According to MIFTAH CEO Dr. Lily Feidy, the Media Monitoring Unit aims at promoting a more professional media through training workshops for university media students such as these. The goal of such workshops is to train Palestinian media students on critical reading of print media so they could become catalysts for change and improvement in the future. To this end, she said the report made very significant points, which need follow-up with the papers themselves.
The report addressed the method in which the three newspapers covered the visit and the forms and content of the coverage in addition to the space allotted by each paper for counter viewpoints;it also discussed how much the visit was linked to issues pertaining to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict such as: settlements, prisoners, security, refugees and the positions of the various parties towards them.
Among the conclusions reached by the Media Monitoring Unit were that President Obama’s visit was given extensive coverage by Palestinian media outlets and the three major newspapers: Al Quds, Al Ayyam and Al Hayat Al Jadida. The three newspapers also paid considerable attention to the protocol aspect of the visit, highlighting this on the front page and in the main headlines. The papers clearly considered the welcoming reception as an important Palestinian achievement, which was a result of the diplomatic battle waged at the UN where Palestine gained non-member state observer status.
The results also showed the discrepancies between the three papers regarding the reaction on the street and from political forces, which were printed on their front pages. Another point touched on by the report was that the cartoons did not strongly express the positions towards the visit. There was also a tangible absence of reports and in-depth analyses of the visit, its outcomes and the expectations from it. Rather, they depended on reports from international news agencies in contrast to the Israeli press, which ran a number of op-eds based on information and analysis; these were then published in translation in the three newspapers.
The results showed a range of sources of information for the three papers, including a small number of news pieces and reports from their correspondents; the majority depended on local and official and also independent news agencies such as WAFA and MAAN.
Other sources of information came from international wire agencies such as Reuters and AFP.
Additionally, the three newspapers did not cover the measures taken to bar dozens of journalists from covering President Obama’s visit to the presidential headquarters in Ramallah even though local websites and independent news agencies covered and criticized this interference.
The students interacted positively with the presentation and participated in discussions and debates. They also expressed their interest in similar workshops to develop their abilities to critique the media. They asked several questions to the MIFTAH team about professionalism in the media and about the absence of social issues as a priority in these newspapers. Finally, they pointed to the importance of monitoring and critiquing the media as a way of improving its performance.
MIFTAH was granted a Special Consultative Status with the United Nations' ECOSOC
Date posted: September 28, 2020
By MIFTAH
The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy- MIFTAH was granted a special consultative status to work with the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), through which MIFTAH seeks to contribute to promoting the Palestinian narrative and international advocacy based on international legitimacy and United Nations resolutions related to the Palestinian cause.
The ECOSOC is the principal organ that coordinates the economic, social, environmental and related work of the 14 United Nations specialized agencies, functional commissions and five regional commissions. It serves as the central forum for discussing international economic, and social and environmental issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to Member States and the United Nations system.
ECOSOC provides NGOs the opportunity to be heard by a truly global audience and contribute to its agenda. ECOSOC has been the main entry point into the UN system for NGOs. ECOSOC remains the only main UN body with a formal framework for NGO participation
What is Consultative Status?
Consultative Status is an accreditation framework that benefits both the United Nations and the NGOs. Consultative arrangements are to be made, on the one hand, for the purpose of enabling the Council or one of its bodies to secure expert information or advice from organizations having special competence in the subjects for which consultative arrangements are made, and, on the other hand, to enable international, regional, sub-regional and national organizations that represent important elements of public opinion to express their views according to ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, part II, paragraph 20.
NGOs with Consultative Status can work with the United Nations Secretariat, programmes, funds and agencies in various ways, including in consultation with Member States. They can also contribute to a number of activities including information dissemination, awareness raising, development education, policy advocacy, joint operational projects, participation in intergovernmental processes and in the contribution of services and technical expertise
An NGO with consultative status can attend international conferences and events, make written and oral statements at these events, organize side events, enter United Nations premises, and have opportunities to network and lobby.
MIFTAH considers obtaining this Consultative Status timely and paramount to begin organizing its participation through the Council's sessions during 2021.
Signing ceremony for new cooperation agreement between MIFTAH and the Norwegian Representative Office
Date posted: November 28, 2019
By MIFTAH
Ramallah – MIFTAH and the Norwegian Representative Office to the PA signed on Monday, November 26 a new one-year cooperation agreement in a ceremony held in Ramallah.
Head of the Board of Directors, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, signed on behalf of MIFTAH while Norwegian representative, Ms. Hilde Haralstad signed on behalf of the Norwegian Representative Office.
During her speech at the signing, Dr. Ashrawi said, "For the past 18 years the Norwegian Representative Office has been one of the oldest and most significant of MIFTAH's supporters in its efforts towards promoting the principles of democracy and good governance in Palestine”. She also said this support was a continuation of the crucial work at this stage in supporting and empowering young leaders and women as change-makers, saying it gives this sector the ability to influence and change, especially in light of the difficult circumstances and challenges of the current political stage. Ashrawi also reiterated the importance of collective efforts in a coordinated and holistic manner between the various parties, which inevitably lead to change.
Dr. Ashrawi reaffirmed the Norwegian support for the Palestinian cause, expressing hope that Norway and other likeminded countries continue to stand on the right side of human rights and good governance and recognize the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, freedom, justice and statehood. She concluded her speech by expressing sadness for Ms. Haralstad's departure from Palestine, where she has served since 2016.
Meanwhile, Ms. Haralstad confirmed Norway's continued support for Palestine in its quest for statehood and human rights. She said she was proud to have partnered with an institution that supports the principles of democracy and good governance and which works for women's and youth issues such as MIFTAH. She also stressed on the important role Palestinian civil society institutions play in supporting the Women's Peace and Security agenda and expressed her sadness for leaving Palestine, saying she would continue to support the Palestinian cause.
The signing was attended by women's and rights institutions in addition to MIFTAH board members, representatives from the General Union of Palestinian Women and representatives from other MIFTAH funders and partners.
