Old conflict, new perspective: Power shift in the news from Gaza

Abstract

This study draws upon in-depth interviews conducted with the leading scholars, journalists, anti-war campaigners and peace activists commissioning the new media tools including Skype. Notably, it brings about eye-witness accounts of the Gaza conflict as some of the participants have survived the Israeli assault on aid-ship Freedom Flotilla (Mavi Marmara). In this sense, it offers firsthand descriptions and the experience of consuming and resisting new media technologies. This analysis shows that most journalists are compelled to be cautious in reporting Israeli actions inside the occupied territory (Gaza). Further, media coverage of Gaza reflects a disproportionate reporting because most sections of the mainstream media include soundbites and opinions of writers that endorse the Israeli government propaganda. In contrast, the evidence shows that media systematically excludes the progressive voices including the Jewish scholars and campaigners. Thus, too often, news emerging from Gaza mainly through the mainstream media is either biased or manufactured. This state of affairs stimulates ordinary people; be they peace activists, campaigners, or scholars to make use of alternative means of communications and news dissemination that is the new media. However, this study finds that new media has transformed the Gaza conflict to an extent that Europe has more Palestinian sympathizers than ever before. Despite, perceptible progress and achievement, the new media is facing a threat that comes from the powerful political elites and the large media corporation. Arguably, new media sites such as Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube are icons on a Corresponding author: Irfan Raja, NUST University, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, S3H, Sector, H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan. Email: Irfan.journalist@gmail.com