{{short description|Pro-Israel media monitoring organization}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox organization | formation = {{start date and age|2000|10}} | logo = HonestReporting logo.png | logo_size = 310px | founder = Shaul Rosenblatt | location = Israel | leader_title = Chief Executive Officer | leader_name = Jacki Alexander | leader_title2 = Executive director | leader_name2 = Gil Hoffman | website = {{Official URL}} }}
'''HonestReporting''' or '''Honest Reporting''' is an Israeli media advocacy group.<ref name="Balmer"/> A pro-Israel media watchdog,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sokol |first1=Sam |title=News Agencies Dispute Israeli Allegations of Complicity in Hamas Massacre |url=https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/2023-11-09/ty-article/news-agencies-dispute-israeli-allegations-of-complicity-in-hamas-massacre/0000018b-b406-dea2-a9bf-f49e606b0000 |access-date=5 May 2024 |agency=Haaretz |date=Nov 9, 2023 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109172409/http://www.haaretz.com/world-news/2023-11-09/ty-article/news-agencies-dispute-israeli-allegations-of-complicity-in-hamas-massacre/0000018b-b406-dea2-a9bf-f49e606b0000 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2024 |title=Gil Hoffman |url=https://www.jpost.com/author/gil-hoffman |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref><ref name="Misbar-2025a">{{Cite news |date=July 27, 2025 |title=Inside HonestReporting: The Israeli Watchdog Shaping Gaza War Coverage and Endangering Journalists |url=https://www.misbar.com/en/editorial/2025/07/27/inside-honestreporting-israeli-watchdog-shaping-gaza-war-coverage-and-endangering-journalists |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251207135446/https://www.misbar.com/en/editorial/2025/07/27/inside-honestreporting-israeli-watchdog-shaping-gaza-war-coverage-and-endangering-journalists |archive-date=2025-12-07 |access-date=2026-02-07 |work=Misbar |language=en-EN|url-status=live}}</ref> it describes its mission as "combat[ting] ideological prejudice in journalism and the media, as it impacts Israel".<ref name="Balmer"/> It has been characterized as a pressure group that flags media coverage critical of Israel as inaccurate and targets journalists and media outlets.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cosh |first=Alex |date=2024-10-24 |title=Journalists Urged To Report Threats Received After Pro-Israel Campaigns |url=https://www.readthemaple.com/journalists-urged-to-report-threats-received-after-pro-israel-campaigns/ |access-date=2026-05-29 |website=The Maple |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Misbar-2025a" /><ref name="Reporters Without Borders-2025"/>
==History== HonestReporting says its mission is "to combat ideological prejudice in journalism and the media, as it impacts Israel".<ref name="Balmer"/> It was founded in October 2000 by Shaul Rosenblatt, founder and head of Aish Hatorah-United Kingdom in response to controversy over the Tuvia Grossman photograph at the outbreak of the Second Intifada. The episode is often cited by those who accuse the media of having an anti-Israel bias, and was the impetus for the founding of HonestReporting.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2000-10-06|title=Carnage for the Cameras|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB970792194386173971|access-date=September 30, 2021|archive-date=September 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930220542/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB970792194386173971|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Koltermann|first=Felix|title=Fotoreporter im Konflikt: Der internationale Fotojournalismus in Israel/Palästina|publisher=transcript Verlag|year=2017|location=Bielefeld|pages=25 n.3}}</ref><ref name="Rosenblum-2020" />
Within six weeks, HonestReporting had an email list of 10,000 volunteers to monitor the media and respond accordingly. Irwin Katsof offered to lead fundraising efforts to hire professional staff.<ref name="Rosenblum-2020">{{cite book |last1=Rosenblum |first1=Yonoson |title=Rav Noach Weinberg: Torah Revolutionary |date=2020-03-02 |publisher=Mosaica Press |isbn=978-1-946351-87-6 |pages=495–497 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x1hcEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22honestreporting%22&pg=PA495 |access-date=30 November 2023 |archive-date=October 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006051736/https://books.google.com/books?id=x1hcEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22honestreporting%22&pg=PA495#v=onepage&q=%22honestreporting%22&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>
