FROM THE CHAIRMAN'S DESK:

The past year was not an easy one.
On the bright side, recognition of IMW has significantly increased as a result of our publications, parliamentary activities, lectures and media appearances. The Shamgar commission vindicated our sharp criticism of the television coverage of Avishai Raviv and his Eyal organization. Other highlights are detailed elsewhere in this report.
The down side is that especially the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) took the liberty to attempt to bring down with unethical means a democratically elected government; did not keep the public informed of suspected criminal activity by senior members of the IBA and allowed various journalists to mount a campaign of incitement against the Haredi community.

Our attempts to restrain the IBA were stymied by a Justice Ministry which systematically procrastinates, delaying decisions for years. The government preferred to wait patiently rather than tackle the ills of the media head-on.
Administratively, IMW was immensely strengthened by two dedicated national service volunteers, Alena Guchstein and Tanya Binstein. We have started to implement our educational program on critical media viewing. Your help in identifying high schools interested in our program would be highly appreciated.

Our Haifa branch is active, led by Mr. Moshe Geiger. We expect significant changes in the media during the coming year. These include implementation of the recommendations of the Peled Commission (of which I was a member), the recommendations of the Zuckerman Commission on the IBA, sweeping personnel changes in the IBA, and a new commander for 'Galei Zahal' Army radio station. We will do our utmost, to assure that these changes will really revolutionize Israel's media, leading to pluralism, reliability, decency and the high ethical standards fitting for a true democratic state.

Our success depends on you, our supportive public. I urge you to join our effort. Your contribution of at least the relatively small monthly amount of 10 NIS will go a long way in aiding us in implementing our common goals. Remember, we are the only media consumer organization in Israel! We look forward to your participation in our organisation. Your comments, criticism and information are always welcome.

With sincere wishes, Eli Pollak

A summary of the wide range of activities of Israel's Media Watch this past year follows:

A. Meetings:

Conferences and meetings were conducted with the following:

• on August 11, 1997 with Communications Minister Limor Livnat to discuss IMW's follow-up contribution to the Peled Report recommendations;
• on August 17 with Ahuva Feinmesser, then Educational Television director;
• on September 10 with Health Minister Yehoshua Matza to deliberate regulations for medical advertising;
• on November 26 with the National Religious Party's Knesset Faction to discuss media issues and the possibility for cooperation;
• on December 14 with the Education Ministry's Director-General, Ben-Tzion Del;
• on January 14, 1998, in separate sessions, with Ministers Michael Eitan, Tzachi HaNegbi and Rafael Eitan concerning the IBA budget;
• on January 21 with Interior Minister Eli Suissa when IMW outlined its position regarding the Tzadok Commission Report on changing the press laws;
• on February 4 with Kol Yisrael Director-General Amnon Nadav and,
• on February 5 with Tzvi Hauser, aide to Communications Minister Livnat and in charge of the implementation of the Peled Commission's recommendations.

B. Parliamentary & Legal:

1. IMW's complaint caused the removal of the series, "Plain Clothes", from the Educational Television Network. It was deemed unfit for the scheduled early afternoon hour of broadcast due to its violent and permissive character.

2. For the second consecutive year, IMW challenged the budget proposal of the IBA. Representatives of the IMW appeared before the Knesset's Finance Committee on January 12, 1998 and lobbied Ministers and MKs prior to this meeting and after. We achieved the delay of the vote on four occasions but ultimately, it was approved with very minor changes.

3. IMW's proposed legislation to adopt a system of content value indication regarding levels of violence, moral permissiveness and themes of drug abuse was adopted by MK Chanan Porat who tabled proposed legislation for preliminary reading. Discussions under the auspices of the Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs, are taking place.

4. IMW reps sat in on a meeting of the Knesset Education Committee which deliberated the appointment of the new director of the Educational Television Network.

