Attempted Objectivity

Abstract

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict involves groups adamantly opposed to one another, and both sides have claimed that the media are biased in favor of the other side. Although studies have explored this issue, many of them have relied on subjective measures. This study explores the biases, pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian, by looking at quantitative indicators of news coverage in the New York Times and Ha'aretz. Several time periods were examined (1987-88, 2000-01, and post-September 11, 2001), using multiple indicators. By these measures, the New York Times is more favorable toward the Israelis than the Palestinians, and the partiality has become more pronounced with time.Ha'aretz is also more favorable toward the Israelis, but less so than the Times.

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