The International Congress on Palestine, organised by the Centre for International Historical Studies (CEIH) of the University of Barcelona, was attended by Isabel Pérez, representing the Euro-Arab Foundation, who shared her experience as a former correspondent and resident for four years in the Gaza Strip during the closing session, “Palestine and the media”.
The round table included a lecture by Palestinian journalist and analyst Mariam Barghouti. Afterwards, there was a round table discussion with the following speakers: Isabel Pérez, representing the Euro-Arab Foundation, Joan Roura (TV3), Ricardo Mir de Francia (El Periódico). Ara journalist Cristina Mas moderated the debate.
Isabel Pérez, Head of Communication for International Projects at the Euro-Arab Foundation and part of the Research Secretariat of the EU Knowledge Hub’s Thematic Panel on Ideologies and Narratives of Conspiracy, emphasised the importance of language, semantic field and context in the construction of the journalistic narrative. She highlighted how the media exert a notable influence on public opinion through agenda setting, which determines which issues become news, and framing, which defines how they are reported.
Pérez affirmed that, despite established editorial lines, a journalist with a rigorous professional performance can get his or her proposals published, knowing that his or her news product will always be influenced by his or her knowledge, prejudices or interests, such as the commitment to denounce genocide. The importance of sources was another central pillar of his presentation. Pérez warned that the selection of unreliable sources can lead to misinformation and biased reporting. On the contrary, the use of contrasted sources allows for balanced and fact-based coverage, which contributes to the formation of a critical and informed society and the emergence of a decolonial media narrative.
In his intervention, Pérez also criticised the Israeli propaganda apparatus known as ‘Hasbara’, which aims to improve Israel’s international image and counter criticism. She cited examples such as reports on the beheading of Israeli babies or mass rapes, the veracity of which has been questioned and requires independent investigation. Finally, she called for a more rigorous questioning of official Israeli sources and a deconstruction of the Western and colonial media narrative.
For the Euro-Arab Foundation, the Palestinian issue is of vital importance, and its participation in this congress reinforces its commitment to the analysis and dissemination of accurate information on the region. The Foundation has carried out various activities and campaigns in support of Gaza and Palestine, including the organisation of workshops, seminars and conferences to address the humanitarian and political situation, as well as to promote dialogue and understanding. These initiatives seek to raise awareness of the challenges faced by the Palestinian population and to promote respect for human rights and international law.
