Middle East reporting in Germany: “As a journalist you quickly reach your limits”

Anyone reporting on the Middle East conflict in Germany needs a thick skin: there is a risk of shitstorms, personal hostility and even professional consequences. A new study from the Free University of Berlin has now scientifically examined this. The result: A majority of journalists perceive an increased threat level.

For the study, communication scientist Carola Richter, together with conflict researchers Nina Moya Schreieder and Jannis Julien Grimm, surveyed 179 journalists. The results are not representative, but according to the researchers, they provide reliable data on the topic for the first time and complement research that has so far been mainly qualitative. The taz spoke to Carola Richter about the new findings - and about what needs to change in German editorial departments.

Ms. Richter, what are German journalists afraid of when they write about the Middle East conflict?

Carola Richter is Professor of International Communication at the Free University of Berlin. There she heads the Center for Media and Information Literacy (CeMIL) and researches the role of the media in the Middle East conflict.

We found in the study that a third of respondents said they felt a need to self-censor. When we ask more specifically about topics that they consider to be sensitive, about half mention human and international rights violations in Israel or Israeli politics. But pro-Palestine protests are also mentioned.

What consequences do journalists fear?

We were surprised that it is very important that people exercise restraint in the media themselves, in the staff or towards editors-in-chief because they are worried about being defamed or excluded. With regard to their own Middle East reporting, over 20 percent said that they had experienced exclusion in their own media. Over 40 percent have also experienced online defamation, hate speech or threats. So this didn't just come from my own professional environment.

But it's also about the fear of possibly being excluded. Some have reported having their jobs revoked or their publications not being printed or sent.

Are journalists who express themselves more pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian particularly at risk of hostility inside and outside the editorial offices?

We did not specifically ask whether someone is pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian. That would also be pigeonholing, which, in my opinion, most of the journalists who answered here would resist. For example, we asked about specific attitudes towards the Middle East conflict and specified specific topics.

One topic was: How do you feel about the special protection of Jewish life in Germany? Over 90 percent said that this topic was important or particularly important to them. In this respect, I would not simply say that some are pro-Palestinian and others are pro-Israel. In the editorial offices themselves, however, people seem to be more offended by positions critical of Israel.

And yet the quality seems to differ: the journalist Iman Sefati was threatened with a knife by anti-Israel activists in 2024, and trade unions and “Reporters Without Borders” have been warning about increasing violence at Palestine demonstrations for years.

We also asked whether there had been direct experiences of violence, i.e. physical violence, violence by the police or damage to property, for example to a car. Only a few people reported this, about one percent. That doesn't mean that others can't also be affected. We know that the mood at pro-Palestinian demonstrations is often anti-media because many feel that they are not being treated correctly by the media.

They asked almost 600 journalists and around 30 percent took part. How did you make the selection?

We wanted to interview those who work on the region itself, including foreign correspondents. But also those who deal with the topic in German editorial offices or as freelance journalists.

It's also about your own expertise, what conclusion did you come to?

Many report a relatively high level of knowledge, especially on topics such as anti-Semitism and racism. We see a need to catch up when it comes to knowledge of the region itself. Only a little more than a third of those surveyed said they had a higher level of knowledge about Israel, Palestine and the surrounding countries. One must assume that a particularly competent assessment of the political and social conditions on site is not always possible.

That's why many rely on contacts with local journalists and friends or family, the study says.

Yes, half of those surveyed said they work with local journalists in Israel or Palestine. 56 percent have friends and 13 percent even have family in Israel, 36.5 percent have friends and 3 percent have family in Palestine. And around half of all those surveyed have already carried out research on site.

What do you recommend to editorial teams to improve the climate for journalists?

The problem is: There are hierarchies and you quickly reach limits when you take certain positions. This is something editorial boards should think about. You should ensure an open culture of debate and take measures so that personal references can be introduced as a resource for knowledge.

Knowledge bases and factual research must also play a major role in deciding which perspectives are taken into account and what can be published. Journalists must have the opportunity to express their assessments freely without anyone defaming them or making them feel like they cannot say certain things.