In March 2006, a dedicated website by HonestReporting for covering the media in the UK was launched by two expatriate Britons, CEO Joe Hyams, and managing editor Simon Plosker;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archive.totallyjewish.com/news/honestreporting-launches-uk-site/ |title=HonestReporting Launches UK Site |website=TJ News Archive |language=en-US |access-date=2016-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824080355/http://archive.totallyjewish.com/news/honestreporting-launches-uk-site/ |archive-date=2014-08-24 }}</ref> in 2011, the HR UK website was merged into the main site.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://honestreporting.com/hr-elevating-action-against-the-uk-media/ |title=HR: Elevating Action Against the UK Media |website=HonestReporting |date=3 August 2011 |language=en-US |access-date=2016-05-17 |archive-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610052957/http://honestreporting.com/hr-elevating-action-against-the-uk-media/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In February 2022, Gil Hoffman was appointed as the executive director of HonestReporting.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://religionnews.com/2022/05/25/honestreporting-announces-appointment-of-gil-hoffman-as-new-executive-director/ |title=HonestReporting announces appointment of Gil Hoffman as new executive director |date=2022-05-25 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US |access-date=2023-01-10 |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110110159/https://religionnews.com/2022/05/25/honestreporting-announces-appointment-of-gil-hoffman-as-new-executive-director/ |url-status=live }}</ref> That September, Jacki Alexander was appointed global CEO of HonestReporting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-15 |title=HonestReporting Announces Appointment of Jacki Alexander as New Global CEO |url=https://honestreporting.com/honestreporting-announces-appointment-of-jacki-alexander-as-new-global-ceo/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=HonestReporting |language=en-US}}</ref> Alexander previously worked as a regional director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a pro-Israel lobby group.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harpaz |first=Beth |date=2023-11-09 |title=News outlets deny watchdog's allegations that they were tipped to Hamas attacks |url=https://forward.com/fast-forward/569129/hamas-photographers-honest-reporting-israel-ap-times/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=The Forward |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Misbar-2025a" />
In 2024, HonestReporting reported roughly $3.4 million in revenue, according to its profile on ProPublica, marking the highest figure recorded since 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Suozzo |first=Andrea |last2=Glassford |first2=Alec |last3=Ngu |first3=Ash |last4=Roberts |first4=Brandon |date=2013-05-09 |title=Honest Reporting Com Inc - Nonprofit Explorer |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/61611859 |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=ProPublica |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Misbar-2025a" />
===HonestReporting Canada=== HonestReporting Canada (HRC) was founded in 2003 to monitor Middle East news coverage in Canada. Journalist Jonathan Kay credited HRC with reducing perceived anti-Israel bias in the English-language media in Canada by 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cjnews.com/TOPScnCJN/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13275&Itemid=101 |title=Films at Concordia cause controversy |first=Ezra |last=Glinter |date=11 October 2007 |newspaper=Canadian Jewish News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013204715/http://www.cjnews.com/TOPScnCJN/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13275&Itemid=101 |archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kay |first1=Jonathan |title=Jonathan Kay on Stéphane Gendron, Quebec's Israel-hater en chef |url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/jonathan-kay-on-stephane-gendron-quebecs-israel-hater-en-chef |access-date=1 December 2023 |work=National Post |date=2011-11-04 |archive-date=October 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006051736/https://nationalpost.com/opinion/jonathan-kay-on-stephane-gendron-quebecs-israel-hater-en-chef |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012, a campaign by HRC led to a Canadian Broadcast Standards Council investigation after local politician Stéphane Gendron made controversial comments on the French-language V Television Network.<ref>{{cite news |title=Quebec mayor under fire for anti-Israel remarks |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-mayor-under-fire-for-anti-israel-remarks-1.1210525 |access-date=1 December 2023 |work=CBC |date=2012-01-06 |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204040511/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-mayor-under-fire-for-anti-israel-remarks-1.1210525 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In November 2024, HonestReporting Canada's assistant director, Robert Walker, was criminally charged with 17 counts of mischief for allegedly vandalizing several properties in a Toronto neighborhood by spray painting anti-Palestinian graffiti.<ref>{{cite news |title=Assistant director of Honest Reporting facing charges in connection with Riverdale graffiti |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/assistant-director-of-honest-reporting-facing-charges-in-connection-with-riverdale-graffiti/article_465e84d2-d4f2-11ef-9abb-076ea5266a8e.htmld2-d4f2-11ef-9abb-076ea5266a8e.html |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Toronto Star |date=January 24, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lapin |first1=Andrew |title=Senior employee of Canadian pro-Israel media watchdog charged for anti-Palestinian graffiti |url=https://www.jta.org/2025/01/28/global/senior-employee-of-canadian-pro-israel-media-watchdog-charged-for-anti-palestinian-graffiti |access-date=January 31, 2025 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=January 28, 2025}}</ref> The charges were withdrawn on March 5, 2025, in recognition of a $1,000 charitable donation by Walker to the Sick Kids Foundation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Powell |first1=Betsy |title=Crown withdraws charges against Honest Reporting staffer over anti-Palestinian graffiti |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/crown-withdraws-charges-against-honest-reporting-staffer-over-anti-palestinian-graffiti/article_31e9f58c-f909-11ef-8b13-f712e169b30e.html |publisher=Toronto Star |access-date=March 28, 2025 |date=March 5, 2025}}</ref>
