Chilling statements by HonestReporting Canada in December 2022
In December 2022, HonestReporting Canada published at least three campaigns which named at least two individual media workers.
The Canada Press Freedom Project is tracking pressure campaigns published by HonestReporting Canada, which target individual media workers and organizations.
HRC describes itself as an “independent grassroots organization promoting fairness and accuracy in Canadian media coverage of Israel, the Middle East and issues related to and affecting Canadian Jews.” The organization monitors media coverage of issues related to Israel and Palestine, publishes criticism of articles perceived to be critical of Israel and mobilizes individuals to complain to media organizations.
The CPFP considers many of HRC’s campaigns naming individual journalists and publications to have the effect of chilling statements. The CPFP’s methodology defines chilling statements as those which may be perceived to or have the potential to thwart, derail or prevent a media worker or organization from continuing to pursue their work.
Many HRC posts target individual media workers by name, and typically encourage people to contact the media worker, their editors or other newsroom leaders to demand corrections, retractions or express disapproval of the reporting. The alerts often include pre-written form letters.
CPFP is tracking only those posts which name individual media workers or newsrooms and which also include a means to contact the individuals or organizations, including form letters, email addresses or links to social media accounts.
Alerts also often include photos of the people named. In one case, HRC published a shirtless photo of an immigration lawyer, which it later removed; in another case, HRC published a photo of a doctor which had been edited to add what the doctor described as a “sexualized body.”
Whenever content involves coverage or analysis of Israel or Palestine, HRC often accuses media workers of antisemitism or suggests that they sympathize with or support militant groups or terrorist acts.
Media workers have reported receiving hundreds of messages by email and on social media after being named in HRC campaigns, which have included abusive language targeting them on the basis of their identity.
The nature of these accusations against named journalists and the volume of complaints and harassment which often follow can create a chill on reporting. Media workers report that they contribute to a climate of fear and self-censorship, and can exacerbate worries about job precarity and editorial freedom.
HRC has not responded to requests for comment.