Across the world and especially here at home, media narratives about Israel are often filled with bias, selective reporting, and a lack of context. Unfortunately, misrepresentation can shape public opinion in dangerous ways, increasing division and contributing to the rise of antisemitism that we are currently witnessing in front of our eyes.
This dynamic is especially pronounced on college campuses. Though intended to be safe and free thinking institutions where ideas are shaped and opinions formed, they can often be more susceptible to biased narratives driven by the media and other bad actors. When it comes to complex international issues, especially the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, campus media will often reinforce preconceived narratives aligned with political beliefs rather than presenting an accurate and unbiased perspective.
One recent example occurred at Florida State University, where the school newspaper’s coverage of a talk by IDF reservist and counterterrorism expert, Yair Ansbacher, presented a distorted and over-dramatized portrayal of the event. What was meant to be an informative and educational experience was however reduced to a “controversial” event. Instead, The FSView chose to intentionally use selective quoting and inflammatory commentary from unrelated groups to distort the intended nature of the talk. This biased coverage misrepresented the speaker and also the organizations sponsoring it, including CAMERA on Campus and FSU’s Chabad on Campus.
This article serves as a case study in campus media bias and also as a call to action to combat the spread of misinformation while upholding journalistic integrity and supporting factual reporting.
The Event’s Purpose and Content
Amid rising bias and deception about Israel on campuses around the world, CAMERA on Campus partnered with FSU’s Chabad on Campus to bring Yair Ansbacher, an IDF reservist and counterterrorism expert, to Florida State University. The event was held on October 9, 2024. Its aim was to shed light on the harsh realities Israel faces, particularly in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, a day that left over 1,200 Israelis dead and hundreds kidnapped. Ansbacher was among the first responders during these attacks, tasked with rescuing families in the threatened Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak near Gaza’s border.
The purpose of the event was to provide students with an authentic and unfiltered Israeli account of the complex security and governing challenges Israel faces in Gaza and the West Bank.
Rather than offering secondhand commentary or political rhetoric, he delivered a deeply personal account, detailing his experiences such as rescuing families, and bearing witness to horrific atrocities. His reflections gave the audience here in Florida a rare opportunity to hear directly from someone who is living through and continues to navigate these painful realities, something hard for many of us in America to even fathom.
Additionally, Ansbacher spoke to the emotional and psychological toll of conflict, particularly for soldiers and civilians who endure daily security threats. He detailed how witnessing such brutality led him to question his faith, a deeply powerful but painful theme for those in the audience who sought to understand not only the conflict but the human side of resilience and faith under stress.
The event drew a diverse group of people, with Jewish and non-Jewish students, faculty, and members of the local community. The subsequent Q&A allowed the participants to pose thoughtful questions on topics ranging from military strategy to Judaism’s role in Ansbacher’s life, sparking a respectful, productive dialogue. This event allowed for open learning which was the intent for CAMERA on Campus and FSU Chabad.
Prior to the event, FSU’s campus paper was graciously invited to cover it. Two staff members came and engaged respectfully with attendees, asking thoughtful questions and conducting several interviews, giving the impression that they were genuinely interested in accurately portraying Ansbacher’s message and the event itself.
How the Article Created a Distorted Narrative
However behind the scenes, they were selectively framing the narrative, choosing to quote unrelated critics and omit essential context to turn a meaningful educational experience into a so-called ‘controversial’ event. This deceptive approach created a stark contrast between their apparent openness at the event and the final, biased narrative in their article.
It’s essential that we take the time here now to address the specific points where the article strayed from an accurate depiction of the event.
Headline Framing and the Power of First Impressions
Originally titled “Event for IDF Reservist Yair Ansbacher Sparks Controversy,” the article immediately casts a negative light on the event, implying that it was divisive or inflammatory. Although the headline was later changed online about a week later to “IDF Reservist Yair Ansbacher Hosts Speech in Wake of Oct. 7 Anniversary,” the initial framing had already negatively affected readers’ expectations as the original title was the one sent to print.
Headlines carry significant weight, often shaping one’s impression before they ever even engage with the full content. In this instance, the original title suggested an event marred by controversy, despite the atmosphere being respectful and educational with a strong turnout from students. There was no disruption, protest, or even a hint of controversy at the event. So two questions remain: what exactly was controversial and who exactly made the claim in the first place?
This choice appears not to be just stylistic, but deliberate and intentional. A seemingly clear attempt to actively set a tone that misled the audience into expecting contention where none actually ever existed. This tactic undermined the event’s true nature as a platform for learning and respectful dialogue, while instead framing it as something contentious and provocative.
Selective Quotations and Reinforcing Bias
The article would go to even further skew the narrative by selectively quoting individuals who were either uninvolved with the event or were openly hostile to Israel. Instead of focusing on the content of Ansbacher’s presentation or the positive reactions from attendees, the writer searched out and included quotes from critics, namely the Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). This group, which had not even attended the event, posted on social media accusations against Ansbacher, calling him a “murderer from the Israeli Occupation Force” and further condemned the university for allowing him to speak in the first place.