==Activities== HonestReporting reviews news articles and op-eds regarding Israel to check for and respond to alleged bias or fake news.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/1670785837-al-jazeera-witness-is-pij-terrorist-claims-pro-israel-watchdog |title='Al Jazeera witness is PIJ terrorist' claims pro-Israel watchdog |website=i24NEWS |access-date=2023-01-10 |quote=HonestReporting executive director Gil Hoffman stated: "The credibility of the investigations of Al Jazeera in probing Abu Akleh's death are questionable now that HonestReporting exposed their chief witness as an active member of a murderous terrorist organization. |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110110219/https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/1670785837-al-jazeera-witness-is-pij-terrorist-claims-pro-israel-watchdog |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2014-08-25/ty-article/time-retracts-idf-organ-harvesting-claim/0000017f-e773-df5f-a17f-ffffa0fe0000 |title=Time Retracts Claim That Israeli Troops Harvested Palestinian Organs |date=August 25, 2014 |language=en |newspaper=Haaretz |access-date=2023-01-10 |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110110159/https://www.haaretz.com/2014-08-25/ty-article/time-retracts-idf-organ-harvesting-claim/0000017f-e773-df5f-a17f-ffffa0fe0000 |url-status=live }}</ref> HonestReporting is not a news organization, and therefore does not seek to follow journalistic ethics and standards.<ref name="Balmer">{{Cite news |last=Balmer |first=Crispian |title=HonestReporting accepts news groups had no prior warning of Oct. 7 Hamas attack |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-advocacy-group-accepts-news-outlets-had-no-prior-warning-hamas-attack-2023-11-10/ |work=Reuters |access-date=January 8, 2024 |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113084337/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-advocacy-group-accepts-news-outlets-had-no-prior-warning-hamas-attack-2023-11-10/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
HonestReporting has been described as a pressure group that challenges media reports it views as unfairly critical of Israel and campaigns against journalists and media outlets whose coverage it considers biased.<ref name="Misbar-2025a" /><ref name="Reporters Without Borders-2025">{{cite web |title=SOCIAL - They smear media and promote mistrust of journalists |url=https://rsf.org/en/protagonist-social-they-smear-media-and-promote-mistrust-journalists-3 |website=Reporters Without Borders |access-date=12 February 2026 |date=30 October 2025}}</ref>
HonestReporting's actions have resulted in a number of corrections in the media. In 2022, Idris Muktar Ibrahim, a producer at CNN, was found to have made social media posts praising Hamas and saying "#TeamHitler."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/cnn-cans-producer-idris-mukhtar-ibrahim-after-he-posts-about-praising-hamas-terrorism-and-writing-supernumberteamhitler-on-twitter/ar-AA14jEvg |title=CNN Cans Producer Idris Mukhtar Ibrahim After He Posts About Praising Hamas Terrorism & Writing '#TeamHitler' On Twitter |date=November 19, 2022 |website=MSN |language=en-US |access-date=2023-01-10 |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110110159/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/cnn-cans-producer-idris-mukhtar-ibrahim-after-he-posts-about-praising-hamas-terrorism-and-writing-supernumberteamhitler-on-twitter/ar-AA14jEvg |url-status=live }}</ref> Following a report about him published by HonestReporting, CNN terminated their professional relationship with Muktar Ibrahim, who later apologized.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/people/488293-idris-muktar-kenyan-journalist-tweets-posted-10-years-cost-cnn-job/ |title=Idris Muktar: Kenyan Journalist Says Tweets He Posted 10 Years Ago Cost Him CNN Job |last=Shiundu |first=Linda |date=2022-12-24 |language=en-US |website=Tuko |access-date=2023-01-10 |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110110220/https://www.tuko.co.ke/people/488293-idris-muktar-kenyan-journalist-tweets-posted-10-years-cost-cnn-job/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
