Media

The role of Media and media in Palestine

General public is especially susceptible to the influence of modern mass-media.

Television talk shows and other media programs take a significant part in our lives and time; it is even truer for the Palestinian Population.

The history of media in Palestine:

Talking about Palestinian Media history, we can divide it into three stages:
The first stage occurred between the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza strip (1967) till the beginning of the first uprising (Intifada) 1987

The freedom of expression was restricted there and Palestinians were denied of any media means use.

The second stage started after the first uprising (Intifada) in 1987. One can notice in this period that the global media were focused on the Palestinian conflict, which enabled many of locals to participate in making the news.

The third stage started after the return of the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinians have more space for expression and able to own their means of media.

To read more on Palestinian media, click here.

Addressing the Local Media

The Palestinian population has the highest rate of television viewers around the world. According to a UNICEF survey, which was conducted in 2000, 84% of the Palestinian population watches local television stations (not including satellites). This rate rises during the existence of curfews, military invasions, or check point closures (i.e., no one is permitted entrance or exit through roads leading into/out of populated centers).

Thus, there is a great opportunity to use media as a tool to give Palestinian society and Palestinian women in specific a real voice, face and full-life and representation.

Offering high-quality programs related to women’s issues can create dialogue and debate and a new way of thinking within the Palestinian society, thus contributing to the attainment of impartial human development. Such programs may foster discussions within families, open new perspectives for individuals and gradually contribute to making change within the Palestinian society.

Palestinian women' image in media: misrepresentation and lack of positive women role models
In the Palestinian media, women are almost exclusively portrayed as victims of the Intifada; wailing and grieving over the loss of their relatives and loved ones, or are limited to be body models for promotional commercials.

On the other hand, there are Palestinian women who are standing-up for their rights, by building organizations and networks, confronting their daily problems through non-violent means, participating in political activities, building their own businesses, following up on their education, and making small changes in their society.

These women should be encouraged and promoted in order to become role models for other women, and the media can play a considerable role in providing this kind of support.

Plus, the local media fails to reflect the real critical deterioration of the situation of Palestinian women.

There are many local television programs, series and video clips that demonstrate violence against women, which include violent husbands battering their wives in the name of love and jealousy, represented as normal behaviors, and honor killings represented as justification for the quietness of society and families involved, blaming thus the women represented as criminals to be punished for their act. Those sensitive subjects are taboos in the local Media.

There is lack of awareness about human rights and women’s issues in the Arab and Palestinian media, and there is no consciousness about gender issues in general. All professions in the media are affected by this problem.

Democracy, gender issues and human rights are rarely an important part of decision makers’ and programs planners’ thinking. Similarly, interviewers, camera persons and editors rarely consider these issues.

The ways in which television treats and depicts women should be analyzed and improved.

If the media is affected by stereotypes, then the stories shown to the larger community transmit the same stereotypes regarding women, enforcing them throughout the Palestinian culture. The most effective method of breaking down such stereotypes would be to transmit new ideas through the media to challenge and influence the general public.

Women’s issues do not only concern women but also have profound implications on the whole society.

Therefore, gender awareness must be improved. The media should play an important role in highlighting women role models by creating discussions with families, opening new perspectives for individuals and slowly but surely, contributing to making change within the society.