The newspaper then quoted a random FSU history student, Vayeira Moshe, twice, portraying him as a reliable voice on Israel, the IDF’s role in the conflict, and for some reason, on collegiate Jewish institutions.
Moshe is first quoted to criticize the Eitan pre-military school program, describing it as a means of “incorporating radicalized Jews into fighting a population [that Israel] deems fundamentally opposed to the Jewish way of life.” This choice to feature a student’s perspective on such a complex geopolitical issue raises questions about the editorial decisions made in constructing this article.
Presenting Moshe’s commentary in the absence of more qualified voices indicates a preference for reinforcing the article’s predetermined bias. Including the perspective of an experienced history professor or another expert with established knowledge of Middle Eastern studies or military conflict would have likely offered a more balanced and contextually accurate analysis of the event. Instead, Moshe’s quotes, unchallenged and amplified, served to further entrench a skewed narrative that ultimately detracted from the event’s integrity.
It would be quite apparent for any individual who actually attended the event that these quotes clearly misrepresented Ansbacher’s actual message and reinforced preconceived biases against Israel.
Instead of presenting the speaker’s firsthand experiences or the meaningful exchanges with attendees, the article chose to amplify unrelated, inflammatory views, creating a narrative of controversy that had no basis in reality. This kind of selective quoting is a common tactic in intolerant reporting allowing the writer to construct a jagged narrative that aligns with a particular agenda.
Irrelevant and Inflammatory References
Adding to this negative portrayal, the writer of the article chose to focus on the actions and statements of the SDS, an organization well known for its antisemitic and anti-Israel stance.
The inclusion of the comments were not only irrelevant but also harmful, as it gave a platform to an otherwise small group of agitators whose comments have historically been divisive and frankly, hateful. So much so, that the group had to be suspended from campus last year due to multiple repeated violations of the Student Organization Conduct Code. Allowing their inflammatory rhetoric to dominate the article overshadowed the educational focus and meaningful dialogue of the event to that of the hostile opinions of an unrelated outside group.
Omissions and Lack of Context
The most telling aspect of the author’s bias lies in not what they wrote about, but what they chose to omit. Ansbacher’s powerful descriptions of entering homes of Israelis impacted by violence, and grappling with his own faith amid tragedy, were inexplicably absent from the article. These personal accounts were powerful and central to the event’s overall purpose and message, offering students an unfiltered look at the human side of Israel’s security challenges.
Moreover, it neglected to provide context of the missions of Chabad and CAMERA on Campus, groups dedicated to helping Jewish students and promoting accurate information. Instead, the newspaper decided to use another critical, unchecked quote from Moshe, claiming that Chabad “disguises itself as an outreach program” but is in practice, a “front to support the state of Israel.” This is completely inaccurate, antisemitic, and arguably harmful.
Chabad at FSU is known for its welcoming and supportive presence, providing Jewish students with a “home away from home” where they can connect with their heritage and find community.
Suggesting that Chabad has some kind of hidden agenda to “support the state of Israel” plays into an antisemitic narrative that holds no distinction between the Jewish people living around the globe and the state of Israel and its actions. This message distorts Chabad’s crucial role and fails to recognize the positive impact it has on Jewish student life.
A Call for Integrity in Campus Media
Without organizations like CAMERA on Campus, the media’s “objectives” would almost certainly go unchecked and ultimately distort students’ perspectives. Sadly, the FSView’s coverage of Yair Ansbacher’s event is just one example among many worldwide of media bias and the dangers of misleading reporting. It’s also a reminder that the media must report accurately, fairly and without a hidden agenda. If not, it is the role of individuals who value integrity, including students, activists, and community leaders like me, to hold the media accountable and ensure that truth has a place in the conversation.
The campus newspaper not only failed to capture the truth in their article, but fueled harmful misconceptions and dangerous narratives about Jewish people and Israel. This kind of irresponsible journalism only betrays the trust of the campus community and creates the risk of fostering a climate of division and intolerance.
To address these issues and prevent such cases from recurring, I call on the FSU campus newspaper to issue a formal apology for this inaccurate portrayal. A retraction or clarification of the article is necessary to acknowledge the errors in their reporting and to rebuild trust with its readership. It should include a recommitment to improving journalistic practices, particularly on topics that demand sensitivity and accuracy.
Moving forward, the FSU administration should consider implementing measures that encourage responsible media coverage on campus, such as journalistic ethics workshops and oversight mechanisms to ensure balanced reporting. Student leaders need to start working together to ensure that campus media adheres to a set of strict ethical principles based around honesty, transparency, and impartiality.
CAMERA on Campus shall continue to advocate for truth, challenging misrepresentations and promoting accurate information. Our community deserves nothing less than a media it can trust so that individuals can form their own views.
This article was originally published in The Times of Israel Blogs.
