STATEMENT OF AIMS  

Israel's democracy is dependent to a large extent upon the information its citizens receive via the media as well as their ability to assure that it is presented in a way that is commensurate with accepted principles and the law.

It is imperative that a public broadcasting system be pluralistic and allow for all opinions to be heard.

In addition, as it is a public broadcasting system, there exists an obligation and responsibility for citizens to discern news, in-depth discussions, background reports, debates and other presentations with a critical approach.

Our aim is to achieve from the media, a situation, where the values of accuracy, objectivity, fairness, balance and other journalistic ethics are paramount, especially in a system of government-sponsored public broadcasting.

Israel's Media Watch is an independent and non-partisan advocacy group that reviews and assesses local media performance. Israel's Media watch aims include:

• Strengthening Israel's democracy by providing full and reliable information regarding the print, broadcast and electronic media;
• Maintaining an ongoing systematic critical watch and analysis of the objectivity and impartiality of media reportage;
• Initiating research studies concerning media matters;
• Deepening public involvement to assure principles of journalistic ethics.

Our activities are based on local codes of journalistic ethics, cooperation with parallel groups acting in other countries and Israel's own laws which assure that the various opinions and outlooks current among the public shall be adequately covered and that reliable information be broadcast.

Israel's Media Watch has issued reports and has submitted complaints to broadcasting authorities concerning matters of fairness, objectivity, balance, right of reply, expressions of private opinions and other issues of journalistic ethics and has met senior officials to discuss our activities.

IMW has advertised in the press, petitioned the High Court of Justice, worked with the Knesset to strengthen the powers of broadcasting ombudsmen and lectures before the public.

We seek the involvement of the public in our effort to heighten sensitivity to issues of media ethics and the commitment of the broadcasting authorities to the law. IMW seeks to act as a media consumer association.

Israel's Media Watch was founded early in 1995 and registered as a public non-profit institution according to Interior Ministry directives.

Members of its Executive include Professors Eli Pollak and Zvi Ophir, Moshe Alafi, Chedva Spiegel and Adir Zik.  Professors Ezra Sohar and Elisha Babad serve as the Internal Ombudsman Committee.  Advocate Eli Adler is Legal Counsel.

Yisrael Medad and Professor Eli Pollak are, respectively, Director and Chairman of Israel's Media Watch.

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