Israel365 has launched a wide-ranging “Accuracy in Reporting Style Guide” to help writers and reporters accurately and precisely cover events in Israel and the Middle East. This initiative, developed in collaboration with Yisrael Medad of Israel’s Media Watch and Gil Hoffman of Honest Reporting, aims to combat bias and misinformation.
The guide is an informative resource to help journalists better understand the lexicon of the Israel-Hamas war and make informed choices on wording and terminology. It covers essential topics such as place names, institution titles, and common terms, providing historical context and recommendations on correct usage.
Rabbi Tuly Weisz, founder of Israel365, cautions that many in the media are deliberately or inadvertently adopting language that perpetuates false narratives and misrepresents the conflict in the Middle East.
“We hope that the Style Guide serves as an important resource for Christian journalists who want to be faithful to biblical truth when covering stories from the biblical heartland,” said Rabbi Weisz, who is also a columnist for Israel365news, The Jerusalem Post, Fox News, and Newsmax.
One key focus of the Style Guide is recommending historically accurate terminology to describe the geography of the region. This issue was also addressed at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention in February, where Israel365, The Israel Guys, and the Israel Allies Foundation unveiled their collaborative “Biblical Heartland Resolution,” which promotes the use of the term “Judea and Samaria” instead of “West Bank.” President & CEO Troy A. Miller endorsed the resolution.
“NRB opposes the use of the erroneous term ‘West Bank’ to describe the biblical heartland of Israel and calls on its members to refer to the region by its historic name of Judea and Samaria,” reads the resolution.
“Words matter,” Miller said at the meeting. “It’s time for us to step up and be honest about the truth of what’s happening in Israel and the definition of this land.”
“When people take their biblical support and turn it into real political action, it’s the most important weapon that Israel has in its diplomatic arsenal,” said Joshua Reinstein, president of the Israel Allies Foundation and director of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus.
For Christians, these lands are recognized as being within the biblical boundaries God established for Israel. For Jews, Yehuda v’Shomron—the Hebrew name for Judea and Samaria—holds deep historical and religious significance, encompassing regions central to the ancient Israelite kingdoms. Further, as spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister’s office Tal Heinrich noted at the meeting, this is the commonplace term in Jewish vocabulary to refer to their biblical, historical homeland. Heinrich emphasized that this is not a new concept but rather a reaffirmation of their true heritage.
For further insights from the Accuracy in Reporting Style Guide, click here. Israel365 encourages media professionals to prioritize accuracy and fairness in their reporting, fostering a more balanced and nuanced portrayal of the complex issues surrounding Israel.