Hats off to Yair Lapid. His honesty, modesty and intelligence shine. {p.s. typo of 21 killed instead of 12 should be corrected. }

Thanks for admitting this. Another thing is that you didn't report anything but the war; a person couldn't find news about anything else that happened for 6 weeks.

Finally! As a true beliver in democracy and in the fundamental role of a free press, I was wandering when the press itself would come to its senses. Journalists cannot see themselves as major players in the democratic game,- and in that sense as public servants-, and fall prisoners to ratings and competition, which are purely commercial or self-promoting concerns. The press, and particularly but not only the audio-visual press, because of it tremendous power, owes it to itself to be highly responsible. This means: being far-sighted and understanding that the standards it rightly demands from the government, it must demand of itself. The press told the rabbis that words carry a sometime deadly power; and the press was right but it needs to apply this to itself and urgently! Is not there a professional responsibility and disciplinary organization such as the Bar or Public Accountants Associations? If not there should be (I know the press corps will cringe at the thought of being "like accountants or lawyers"!!!!! But "Noblesse oblige".... Thank you, Yair.

After reading again Yair Lapid' s article, it became obvious to me that what we need as citizens of a democracy is a media we can trust. That factsshould be facts and opinions be opinions, but each claerly flagged as such. We need to be able to trust the press again. We are all so terribly dependent on correct information.... Please be trustworthy!

This is the best piece by any Israeli media that I've seen, perhaps since I came in 1985. Fox Cable News maintains a daily program totally dedicated to monitoring and evaluating the media (primarily domestically but occasionally commenting on foreign media), criticizing where they deem it appropriate. Israel needs their own "Bulldog" version of this, continual and daily. Monitoring all Israeli media cannot avoid confronting Israel's primitive "Hasbara" (propaganda, explaining) compared to the vastly superior, professional, Arab PR - see www.netzarim.co.il/ConvCtr/ConvCtr.htm#YBD200608211330 Screw-up #1, however, was the failure of the media to run timely media criticism pieces. For example, instead of running "me too" tabloid sensationalism pieces about ammunition trucks, a responsible journalist (which I, personally, believe to be extinct) would have run a hard-hitting, no punches pulled, expose pointing out the irresponsibility of the original piece (explicitly naming any "me too" pieces as well). Such an expose would have charged the offending reporter and media with a list of the harm their piece caused, not hesitating to charge the offending media with unprofessional, unethical, immoral and irresponsible journalism and lay on them the reckless harm they cause. Vitally, such an expose must name all responsible names - from the reporter to the editor to the CEO. Ditto with the reporter under the street sign. Why didn't we see these instead of "me too" tabloidism??? All of these screw ups should have been dealt with, and corrected by ruthless humiliation, in real time by a "Israel Media Watch." Paqid Yirmeyahu Israeli Orthodox Jew Advancing Logic as Halakhic Authority Welcoming non-Jews www.netzarim.co.il

A daily IMW program must NOT be left exclusively to a panel of media professionals who would tend to defend one another. That would defeat the whole purpose. A panel of 2-4 experts from outside the media profession might be augmented by a chair reserved for a daily guest from the media. Finding a host who can understand both sides of this fence and umpire objectively between them is essential. Paqid Yirmeyahu Israeli Orthodox Jew Advancing Logic as Halakhic Authority Welcoming non-Jews www.netzarim.co.il

Great self criticism that will lead to better improvements. Good notch there.

screw up #9 the media lost the battle in the international media. Maybe we should appoint an investigating committee to investigate that. And when the investigating committee screws that up,that be screwup #10

But, will all your colleauges read this? Agree to this? understand how they/you failed us? You got it right on the head. All points. Now if only the media would learn from this.

