This summer, I experienced a rare moment of writer’s block. I had great difficulty choosing a subject for this month’s editorial. I went back and forth between two major issues that deserve equal recognition in this month’s issue: the war in Israel and the ongoing discussion in response to the fiscal challenges Yeshiva University faces. After much thought, I realized that the vitality of honest coverage of YU’s current financial state and the war in Israel were not entirely mutually exclusive. Both subjects are tied together by the critical role the media plays in formulating the opinion of readers.
A large part of my summer has been spent refreshing my computer in a convulsing state of both hope and dread, searching for breaking news regarding the war in Israel. My phone vibrated constantly as an application alerted me of another siren somewhere in Israel, to the extent that I no longer found myself wincing upon seeing the same recurring target cities appear next to the tzeva adom, the red alert, announcements. The major newspapers speculated over the situation, and I found myself frustrated at the slanted view of the war that the media published in Hamas’s favor, and how vulnerable people were to the influences of pro-Hamas propaganda. This summer, my mind has been right beside Israel in a state of war while the world has once again zeroed in on our small, yet boundlessly precious state.
Fortunately for me, I spent my summer in an environment where I was far from alone in experiencing these frustrations. As a division head in a Bnei Akiva camp, I was surrounded by individuals who felt the immense weight of the war, regardless of the great distance we stood away from the center of action.
Moreover, my environment this past summer stood in stark juxtaposition with the opposition glaring in the headlines of the major media outlets. With each anti-Israel headline I read, I realized the extent in which my environment is unique, isolated within the warm confines of camp. When I read how the rest of the world viewed the conflict, the distance which once seemed to dissipate in the united front in camp became increasingly palpable from a global standpoint.
While we may be accustomed to discerning the truth behind the media’s false allegations, a large portion of the world does not seem to have– or want to exercise– that capability. The world sees only the picture of a Palestinian mother mourning the loss of her child that Hamas allows the media to capture, and not the picture of the Hamas terrorists who put that child in harm’s way. But that’s simply human nature: what one hears and sees, is what one tends to believe.
More than ever, the media plays the role of a powerful catalyst for shaping opinions, leaving an immense responsibility on the shoulders of those creating the headlines.
This responsibility is something that resonates strongly as I write this editorial. Although admittedly on a smaller scale, the responsibility to effectively convey messages and report accurately lays heavily on The Observer staff. It is no secret that the year ahead is going to be a year of transition for Yeshiva University. While financial cuts will be necessary, a certain approach is going to be critical as we move forth in executing new practical solutions. The attitude in which our student publications approach the current financial predicament is the attitude that will trickle down to the broader Jewish community. It is the role of YU’s publications to accurately report the happenings within the university without compromising our esteemed reputation.
There may be a fear that honest journalism and upholding reputation cannot coexist. However, my challenge and goal for this coming year is for The Observer both to adhere a high journalistic standard and to report justly, without overshadowing the major accomplishments of Yeshiva University. The paper serves as a source of information to the student body, but it is imperative to keep in mind that our student publications also have weight on how alumni and Jews all over the world regard YU and its alumni, students, and staff. Both accuracy and tone are essential in accomplishing this goal. The facts should not be withheld, and the integrity of the university should not be compromised.
The Stern community must be aware of the happenings within the university in order for students to feel confident and proud of the institution to which they belong. I have overheard many students who heard through the rumor mill of pending changes, and are becoming increasingly agitated with “yet another cut” without understanding the full ramifications of what is happening and why. It is to the benefit of everyone for YU’s publications to instill confidence, or at least reassurance, in the process. And by doing so, in return, the students will be adequately prepared as proud and informed representatives of YU to the broader Jewish community. If the student publications set a proper tone, while also reporting accurately, than our students will have both the proper facts and the right mindset in representing our university.
This is no easy task. The accomplishments and high regard for our university should not be overpowered by mere speculations and the adjustments that lay ahead. Each message we convey, the tone we use, and the headlines we write should be published with the understanding of the great influence they have both within and beyond the walls of Yeshiva University.