions/analysis of
· growing fascism/racism/segregation inside Israeli society and government;
· developments in mechanisms used for oppression by the Israeli government (e.g., new legislation, new enforcement of existing draconian regulations, hostile bureaucracy, police brutality, attacks on human rights defenders etc.);
· internal Palestinian politics of Fatah/PA / Hamas; repression of opposition in Gaza/WB and how this feeds into the broader picture of occupation;
· creeping annexation in the West Bank and the Gaza 'endgame' - in context: how these fit into longer-term prospects for all of Israel/Palestine;
· the experience of political prisoners and their role in Palestinian politics
· politics of nakba memory / role of refugees in Palestinian politics;
· Developments in Palestinian politics inside Israel (1948 Palestinians);
· activism and forms of resistance à repression of activism;
· critique of politics and policies of EU/US/UN/development agencies/ICRC/OECD etc. in Israel/Palestine (but please keep the focus local!);
· activism in/from overseas (from a local perspective)
Even if you feel you can only write one piece about one of these topics (or others) that would be great. If you feel that you can't blog, or that you can't blog in English, JNews will be glad to provide help with editing and translating.
We aim for most our bloggers to be Israeli or Palestinian. However, if others want to contribute pieces, JNews would be glad to post these on its 'Commentary' section, subject to our editors' decisions.
Example of a one-month blog action on activism in a specific area, and what it can be used for:
· A blogger/activist has good connections in the South Hebron Mountains à JNews office writes a data-rich background piece on the history and context of occupation and dispossession in that area à a blogger writes an analysis of forms of oppression / activism there and helps find news, photos and video regarding violations, activism and repression, reporting over a period of a few weeks à the combination of these materials is made available to mainstream correspondents in Jerusalem/Ramallah and to editors/producers in London. Future newsworthy events are covered with links to the original pack.
· This can then feed into other JNews activities: Activists from selected regions/groups will be invited to London and introduced informally to key media people; Journalists visiting Israel/Palestine will be encouraged to visit the same regions/groups.
More information here.
Some of you already know about JNews as a media project that attempts to affect mainstream British media's coverage of Israel/Palestine from a perspective of human rights and justice.
We have finished our pilot phase and are now planning to expand to include, among other things, a journalists' tour to Israel/Palestine, a Democratic Audit of Israel and a Bloggers Corner on the website.
Bloggers Corner: As you know the JNews website already carries some original news items, analysis and commentary by experts.
We are now planning to start a bloggers corner in which Palestinian and Israeli bloggers and activists - whether in Israel/Palestine or in other countries - can provide their insight into Israeli and Palestinian politics, representations and realities. The idea is to bring local alternative voices to life in English, in the UK.
We can pay a fee of GBP 75 per completed blog, and will start out by publishing 2-4 blogs per month, growing from there. We also plan to link to other similar projects such as electronicintifada, 972mag and AICnews, and hope to coordinate and crosspost with them. Please note that this is not a 'joint' or 'normalising' project, nor does it advocate a particular political program. Rather it is a platform on which different bloggers can voice their views and perspectives against the voices of occupation and oppression.
We are planning a first meeting for potential bloggers - or other activists who know bloggers / wish to be involved - in London on 12 January, but we will be very glad to accept blogs from people who live in other countries as well.
Please let us know
a) If you would like to be involved in any way
b) If you can attend the 12 January meeting in London
c) If you want to contribute a blog occasionally, and if so, how often (once or twice a month? Once a quarter? Just once?)
d) If you know other activists or bloggers who might want to contribute
The material we are looking for includes political analysis that is linked to human rights or social justice discourse. We don't need information on violations that are already reported elsewhere, or information with no political context – most mainstream media have no idea what or where Ni'lin or Silwan are and what their significance is, so isolated reports of developments there will add nothing to their understanding of the issues. Rather, we seek analysis and opinion on everyday social developments and on politics behind the scenes, and insight on the realities that are represented in the media.
This can include e.g. descriptions/analysis of
· growing fascism/racism/segregation inside Israeli society and government;
· developments in mechanisms used for oppression by the Israeli government (e.g., new legislation, new enforcement of existing draconian regulations, hostile bureaucracy, police brutality, attacks on human rights defenders etc.);
· internal Palestinian politics of Fatah/PA / Hamas; repression of opposition in Gaza/WB and how this feeds into the broader picture of occupation;
· creeping annexation in the West Bank and the Gaza 'endgame' - in context: how these fit into longer-term prospects for all of Israel/Palestine;
· the experience of political prisoners and their role in Palestinian politics
· politics of nakba memory / role of refugees in Palestinian politics;
· Developments in Palestinian politics inside Israel (1948 Palestinians);
· activism and forms of resistance à repression of activism;
· critique of politics and policies of EU/US/UN/development agencies/ICRC/OECD etc. in Israel/Palestine (but please keep the focus local!);
· activism in/from overseas (from a local perspective)
Even if you feel you can only write one piece about one of these topics (or others) that would be great. If you feel that you can't blog, or that you can't blog in English, JNews will be glad to provide help with editing and translating.
We aim for most our bloggers to be Israeli or Palestinian. However, if others want to contribute pieces, JNews would be glad to post these on its 'Commentary' section, subject to our editors' decisions.
Example of a one-month blog action on activism in a specific area, and what it can be used for:
· A blogger/activist has good connections in the South Hebron Mountains à JNews office writes a data-rich background piece on the history and context of occupation and dispossession in that area à a blogger writes an analysis of forms of oppression / activism there and helps find news, photos and video regarding violations, activism and repression, reporting over a period of a few weeks à the combination of these materials is made available to mainstream correspondents in Jerusalem/Ramallah and to editors/producers in London. Future newsworthy events are covered with links to the original pack.
· This can then feed into other JNews activities: Activists from selected regions/groups will be invited to London and introduced informally to key media people; Journalists visiting Israel/Palestine will be encouraged to visit the same regions/groups.
More information here.