Because Israel is unique in facing negative coverage by world media such as CNN, BBC, Sky and, to a lesser extent even Fox (one of whose reporters, Nina Reena, recently stated that Israel's capital is Tel Aviv), an Israel Media Watch program that includes commenting on foreign media would never have a chance to do their primary job of monitoring Israeli media. Therefore, I propose a second program, Israel Foreign Media Watch. to do that because, although IFMW is also vital, it's no less vital that an Israel Media Watch focus exclusively on Israeli media. Paqid Yirmeyahu Israeli Orthodox Jew Advancing Logic as Halakhic Authority Welcoming non-Jews www.netzarim.co.il

Yes, they did, and Yair's article made a good summary of it. But not only the israeli ones. The unparalleled freedom of information brought by IT/internet is euforic, the lightning speed of access to information gives no time for reflection, it puts pressure on the commercialized media to keep ahead of competition. Plus, impartial reporting of news is history, media are now expected to be biased, provocative, controversial. However this is not an open ended asset to freedom of expression, it does pass boundaries between information and brainwash.

Israel did not smash hizbula (this time) only because Tel Aviv has not been bombarded. Hassan understood that very well....

Censorship was one item left out. Roosevelt imposed it. Fox CNN and even Israeli TV should not be allowed on the front lines at all. This is not the Rocky Mountains. Any idiot can figure out where the assembly of tanks are from the coverage on TV. Giving the media free access to sites where war is being conducted is a great way to loose the war next time. You do not need a media watch dog. You need to muzzle the media dogs during a hot war.

Yair has right. I feel the same in Romania, where Lebanon is presenting "life cuts" with young people getting married and having party between the remains of their houses ; waiting for the money that Hizbollah promissed to them; And israel - presenting the "sexual affairs" in the politics: Katzav, etc... very bad PR for israel. I think that the "hasbara" must do something in the Ministry of Forreign Affairs in Isral! And to start right now!

You failed and contiue to fail the biggest test of all. TESHUVA ! The longer you wait the harder the test,and the worse the suffering.

and again-with just this 1phrase u renounce any responsibility-hiding behind "factors" that led all of u astray. U, Yair, like every other idiotic, unprofesional journalist(unfortunately we dont have any others)do not understand 1thing: we expect media's biased attack from THE WORLD-we r used to UN voting against us and the world media rejoicing in it, we r used to the CNN,BBC and everybody else being "objectivly" anti-israeli. What we dont want and dont need but unfortunatly have gotten used to is THE SAME ANTI-ISRAELI blabbig from OUR OWN MEDIA!!!! thats why i have switched to FOX during the war-i wanted facts with "expertise from profesionals" who were strictly PRO-ISR. and FOX didnt appologize for it. They brought 100ds of experts who were clearly PRO-ISR and blasted the enemy from every direction,supporting Isr. stance from every direction they could. I found myself screaming at Isr.tv-cursing all of u (Rosen especially)perfusely. In the time of war what the nation needs is PATRIOTISM and a bit of brain washing that our boys r the best there is, that they r not dying for nothing, for some words of reasuring wisdom-and thats exactly what i got from FOX news while Isr. media joined the ranks of anti-semites who blasted and critisized our every move. I m disgusted with all of u and if i could pass the law that allows me to block channels in my cable package-all 3 of u would be on my "erased and blocked" list-together with CNN and BBC!

Holmes actually said the following: "The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic." The case was Schenk vs. United States. The key word here is "falsely."

This is getting so freaking athetic. The media is getting out of line. There is a deinfite fine line between reporting journalism and telling the enemy everything from where your ammunition is stored to where your troops are stationed. Why the hell would any news organization in Israel disclose that transport trucks are in the area carrying ammunition. Who in their right mind tells the enemy this via news reports. This is not a news report but freaking treason and basically spying for Hezbollah. News reporting would be that 12 reserve soldiers died in a missile attack by Hezbollah not also telling Hezbollah about transport trucks in the area as well carrying ammunition thats just idiotic. Don't worry Israeli's it's not just you everyone seems to be making this mistake including the U.S. For some screwed up reason it seems that governments are afraid now to tell reporters that they cannot report certain things and this is just dumb because you are basically compromising the security of your troops, supply and logistics support people and everyone else in the military including civilians. Stop reporting sensitive military movements and letting reporters broadcast live on television while also showing the taks and troops in the background live. This is endangering their lives and giving a full intelligence report to Hezbollah idiots. The government should clarify that reporters cannot report certain things in a time of war it is just not proper and that should not be considered censorship it's called protecting the general public and the soldiers!!

