EUJS letter complaint to La Libre
On the 27th of September 2024, the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) sent a formal letter of complaint to French-Belgian media outlet, La Libre, regarding an article titled “Terrorist attack on a synagogue in the south of France: what happened?” The article discusses the recent attack on a synagogue near Montpellier, but its framing and use of quotation marks raised serious concerns within the media monitors of GTTO.
Problematic Headline and Phrasing
In its letter, EUJS specifically addressed the use of quotation marks in the headline, subheading and photo caption. The heading and subheading referred to the incident as “an antisemitic attack”—using quotation marks which was repeated further with quotation marks describing the incident as an “act of terrorism”. According to EUJS, this subtle choice of punctuation suggests that the nature of the attack was open to debate, casting doubt on the seriousness of the violent act.
“The use of quotation marks, in our eyes, implies that perhaps the attack in question was not a terrorist attack,” EUJS states in their letter, explaining that this framing has “the consequence of minimising the facts, and therefore trivialising them.”
Questioning the Facts
The headline of the article posed the question “what really happened?” which, according to EUJS, further exacerbates the issue by implying ambiguity or uncertainty around the event. The inclusion of the word “really” subtly suggests that the facts were questionable, which further downplays the seriousness of the targeted attack on a Jewish place of worship.
“This adverb suggests that perhaps the facts reported are not true,” EUJS claims in their letter. “In view of the events of recent months and the resurgence of antisemitism in our country and around the world, we would like to ask you to pay more attention to the way in which events are reported.” They called for more responsible media reporting emphasising the need for precision and care when covering sensitive incidents of religiously motivated violence.
EUJS’s Call to Action
EUJS urged La Libre to remove the quotation marks from the article and to consider adjusting the language that casts doubt on the nature of the attack. They emphasised that, especially in light of the recent resurgence of antisemitism around the world, misleading headlines and the use of quotation marks can contribute to a lack of antisemitism awareness. It is essential to stay aware and sensitive to these issues during such a critical time.
A Response
Following the EUJS’s formal complaint, the headline of the article was revised as requested. Originally titled, *‘Terrorist’ attack on a synagogue in the south of France: what really happened?*, the title was changed to *Terrorist attack on a synagogue in the south of France: what happened?*. The removal of quotation marks reflects La Libre’s responsiveness to EUJS’s concerns and its commitment to addressing the issue in a more accurate and sensitive manner.
A Broader Conversation
EUJS’s complaint letter underscores the importance of responsible journalism in the face of rising hate crimes and growing concerns over antisemitism in Europe. Responsible journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public perception and understanding of sensitive issues like antisemitism. When media outlets fail to report accurately and sensitively, they can inadvertently perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reinforce societal biases. This can lead to increased discrimination and violence against marginalised communities, including Jewish people, who already face significant challenges and threats.
