Legendary reporter Anat Saragusti on censorship & press freedom in Israel - Jung & Naiv: Episode 836

Summary

Independent Journalism and Press Freedom

Journalist Anat Saragusti, who works on press freedom at Israel’s Union of Journalists, argues that independent journalism is essential to public accountability but is under pressure from both economic weakness and political interference. She supports strong public broadcasting and unions, noting that journalists’ pay and media outlets’ financial sustainability are poor.

Saragusti began her career at an investigative weekly founded by Uri Avnery. She says the newsroom’s independence and public-service ethos were central, but the magazine eventually closed amid financial difficulties and a hostile climate for advertising. She later helped establish Israel’s first commercial television channel.

Reporting During War

Saragusti describes crossing front lines in Lebanon in 1982 to interview PLO leader Yasser Arafat. She says journalists should report beyond their own side’s perspective, especially during war, even when public sentiment is strongly patriotic.

She sees this as a difficult responsibility in Israel, where military service is widespread and many people have personal ties to those fighting. The October 7 attacks and the killing of a close friend made it especially difficult for her to maintain that distance.

Coverage of Gaza and Access for Journalists

Saragusti sharply criticizes Israeli media coverage of Gaza after October 7, saying it largely left Palestinians’ experiences out of view. She describes Haaretz as a notable mainstream exception. In her view, wartime pressure and fear of public or government backlash contribute to self-censorship.

Foreign reporters have been barred from independent access to Gaza. When access under Israeli military supervision is available, it is restricted, and footage can be reviewed or censored. Saragusti’s union joined a court petition seeking independent press access. She says Israeli outlets have not challenged the access ban forcefully enough and have often relied on the military’s framing.

She also notes that Palestinian journalists have faced extreme dangers and argues that claims about individual journalists’ links to Hamas should not be generalized to all those killed.

Public Debate and Antisemitism

On the debate over genocide allegations, Saragusti says many Israeli human-rights organizations and experts use that term, while journalists often avoid it.

She argues that protests against Israeli policy, including campus protests, should not automatically be labelled antisemitic, while acknowledging that antisemitism exists. In her view, limited Israeli coverage of Gaza has helped reinforce the claim that criticism of Israel is simply antisemitism.

Political Pressure and Representation

Saragusti says the Israeli government has pursued measures that could weaken the press, including legislation affecting public broadcasting, efforts involving the military radio station and commercial-media regulators, and pressure on news organizations.

She describes lawsuits, online smear campaigns, and intimidation of journalists, saying these conditions can encourage self-censorship. She also reports that Palestinian citizens of Israel are poorly represented in Hebrew-language media and that some have been arrested over social-media posts.

Reporting Restrictions During the War with Iran

Saragusti distinguishes restrictions on live reporting during the war with Iran from the Gaza access ban. She says temporarily withholding footage of strategic sites can prevent Iranian forces from improving their targeting, and considers that operational rationale different from blocking independent reporting on Gaza.

Prospects for Peace

Asked whether she expects peace, Saragusti says the scale and duration of the wars leave her unsure she will see it in her lifetime.

Presenters and Contributors

• Tilo Jung: Interviewer
• Anat Saragusti: Guest