The conscientious often look worse in many ways, as we learned in this war. YNET and its primary competitors publish condemnation and handwringing directed at Israel - healthy introspection not observed much in the mainstream Arab or extremist media. Unfortunately, the very ignorance that makes them hateful causes them to not recognize our self-evaluation, and to use it erroneously as fodder to "prove" their righteousness. So ironically, while proving our own privately, we forfeit it publicly. Tough call. Glad I'm not in the driver's seat here.

You have, for once, written an article that started with a strong thesis and followed stolidly through to the end - and I even agree with your conclusions.

Why don't these columns exist on Hebrew Ynet?

This is one of your best op-eds. Bitter, but so realistic!

maybe yair lapid can also use his influence to have more israeli news broadcasting on terrestial tv in english. we need a israeli tv chanel that broadcasts programmes and news about israel in the "international" language of english if we want the world to know our point of view not expect foreign journalists to learn hebrew, not to mention all the olim here whose hebrew is not up to understanding the israeli hebrew broadcasting. however wonderful mr lapid's tv programme might be i can't understand it, as my hebrew just isnt up to scratch.

let it be a lesson to all

Why was there no control of the foreign media. They went friggin' everywhere! (Notice that the Hizbonazis had strict control over the media and even fabricated stories and scenarios for them.) Al-Jazeera spies were arrested twice for filming sensitive sites. WTF is Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya doing in Israel anyway? during awar??!! -- not to mention the scurrilous, anal-retentive BBC "reporters". All the other MSM flunkies were constantly hanging around IDF units, near shooting artillery, and otherwise butting into a war that wasn't theirs. All the while the MSM, with the exception of Fox News, virtually ignored the Hizbonazi crimes against humanity, where thousands of Israelis became refugees and traumatized, shelter-bound families because of indiscriminate anti-personnel rockets. (Yes, they're crude, but they kill, main and terrorize, dammit!) Very few showed the massive destruction in Kiryat Shmona, Safed or Haifa. None mentioned the wholesale eco-terrorism on our precious forests, which will take 60 years to revive. None showed the caring humanity of Gaydamak's Tent City and hubdreds of volunteers. Screw the stupidity of the Israeli media. Yes, they should learn that "Loose lips sink ships". But the lack of control over the foreign media could have caused even more destruction and death.

We have the "important" foreign languages: Arabic and Russian! Think of the potential of these two foreign languages relative to the Jewish character of a Jewish State. (?) Why would we be interested in communicating in the international language when ignoring it leaves goyim to misunderstand Israel, be suspicious of Israel, hate Israel, be biased against Israel, gives Arab propagandists and groups like Amnesty virtually an unopposed stage, and a long list of similar advantages that justify our continued wallowing in provincial arrogance, self-pity and persecution paranoias that fuel our perpetual loathing of "goyim" and xenophobic hate-mongering from Christians to Americans to Europeans to Arabs? The whole world is out to get us. Certainly, putting English News on TV at the normal news hour is out of the question, even on the radio. Do you want the whole world to understand us or something? Obviously even more preposterous is any suggestion of providing simultaneous English translation of Hebrew programs, which would enable many Hebrew-challenged immigrants most familiar with western culture and values (including you and me) to contribute and be more actively involved. All Israelis know that immigrants are clueless when it comes to Israeli issues and we need to learn to "become absorbed," to accept the axioms of "iy ephshar" and "Yiheyeh be-seider" and not get uppity with the native elite. (BTW, whatever happened to that TV English-Hebrew ulpan program that was talked up a few months ago anyway?) Paqid Yirmeyahu Israeli Orthodox Jew Advancing Logic as Halakhic Authority Welcoming non-Jews www.netzarim.co.il

Ever since Peres evicerated hasbara from the foreign service budget, Israel has been on the ropes with getting its reasonable message across. IBA English is great, but you need much more, much much more. Please heed the call. At least as much effort needs to go into media as into F15 maintainance