Editor’s Notes: Flydubai crisis shows why we need another major news agency - comment
As editor of the Post, I would welcome another substantial international news agency. I would like a wider range of independently gathered accounts for our editors to consider.
The Flydubai incident demonstrated the need for a major news agency in Israel. As the plane plummeted, passengers battled the attacker while two pilots on board became crucial for survival. Israeli officials initially downplayed the possibility of a hijacking, but it later emerged that the pilot had been stabbed and attempted to crash the aircraft. The confusion surrounding the event highlighted the importance of multiple credible sources of original reporting.
An editor covering such a developing story must adapt to changing information. In this case, the alleged stabbing of the pilot belonged in the headline, as it described the gravity of the situation. Both the initial description of a "brawl" and the later revelation of a potential hijacking needed to be reported, as they both significantly impacted the narrative.
Comparing the situation to the Hanukkah event in Sydney last year, it was crucial that reporters verified the attack as a terrorist act and reported it accordingly. The presence of knowledgeable contacts within the Jewish community enabled this determination. A major news agency in Israel could provide editors with a similar level of confidence in reporting, especially in sensitive matters.
Having another substantial international news agency would give editors more choice and a wider range of independently gathered accounts. This would be particularly valuable in areas where The Jerusalem Post cannot send a correspondent or where it lacks expertise. An international agency could investigate military claims, civilian harm, and government decisions with the same care as it covers other global events.
In conclusion, Israel would benefit greatly from a well-funded, major news agency. Such an agency would provide editors with multiple credible sources of original reporting, ensuring balanced, accurate, and comprehensive coverage of a wide range of events. It would also allow the publication to test its standards in a country with diverse religious, national, and security concerns.
By inviting executives from various publishers to discuss their needs and preferences, The Jerusalem Post could determine which coverage would be most valuable and secure a multiyear contract.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
