NYT hires anti-Semitic freelancer for Gaza reporting again.
The New York Times Re-Enlists Controversial Freelancer to Cover Israel-Hamas War
The renowned New York Times has once again hired a freelancer, who made headlines last year for sharing anti-Semitic posts, to report on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
In 2022, the newspaper took action after a watchdog organization uncovered Soliman Hijjy, a Gaza-based freelance videographer for the Times, for his history of praising Adolf Hitler and endorsing Hamas attacks against Israel. The Times assured the public that appropriate measures were taken in response.
Hijjy’s disturbing Facebook posts, such as “How great you are Hitler” in 2012 and a self-portrait captioned “in a state of harmony as Hitler was during the Holocaust” in 2018, resurfaced in 2020. HonestReporting, the organization that exposed these posts, revealed that Hijjy had shared the 2018 post again just months before the Times hired him to cover the 2021 clashes between Israel and Hamas.
In addition to his admiration for Hitler, Hijjy also posted a picture in 2018 showing rockets heading towards the Israeli city of Ashkelon, referring to them as “rockets of the resistance.”
Following the publication of HonestReporting’s report, the New York Times informed the watchdog that they had addressed the concerns and taken appropriate action. Consequently, Hijjy’s name disappeared from the Times‘ coverage of Israel. However, in the past eight days, Hijjy’s Times author page has become active again, coinciding with Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel.
Hijjy was credited with a co-byline on October 12 for a video capturing the scene at Al Shifa Hospital, where doctors treated civilian patients injured in Israeli strikes. He was solely credited for a Thursday video about another hospital in Khan Younis. According to his author page, Hijjy has contributed to nine New York Times pieces published this month.
The New York Times has faced criticism for its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict. After an explosion at Gaza’s Al Ahli Hospital on Tuesday, the Times was among several outlets that unquestioningly reported Hamas’s claims that an Israeli strike was responsible. However, both the United States and Israel have since disputed this, stating that the evidence indicates the blast was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket.
Neither the New York Times nor Hijjy have responded to requests for comment.
What impact does the decision to rehire Hijjy have on the New York Times’ commitment to unbiased reporting and ethical journalism?
And Hamas. This raised serious concerns about oversight and due diligence within the hiring process at the New York Times.
The decision to re-enlist Hijjy for coverage of the ongoing conflict is alarming and raises questions about the newspaper’s commitment to unbiased reporting and ethical journalism. The Times has a responsibility to ensure that its journalists and freelancers adhere to strict ethical guidelines and do not promote hate speech or endorse violence against any group or individuals.
By rehiring Hijjy, the New York Times risks damaging its credibility and reputation for fair and impartial journalism. It sends a conflicting message to its readers and the international community about the newspaper’s commitment to upholding journalistic integrity.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas is a highly sensitive and complex issue that requires nuanced and unbiased reporting. The appointment of a freelancer with a history of anti-Semitic remarks not only undermines the legitimacy of the reporting but also risks perpetuating misinformation and bias.
The New York Times must reevaluate its decision and take immediate action to address this issue. It is essential that the newspaper conduct a thorough investigation into its hiring practices and implement stronger vetting procedures to ensure that freelancers with a history of controversial views are not given a platform to further their agenda.
Furthermore, the Times should provide a full and transparent explanation to its readers and the public on how and why Hijjy was rehired despite his previous problematic social media activity. Accountability and transparency are crucial in rebuilding trust and credibility.
In conclusion, the re-enlistment of a controversial freelancer to cover the Israel-Hamas conflict raises serious concerns about the New York Times‘ commitment to unbiased reporting and ethical journalism. It is imperative that the newspaper takes swift and decisive action to rectify this situation and prevent similar occurrences in the future. The reputation and credibility of the New York Times as a reputable news source are at stake, and it must prioritize the principles of journalistic integrity and impartiality to regain trust from its readers and the international community.
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