NYT Faces, Western Media Face Backlash At Press Freedom Gala For Stance On Gaza Conflict

A press freedom gala in Midtown Manhattan was disrupted by pro-Palestine activists who targeted The New York Times and other Western media outlets, accusing them of neglecting the plight of Palestinian journalists amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.

What Happened: As reported by Business Insider, pro-Palestinian media workers held a protest during a press freedom gala on Thursday evening. They specifically criticized Western news outlets, with a focus on The New York Times, for their perceived lack of support for Palestinian media professionals.

The protestors, all formally dressed, gathered outside the event location near 9:45 p.m. ET, distributing a satirical newspaper fashioned after the Times, named “The New York War Crimes.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which organized the gala, was called out for selecting Meredith Kopit Levien, CEO and president of The New York Times’ parent company, as the chair of its annual Press Freedom Awards. Harron Walker, a journalist and protest organizer, voiced the group’s disappointment with The Times over its recent op-ed against a ceasefire in Gaza.

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The demonstration was spearheaded by Writers Against the War on Gaza (WAWOG), a group that had penned an open letter accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and the West Bank.

When the protest ended, the crowd dispersed, leaving behind posters showing journalists who had lost their lives in the conflict. According to CPJ, the number of journalists killed in the war has increased from 24 to 42 since the letter was published.

This was the second instance within a week where The Times was the target of a protest. On Nov. 9, a demonstration took place at The Times’ main office in Manhattan, led by signatories of the open letter, handing out mock newspapers called “New York Crimes.”

Why It Matters: This protest comes after the Israeli government leveled serious charges against leading media houses, including the New York Times. Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi accused these media outlets of having prior knowledge of the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7. The New York Times strongly denied these allegations, terming them as “outrageous” and a threat to the safety of journalists in Israel and Gaza.

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