HonestReporting and its Canadian affiliate (HRC) have faced significant criticism from professional journalistic organizations and media outlets regarding their methods and impact on press freedom. The Canadian Association of Journalists, the Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have characterized the group's "Action Alerts" and online campaigns as a form of "digital warfare", "intimidation", and a "smear" against media professionals.<ref name="Chlaikhy-2024">{{cite web |last1=Chlaikhy |first1=Loubna |title=INVESTIGATION — Journalists denounce pressure from the pro-Israel group Honest Reporting Canada |url=https://www.laconverse.com/en/articles/enquete---des-journalistes-denoncent-les-pressions-du-groupe-pro-israelien-honest-reporting-canada |website=www.laconverse.com |access-date=24 March 2026 |date=22 October 2024}}</ref><ref name="Reporters Without Borders-2025" /> Journalists from ''The Guardian'', CTV News, and CBC News have reported being targeted by "global blitzes" of thousands of template-based emails that often employ a "violent" tone, accusing reporters of antisemitism or of "complicity in murder" to discredit their work.<ref name="Leigh-2001">{{cite web |last1=Leigh |first1=David |title=Media manipulators |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2001/feb/22/internetnews.comment |website=The Guardian |access-date=24 March 2026 |date=22 February 2001}}</ref><ref name="Chlaikhy-2024"/>
Sonya Fatah, an associate professor working at the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Journalism and co-lead of the Canada Press Freedom Project, said of HonestReporting, "I don't call it 'HonestReporting.' I call it dishonest reporting. I think it's very much a jingoistic organization that has a very clear agenda, which is to prevent any form of critique of the state of Israel and equating any criticism of it with antisemitism."<ref name=":0" />
=== Relationship with the Israeli government === HonestReporting states that it is not affiliated with any government or political party.<ref name="Misbar-2025a" /><ref>{{cite web |title=FKN0047 - Evidence on Disinformation and 'fake news' |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/87539/html/ |website=committees.parliament.uk |access-date=12 February 2026}}</ref> In 2024, the organization participated in a high-level strategy session with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar to coordinate a $150 million "public diplomacy" initiative described as "consciousness warfare" intended to influence global opinion. During these meetings, HonestReporting requested that the Israeli government provide specific data regarding Palestinian journalists killed in military actions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harkov |first=Lahav |date=2024-12-26 |title=Israel's foreign minister is looking for a way to spend $150 million on public diplomacy |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2024/12/israels-foreign-minister-is-looking-for-a-way-to-spend-150-million-on-hasbara/ |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=Jewish Insider |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Misbar-2025a" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lis |first1=Jonathan |title=Israel approves 150-million-shekel boost to Foreign Ministry's hasbara budget |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-09-30/ty-article-live/netanyahu-claims-israel-flipped-the-script-says-pressure-now-on-hamas-to-accept-deal/00000199-9866-d0f3-a599-dee781cd0000?liveBlogItemId=565985674#565985674 |website=Haaretz |access-date=12 February 2026 |date=30 September 2025}}</ref>
HonestReporting has also collaborated with advocacy groups StandWithUs and Shurat HaDin, both of which have reportedly received guidance or support from Israeli officials within the National Security Council and the Mossad.<ref name="Misbar-2025b">{{Cite web |date=21 November 2025 |title=Exploiting an Ai-Generated Image To Recycle the "Pallywood" Narrative and Deny the Murder of Muhammad Al-Durrah |url=https://www.misbar.com/amp/en/editorial/2025/11/21/exploiting-ai-generated-image-recycle-%E2%80%9Cpallywood%E2%80%9D-narrative-and-deny-murder-muhammad-al-durrah |website=Misbar}}</ref><ref name="Misbar-2025a" /> Critics, including fact-checking website Misbar, have noted that many of HonestReporting's senior staff members are former employees of the IDF Spokesperson's Unit or the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, leading to accusations that the group functions as a ''hasbara'' arm of the Israeli government rather than a neutral monitor.<ref name="Misbar-2025a" /> Additionally, a 2001 investigation by ''The Guardian'' linked the group's early operations to Aish HaTorah, which was described at the time as a right-wing extremist organization.<ref name="Leigh-2001"/>
=== Timeline === In 2012, HonestReporting filed a complaint with the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) in the UK after ''The Guardian'' ran a correction apologizing for having stated that Jerusalem was Israel's capital, contrary to the paper's style guide. HonestReporting acted to initiate a judicial review after the PCC initially ruled that ''The Guardian'' had not breached the PCC code, saying that the ruling had "potential to further delegitimize Jerusalem's status as Israel's capital." The PCC retracted its original ruling and asked the paper to defend its position. ''The Guardian'' then modified its style guide so that it no longer categorically states that Tel Aviv is the capital of Israel rather than Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahern |first1=Raphael |title=Guardian: We were wrong to call Tel Aviv Israel's capital |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/guardian-admits-we-were-wrong-in-calling-tel-aviv-israels-capital/ |access-date=29 February 2024 |work=Times of Israel |date=2012-08-08 |archive-date=February 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229022216/https://www.timesofisrael.com/guardian-admits-we-were-wrong-in-calling-tel-aviv-israels-capital/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
