TAJA drops out of Israel Press Council
Tel Aviv Journalists' Association leaves ethics regulatory body in protest of Justice Dorner's election for third term as council's president
The Tel Aviv Journalists' Association, a veteran professional body representing the majority of Israeli journalists, announced that it will no longer be a part of the Israel Press Council (IPC).
The IPC is Israel's journalistic ethics regulatory body and acts as the watchdog for freedom of the press in Israel.
The TAJA said that the move was prompted by the election of Justice (Ret.) Dalia Dorner for a third term as the Council's president.
The IPC is comprised of journalists (30%), editors and publishers (30%) and public delegates (40%). The TAJA said that it is unethical for the current council to elect its president.
The council, the TAJA said, should first elect its new members, and it is the new council, not the outgoing one, that should elect its president.
Many of the members of the IPC's executive board called the move "undemocratic," and slammed the council for "trying to impose a minority opinion on the majority."
Members of the Tel Aviv Journalists' Association said they intend to contest Dorner's appointment and will nominate Prof. Amnon Rubinstein for the office of council president, and Prof. Gabby Weiman as his deputy.
