The ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians, a conflict with roots dating back to the 1870s, has developed into a full-scale war with significant suffering for millions of people. Several generations throughout these nearly 150 years have been victims. Norwegian media, led by news, play a central role in disseminating information and knowledge about the conflict. Nevertheless, there is a need for a more thorough understanding of the conflict’s background, history and consequences. Something important is missing. Although the Norwegian media convey in-depth comments and analyses, it is mainly from experts and academics with a Norwegian background as sources. This limits the perspective and prevents a holistic understanding of the conflict. To truly shed light on the situation, it is necessary to include voices, insights, faces, experiences and analyzes from those closest to the conflict, with their unique cultural, political and historical perspectives. I find it surprising and disappointing that Norwegian media, especially news, are unable to present analyzes and storytelling from actors such as a professor from Cairo, an anthropologist from Lebanon, a journalist from Iraq and a political scientist from Syria. These people possess local knowledge, an understanding of language, culture and experiences that are crucial for shedding light on the conflict in a way that Norwegian experts do not have. They lack ties to the European institutions and traditions. Furthermore, it has to do with the historical ballast. Imagine a German commenting and explaining the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, against an Egyptian doing the same! There will be two completely different perspectives. None of them have to be crazy. The question I ask myself is whether the Norwegian media are afraid to give the microphone to voices from the Middle East. Are they afraid that these voices will challenge the established image that the Norwegian media has conveyed for decades? If this is the case, it represents a serious breach of trust, especially between news as a state-funded channel and its audience. Opening up to a diversity of perspectives will contribute to a more nuanced and balanced understanding of a complex conflict.
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The Norwegian media are fooling us – Statement