During the 2012 Gaza War, HonestReporting accused BBC News of broadcasting footage of an injured Palestinian man who was later shown walking around, calling it a case of "Pallywood". A BBC spokesperson said in response, "The footage shown by BBC News was edited from a longer sequence provided by the Reuters news agency in which the man in question is shown being lifted from the ground. He is then given attention at the roadside, before appearing later having recovered. Steps have been taken to ensure any re-broadcast reflects the full sequence so that is absolutely clear to our audience."<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2012 |title='PALLYWOOD': Israel accuses enemies of fake casualties |url=https://www.news.com.au/world/pallywood-israel-accuses-enemies-of-fake-casualties/news-story/184ddfd9b80607903dace91a5b29c23f |website=News.com.au}}</ref> In 2015, HonestReporting published an article titled "On This Day: The Emergence of Al-Durrah and Pallywood",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Plosker |first=Simon |date=2015-09-30 |title=On This Day: Al-Dura and the Advent of Pallywood |url=https://honestreporting.com/on-this-day-al-dura-and-the-advent-of-pallywood/ |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=HonestReporting |language=en-US}}</ref> in which it cast doubt on the killing of Muhammad al-Durrah in 2000, during the Second Intifada.<ref name="Misbar-2025b" />
In 2022, journalist Shatha Hammad was discovered to have posted on Facebook that she considered Adolf Hitler her "friend"<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/reuters-rescinds-award-palestinian-journalist-surfaced-social-media-posts-praising-hitler |title=Reuters rescinds award from Palestinian journalist following surfaced social media posts praising Hitler |last=Halon |first=Yael |date=2022-10-19 |website=Fox News |language=en-US |access-date=2023-01-10 |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110182151/https://www.foxnews.com/media/reuters-rescinds-award-palestinian-journalist-surfaced-social-media-posts-praising-hitler |url-status=live }}</ref> and that they "share the same ideology, such as the extermination of the Jews."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://arab.news/z6jva |title=Palestinian journalist stripped of award over antisemitic comments |date=2022-10-21 |website=Arab News |language=en |access-date=2023-01-10}}</ref> Hammad made other posts using the nickname "Hitler" and denying Israel's right to exist.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkeyikpqi |title=Palestinian journalist stripped of award for pro-Hitler remarks |author=i24NEWS |date=2022-10-19 |website=Ynetnews |language=en |access-date=2023-01-10 |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110110222/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkeyikpqi |url-status=live }}</ref> She also termed terrorists who murdered Israeli worshipers in the 2014 Jerusalem synagogue attack as "martyrs." After HonestReporting's exposure of her posts, the Thomson Reuters Foundation and the Kurt Schork Memorial Fund withdrew the awards they had granted her.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/news/reuters-strips-award-from-palestinian-journalist-after-she-said-im-friends-with-hitler-1opHcMaVpSbQZrxjzc0BJT |title=Reuters strips award from Palestinian journalist after she said 'I'm friends with Hitler' |first=Daniel |last=Ben-David |date=October 19, 2022 |newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle |access-date=2023-01-10 |quote=On Sunday, media watchdog HonestReporting uncovered posts made by Shatha Hammad, a freelance journalist who has written for Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera, in which she signed off her Facebook comments using the nickname "Hitler". |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110110200/https://www.thejc.com/news/news/reuters-strips-award-from-palestinian-journalist-after-she-said-im-friends-with-hitler-1opHcMaVpSbQZrxjzc0BJT |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2023, news producer Fady Hanona was discovered by HonestReporting to have posted antisemitic social media posts,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/ny-times-cuts-ties-with-gaza-freelancer-who-called-to-kill-jews-like-hitler-did/ |title=NY Times cuts ties with Gaza freelancer who called to kill Jews 'like Hitler did' |newspaper=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |access-date=2023-01-10 |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110110206/https://www.timesofisrael.com/ny-times-cuts-ties-with-gaza-freelancer-who-called-to-kill-jews-like-hitler-did/ |url-status=live }}</ref> leading news outlets he previously worked for such as ''The New York Times'', ''The Guardian'', and others to cut ties with him.