Curating coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict by the Advertiser between 8 October 2023 and 9 February 2024

This report analyses the South Australian newspaper The Advertiser and its publication of articles about the Israel-Hamas conflict during the above period. The analysis concludes that The Advertiser is in breach of various standards, including its own code of conduct and the standards of the Australian Press Council. Laws against racial hatred under s18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (CTH) may also have been breached.

This report is submitted with a view to seeking a finding about these breaches and in pursuit of a commitment by The Advertiser to adhere to the relevant laws and standards.

Background

The Advertiser and its Sunday stablemate The Sunday Mail are locally published newspapers which claim to be ingrained in the roots of South Australia and its people and committed to providing South Australia’s best news coverage. They are part of the broader News Corporation Australia Group and they draw an indeterminate amount of their news coverage and opinion pieces from the wider group pool. For the purposes of this research paper, references to The Advertiser are taken to include The Sunday Mail. As it is difficult to discern the role of the Editor in selecting, condensing, amending, correcting or rejecting coverage from the wider group pool in the traditional sense of the verb ‘to edit,’ the expression ‘curate’ has been used as a replacement. Curate is taken to mean “to select, organise and present content or information to others” and no offence is intended to the Editor of The Advertiser by its usage.

We sincerely thank AFOPA member, Caroline, for compiling this outstanding report.

Contents of the report:

Purpose

Background

Glossary

Professional & Legal Standards

Methodology & Quantitative Analysis

Sources of Bias in Reporting

Genocidal Language & Intent and War Crimes

Over Reliance on Specific Sources

Loaded Language

Statistics

Story Selection, Placement & Visuals

Lack of Geo-Political Context

Coverage of Pro-Palestinian Protests & Protestors

Findings

Conclusion

Addendum

Endnotes

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