5. IMW renewed its truth-in-advertising campaign after Israel Radio recently rebroadcast misleading promotional ads for Clinica-On. Our criminal complaint submitted to the Consumer Protection Unit has held up several months due to a vacancy in the unit's supervisor.

6. Miriam Ben-Porat, in her role as Public Complaints Commissioner, refused to hear IMW's complaint that charged the IBA with preventing IMW from appearing on certain interview programs on Kol Yisrael.

7. The State Prosecutor's Office is still dragging its feet on the issue of our complaint against the IBA, charging its employees with staging the Eyal swearing- in ceremony over two years ago.

C. Ads, Op-Eds and Public Appearances:

Op-ed pieces, comment, correspondence and research articles appeared in the following journals: Makor Rishon, HaTzofeh, HaAretz, Yediot Ahronot, Kol Ha'Ir, Yerushalayim, Nekuda and the Israel Democracy Institute's "Seventh Eye" professional media periodical.

IMW reps were interviewed on various Kol Yisrael programs hosted by Daniel Bloch, Yoel Rappel and Avraham Salomon and appeared on Meir Gross' talk show on Arutz 7. IMW's weekly opinion slot on Arutz 7 was renewed and is broadcast every Thursday following the 12 noon news. The English-language programs of Arutz 7 have also interviewed IMW spokesmen.

A special "Friends of IMW" publicity insert was included in the Feb. 20 issue of Makor Rishon.

• Mordechai Kirschenbaum, outgoing IBA Director-General: "You are fascists who do not know what is democracy...now, in my last two months...I have no intention of holding back and absorbing all the political attacks and hostile activities directed against the IBA". "I will now reveal all what you and your friends [Medad and Butbol], the hostile elements, have been doing here...from now on there is no more 'taking it'. It's your turn to 'take it'". (Ma'ariv & Yediot Ahronot, February 10, 1998).

• Yoel Rekem, the Second Broadcasting Authority's Commissioner of Complaints:
  "...[I] usually benefit from the proper cooperation from the Authority and the broadcast companies...as well as other public bodies with whom I maintain contact. Among them, I can note...Israel's Media Watch". (Report of the Complaints Commissioner, No. 2, p. 6)

• Prof. Rina Shapira, IBA Chairperson: "The Executive Committee maintains regular contact with the following outside bodies - Knesset Committees, Israel's Media Watch, Naamat, etc.". (Chairperson's Annual Report, 1995-1996, p,. 21)

With the volunteer help of IMW supporter, Dr. Ilan Malester of Haifa, our Web site has been renewed at a new address. The site contains information regarding the activities of IMW, op-ed articles, research reports and other relevant data and will be updated regularly. Let us know what you think and if you have any suggestions. The new address is:

www.oocities.org/CapitolHill/2527

We encourage our friends to complain directly to the media authorities. This is the essence of democracy and media consumerism. All complaints should be concise, detailed and non-polemical. A copy should be sent to us for follow-up.

1. V. Grayevsky, IBA, POB 28080, Jerusalem, 91280

2. Y. Rekem, Second Authority, POB 34122, Jerusalem 95464.

3. Z. Drori, Radio Galei-Tzahal, M.P. 01005, IDF.

4. D. Dvortzki, Educational TV, 14 Klausner St., Tel Aviv 69011.

5. M. Strasbourg-Alkabetz, Cable TV, 23 Jaffa Rd, Jerusalem, 91999.

We cannot continue our vital work without your help, - financial and organizational. Our supporters in the north can now work through the Haifa Branch. We hope that other branches will be founded. Additional funds are needed. The increase in the number of concerned citizens who choose IMW as their public representative strengthens our voice. We hope you will become a member and that you will influence your acquaintances to become members. For further information, please contact:

ISRAEL'S MEDIA WATCH
P.O.B. 6023, JERUSALEM 91060

Tel: 02-623 6425;----Fax:02- 623 6426

E-mail: isrmedia@netvision.net.il

Haifa Branch: POB 7261 Haifa, 31072