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/business/media/the-guardian-and-the-abc-join-global-media-outlets-in-cutting-ties-with-antisemitic-freelance-journalist-fady-hanona/news-story/797cbee742e2474eb13124b175a43511 |title=The Guardian and the ABC join global media outlets in cutting ties with anti-Semitic freelance journalist Fady Hanona |first=Tyrone |last=Clarke |date=2022-08-22 |website=Sky News |language=en |access-date=2023-01-10 |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110110159/https://www.skynews.com.au/business/media/the-guardian-and-the-abc-join-global-media-outlets-in-cutting-ties-with-antisemitic-freelance-journalist-fady-hanona/news-story/797cbee742e2474eb13124b175a43511 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In November 2023, HonestReporting published an article questioning whether Palestinian photojournalists had tipped off the Associated Press, Reuters, ''The New York Times'' and CNN prior to the October 7 attacks. The report led two Israeli politicians to threaten that these journalists be killed,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-09 |title=Media watchdog says it was just 'raising questions' with insinuations about photographers and Hamas |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-photographers-attack-200be1ba47361f1c1fc113cdaeb65d04 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> while the Israeli Prime Minister's office said the journalists were "accomplices in crimes against humanity".<ref name="Reuters-2023">{{Cite news |date=2023-11-09 |title=Reuters denies any suggestion it had prior knowledge of Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/reuters-denies-it-had-prior-knowledge-oct-7-hamas-attack-israel-2023-11-09/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |archive-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213135130/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/reuters-denies-it-had-prior-knowledge-oct-7-hamas-attack-israel-2023-11-09/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The media organizations strongly refuted allegations that they had any prior knowledge of the Hamas attack. Yousef Masoud, whose photos were published in the ''NYT'' and AP, started photographing 90 minutes after the attack started. Reuters said that its pictures, taken by two freelance photojournalists, were taken two hours after the attack began. The AP and CNN announced that they would stop working with one of the freelance photographers after HonestReporting showed a picture of him being kissed by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/09/media/news-outlets-deny-prior-knowledge-of-hamas-attack/index.html |title=News outlets deny prior knowledge of Hamas attack after Israeli government demands answers over misleading report |author=Oliver Darcy |date=2023-11-10 |publisher=CNN |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110003244/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/09/media/news-outlets-deny-prior-knowledge-of-hamas-attack/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Barr |first=Jeremy |date=2023-11-09 |title=News organizations deny advance knowledge of Hamas attack |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2023/11/09/cnn-ap-photographer-hamas/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109223958/https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2023/11/09/cnn-ap-photographer-hamas/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Reuters-2023" /> On November 10, 2023, HonestReporting's director said he accepted that the media groups had no advance knowledge of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.<ref name="Balmer"/> The organization's reliability has been questioned following a November 2023 report suggesting that freelance photojournalists had prior knowledge of the October 7 attacks. Major media outlets including ''The New York Times'', Associated Press, and Reuters refuted these claims using metadata to prove photography began well after the attacks started.<ref name="Audureau-2023">{{cite web |last1=Audureau |first1=William |title=Photojournalists 'embedded' with Hamas on October 7: Heavy but unsubstantiated Israeli accusations |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/les-decodeurs/article/2023/11/11/photojournalists-embedded-with-hamas-on-october-7-heavy-but-unsubstantiated-israeli-accusations_6247085_8.html |website=Le Monde.fr |access-date=24 March 2026 |date=11 November 2023}}</ref> RSF noted that these accusations were made "without any credible evidence" while ''The New York Times'' expressed "grave concern" that such allegations endanger freelancers in conflict zones.<ref name="Reporters Without Borders-2025" /><ref name="Audureau-2023"/> The fact-checking site Misbar alleged that several Palestinian journalists were targeted by the military or had their homes bombed shortly after being identified by HonestReporting.<ref name="Misbar-2025a" />
==See also== *Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America *Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting *Jewish Internet Defense Force *Media bias *Media coverage of the Arab–Israeli conflict *Media Watch International
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Honestreporting}} Category:Media analysis organizations and websites Category:Organizations involved in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict Category:Organizations established in 2000 Category:Media coverage of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict Category:Misinformation in the Gaza war