My name is Katharina Goetze. I work with a team based in London which produces a weekly global media watch show called the Listening Post for Al-Jazeera English. Our broadcast takes a critical and irreverent look at global news coverage - of events and non-events. We also track developments in the use of media.

For our upcoming broadcast, we will be looking at the media war in the Palestinian media between Hamas and Fatah. A section of our show is called Global Village Voices and we ask for people’s opinions on media issues via webcam. We look for informed opinions from people who are interested in Palestinian media issues. I just saw that you have been blogging about this topic and thought it would be great to have your voice on our show. Some of the issues we’d like to hear responses on are:
1. How has the rivalry between the factions affected the Palestinian media’s credibility?
2. What impact does the media war have on the Palestinian people and thepeace process?
3. What are the obstacles Palestinian journalists are facing?
Just in case you are able to do this, I have attached our list of hints and tips for video blogging. We would like to get your video file by next Thursday please. The file will need to be uploaded, and I have attached instructions on how to do it below.
You need not answer all the questions I have put up there. They are just for you to get an idea of what we are looking for. Feel free to pick just one and give us your reply. You could even break the mould completely and give us an opinion about the media’s coverage that’s all your own. It shouldn’t take long, a clip of around 40 to 50 seconds would be perfect length.
We would love to hear from you! Do check out our website and here’s a list of some of our episodes - watching them will probably give you an idea of what we are all about.

Also, if you can think of anyone else who may be suitable for the show and interested, please do forward this email to them. We are always looking for new Global Village Voices!

Do e-mail me if you have any questions or doubts.

Thanks,
Katharina
listeningpost@aljazeera.net
Here are our tips for contributors:
• Install any software that comes with your webcam - unless you already have it
• Plug in your webcam
• Find a quiet place to record your comment, so that background noise doesn’t cause a problem. Overhead fans, open windows, air conditioning – all of these can create a hum in the background. Try to switch them off before you make your final recording
• Think about what is behind you in the picture. A plain backdrop is usually the best
• Secure the camera on an even surface so that it doesn’t wobble or shake
• Frame the picture so that you have your head an shoulders in frame with about a quarter of the frame left empty at the top, for head space (the more of your face we can see the better!)
• Make sure there is light on your face – a lamp facing you is a good option
• Make sure that your microphone (often part of the webcam) is directed towards your face
• Think about what you want to say before hand, but don’t worry about getting it all word for word, it’s good to be as natural as possible
• Don’t worry about getting it right first time you can always re-record as many times as you like
• If you find it difficult to look into the lens of the camera and talk, find a spot to focus on just above the camera and talk to that
• Record on your webcam software OR quicktime (.mov)
• Once you start to record count 5 seconds in your head while looking at your spot, before you start to talk, and when you have finished count 5 seconds before stopping the recording. This will give us clean in and outs for edit.
• Start your piece by saying your NAME, PROFESSION and LOCATION
• Speak clearly and not too quickly.
• Around 45 seconds is the optimum length.
• Once you are happy with your piece, save it and upload it to http://www.yousendit.com (you may need to register for free first). Direct the file to listeningpost@aljazeera.net.

Palestinians have the leaders they deserve. Or maybe even better than they deserve.

The only peace they want is our blood. In Ramallah, they did not just kill the two Israelis, they disemboweled them and ran around the town with their hearts and entrails. They bring children into this world with the goal of killing us. Even Nazis didn’t do that!

Jean, you are a fool.

We Jews are guilty too, but not of what we are accused. We are guilty of endless peace efforts, of sincerely desiring peace and forgiving and forgiving and forgiving. Of wishful thinking that if we say “Peace” often enough, it will miraculously arrive, and if we say “You are not our enemy” often enough we can turn enemy into a friend. Of treating the enemy not according to the weakness of their murderous character, but according to the way we would like to be treated. Of absorbing all goodness to ourselves and leaving Palestinians with our shadow on top of their own. Of giving way to our own internal divisions, demonizing “settlers” and putting down Mizrahi Jews (who speak Arabic and could teach the rest of us a lesson or two).

Things that are true today might not be true forever. But as long as we keep these our attitudes, the enemy will keep theirs. If we want them to become more like us, we have to become more like them. It’s harsh, cruel, callous, very painful. But such is life.