Condemn NPR's reporting

M. HERBERT NATHAN

The story, "NPR series criticized" (Jewish News, Oct. 4) should have been on Page 1 instead of buried on Page 34. Anyone familiar with Israel's history since its founding by the United Nations in 1948 must often be astounded by Mideast news as presented by National Public Radio. At times their "news" is so biased against Israel that a discerning audience might wonder if its "facts" may have originated from the official Saudi or Egyptian newspapers.

A comprehensive study by CAMERA of two months of NPR's reporting revealed an imbalanced, anti-Israel stance. Pro-Arab guests were afforded 77 percent more coverage than pro-Israeli guests. There were almost twice as many pro-Palestinian/Arab-only segments as pro-Israel only segments.

More important is the slanted presentation by news "analysts." An updated survey from March 27-April 2, 2002, revealed 16 Israeli speakers, compared to 43 Arab and six pro-Arab speakers. Human-interest stories about Arab families were presented but no such stories about Israeli victims.

This week's NPR presentation of Israel/Palestinian "history" has been no exception.

Although I have written many times to NPR's president, to their ombudsman and to individual news analysts, there have never been any corrections or apologies.

The news is provided to local NPR stations by a central NPR entity in Washington, D.C., from whom local stations purchase most of their news programs. The majority of funding for the central entity comes from corporations and individuals. Eleven percent comes from the U.S. government and our taxes. Local stations are funded locally.

The only way to bring about a change in NPR's anti-Israel stance is through their "pocketbooks." Local stations KJZZ and KBAQ should be informed that local donations will stop until the biased reporting stops. Second, congressional representatives should be requested to stop funding NPR with our tax dollars until they correct this shameful dishonesty that fuels anti-Semitism. Third, when corporate or business names are announced by local NPR stations, ask their help in bringing pressure to bear. Also enlist all friends to help.

This dishonest, one-sided reporting reaches millions of listeners every day and helps create not only anti-Israel attitudes, but also anti-Semitism. It must be stopped.

M. Herbert Nathan is a semi-retired Valley radiologist. He is a past president of the American Society of Technion, Phoenix Chapter, and also has five grandchildren and one great- grandchild living in Jerusalem.

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