Dateline Jerusalem: Journalism's Toughest Assignment

by John Lyons

Rarely is the public taken deep into the inner sanctum of major news organisations. In this extraordinary book, award-winning journalist John Lyons goes to the heart of how the media reports—or does not report—one of the biggest stories of our the conflict in the Middle East. He looks at the power of lobby groups and shows how they determine much of what is written about Israel, and he turns the spotlight on his own profession and its failings. For Lyons, the six years he spent in Jerusalem as Middle East correspondent for The Australian were the toughest of his forty-year career. He explains how lobby groups attempt to prevent the real story being told and describes how journalists who accurately report what they see can be hounded and vilified, part of a practice of intimidation, harassment, and influence peddling that is designed to stop the truth from being told—a practice that must stop. This is an insider’s account of why the real story of the Israel–Palestine conflict goes largely unreported. It is also the story of why, in the wake of the international backlash against media coverage of the May 2021 Israel–Hamas violence, this could be about to change.

Genres: Nonfiction, Journalism, Politics

96 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Sir John Lyons, LittD, FBA, is an English linguist, working on semantics. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lyo...]

Reviews

[M. V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

We often talk about how influential the news can be, but who influences the news? Most would say the Murdochs, but what about hidden lobbyists who have a oppressive political motives?

A very confronting essay on how Australians are blindsided by journalism that influences our biases, and a reminder for us to question who and how we read.

[Rachael McDiarmid · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW. This is the story of how the Israeli-Palestinian issue is the only one that the media in Australia will not cover with the same rigour afforded to other subjects. The Australian public is being denied reliable, factual information about one of the most important conflicts of our time and John Lyons, a journalist with 40 years experience, explains why that is. An eye-opener. Everyone with an interest in Israeli-Palestinian affairs and media reporting should read this book. It's important.

[Nour · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must read. John Lyons eloquently details how editors and journalists in Australia - and globally - are scrutinized, vilified and pushed to the point of exhaustion when reporting on anything critical of Israel. Highly recommend.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye opener to how Israel-Palestine conflict is censored in Australian journalism. Part of the "In The National Interest" by Monash University

Written by a journalist who among other things was a correspondent based in Israel for 6 years.

I didn't know much about the conflict to begin with tbh. Worth the short read!

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read about the state of Australian Media and the power of the pro-Israeli lobby in controlling media narratives on Palestine. It is thorough and comprehensive and I’m very glad I read this. However, I need John Lyons to perhaps write an addendum or address this post Oct 2023 considering that the ABC sacked Annette Lattouf and continues to succumb to Zionist pressure…

[Cel Jel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well reasoned well written essay to help present the discrepancy between the acknowledgements of Israeli military and politicians and the presentation of the Israeli/Palestinian situation in Australia. We have a very different reporting here in Australia from that in Israel.
I have appreciated reading this essay, and have been rethinking the way I consider the events in the region.

[emily wind · Rating 5 out of 5]

essential reading

[Zac McDougall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book after seeing John Lyons at a recent event, where I was very impressed of his honest and open reporting of what is currently happening in Gaza, in sharp contrast to the rest of his colleagues at the ABC.

Reference is often made to the ‘Israel lobby’ and its profound impact on Australian journalism. In general, Australian journalism does not do a good job at reporting international affairs - our political culture is too insular. However, it is particularly horrible and morally bankrupt on Palestine, ranging from News Ltd’s open far-right propaganda to the unspoken code of silence at The Saturday Paper. This is, of course, due to the influence of the pro-Israeli lobby in Australia.

Yet it is in my view unsatisfactory to leave it at that. Everyone knows this influence of the lobby, but rarely ever does the analysis go much deeper. This is why John Lyons’ book is so important. One of the only journalists in Australia worth his salt, Lyons outlines precisely how the, mostly Melbourne based, Israel lobby intimidates journalists and editors into silence. Journalists are paid to fly on trips to Israel to be fed propaganda, while they are blind to apartheid against the Palestinian people around them. Lyons shows how the lobby is so strong in Australia, perhaps the strongest in the world, that reporting of the occupation that wouldn’t even be controversial within Israel is shut down and self-censored in Australia.

With the ongoing genocide in Gaza, this book is now more important than ever to expose how the Australian commentariat is a protection racket for gross and systemic breaches of international humanitarian law.

[Lyn Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding and illuminating.
Difficult to get copies I suspect but definitely worth tracking down.
The blurb covers it:

Rarely is the public taken deep into the inner sanctum of major news organisations. In this extraordinary book, award-winning journalist John Lyons goes to the heart of how the media reports—or does not report—one of the biggest stories of our the conflict in the Middle East. He looks at the power of lobby groups and shows how they determine much of what is written about Israel, and he turns the spotlight on his own profession and its failings. For Lyons, the six years he spent in Jerusalem as Middle East correspondent for The Australian were the toughest of his forty-year career. He explains how lobby groups attempt to prevent the real story being told and describes how journalists who accurately report what they see can be hounded and vilified, part of a practice of intimidation, harassment, and influence peddling that is designed to stop the truth from being told—a practice that must stop. This is an insider’s account of why the real story of the Israel–Palestine conflict goes largely unreported. It is also the story of why, in the wake of the international backlash against media coverage of the May 2021 Israel–Hamas violence, this could be about to change.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is published by Monash University Publishing as part of the “in the National Interest” series and I would highly recommend all Australian to read it. This short book provides lots of thought provoking insights and puts some big questions for media and the journalists involved.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, to the point and it reveals how the Israeli lobby is trying to quieten journalists from reporting on the truth about what goes on in Israel, a must read for anyone who want's to now the truth. Shame on Israel [Zionist] Shame.

[Nathalie Bilinsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. Eloquent and easy to digest.

[Tristan Damen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential and infuriating.

[Cassandra Kiely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illuminating... and terribly worrying.

[Lea Hadley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read and an eye opener to the influence of AIJAC on the Australian press.

[Smasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Easy to read. Excellent book. Essential reading and still so relevant now 2 years into the Gaza genocide.