By Joel Magalnick, JTNews Correspondent
On May 14, approximately 30 members of the Jewish community picked up their signs and marched outside of National Public Radio affiliate KUOW’s headquarters in Seattle’s University District. The demonstration, one of nearly three dozen nationwide, protested NPR’s coverage of Israel. Organizers say that over the past several years, coverage has been biased against Israel.
Many individuals and Jewish organizations had unsuccessfully asked NPR to portray Israel more fairly and accurately, according to an email from protest organizer Janice Borawick. Demonstrators urged listeners not to give their financial support to the radio network until its coverage becomes less slanted.
Organizing groups www.honestreporting.com and the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America accuse NPR of omitting facts and creating double standards when interviewing Israelis and Palestinians.
According to a written statement from the station, “NPR and KUOW stand behind NPR’s Middle East reporting practices and coverage. [They] are committed to providing listeners with a wide range of views and opinions despite heavy pressure from special interests groups.”
Because of road reconstruction, Seattle’s normally busy University Ave. has been open to only foot traffic for several weeks. As a result, the demonstrators that walked peacefully past the public radio station’s front door went largely unnoticed. KUOW correspondent Derek Wong did interview several of the protestors, however.
The crowd carried mostly hand-drawn signs with quotes such as “National Palestinian Radio” and “Interview an Israeli today” while Borawick handed information sheets to a few onlookers. Though only 30 came to this protest, approximately 75 demonstrators showed up at New York’s public radio station. As many as 100 had been expected for the original March 27 march, Borawick said, noting that she had hoped for a larger turnout.
Local activist Sharon Finegold, however, noted that the numbers were less important than the message intended for Seattle’s Jewish community. She said the protest was meant to press the community to withhold support for KUOW until coverage on Israel improves.
“Challenging the financial underpinnings of NPR will make them listen,” Finegold said, “because nothing else has.”