In some comments, dismay was expressed that we used the term "autism". Should we then also be prohibited from using "blind" or "deaf"?
And there were these two letters:
Two-way deal
Sir, – While it is indeed true that much of what passes for haredi life and death goes under-reported in the mainstream media, Yisrael Medad and Eli Pollak are being unbalanced in their criticism (“Cultural autism,” Media Comment, March 29).
The haredi world boasts a robust media of its own, in which one finds zero coverage of what goes on outside its four cubits except as to cast aspersions and vilify non-haredim.
Any attempt by an outsider to submit a letter to the editor, let alone a guest column, that does not conform to the haredi party line is rejected outright.
Mainstream media, among them The Jerusalem Post, provide ample opportunities for haredi columnists and flacks to appear on their pages. I would suggest that Medad and Pollak try publishing such a column in the haredi media. Its very appearance would not merely be news, it would make history.
J.J. GROSS
Jerusalem
Sir, – The secular media is accused of covering Amy Winehouse’s death extensively and ignoring that of haredi leader Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg.
How extensively did the haredi media report on the death of Amy Winehouse?
YONATAN SILVER
Jerusalem
Well, yes, the hareidi press is woefully lacking not only ethics but reporting and coverage depth.
But the point is that public broadcasting - and not sectarian press - should cover all. Those networks the public funds should be all-inclusive, politically and culturally.
But they are not. The hareidi press is for the hareidim but the IBA and Galatz are supposedly for all.
Is that so hard to fathom?
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3 comments:
Much of the time I agree with what you say, and while you have a point, the rebuke and rejection of your point have a much greater point. I agree far more with those criticizing you than with you this time
In fact I'd like to go farther. Do you really expect media to pander to an audience that doesn't read their papers?
Also, Even within the Hareidi circles most of these Rabbi's, particularly Rav Sheinberg, are hardly known for their deeds. They are known as "Great Men."
Rav Sheinberg was known for his many layers of Tzitzis; not much else. Regretfully I had hardly a thought to his death and I come from a Hareidi type family!
There is a great problem in the Hareidi world and it isn't due to the non-Hareidi reporting
1) Your expectation that public broadcasting should "cover all...be all-inclusive, politically and culturally", is, to put it mildly, unrealistic and a demand for the physically impossible.
For example, much of the local secular and haredi press has barely mentioned the recent unrest and bombings in Kenya.
The greater interest a subject is to the majority of a publication's readership, the greater the depth in which it is likely to be covered
The passing of a rabbi who, to the best of my knowledge, was not particularly interested in, or involved with, people outside his community would be unlikely to get much coverage in the wider press. Especially since the rabbi was not widely known for having a great singing voice.
2) Your explanation that since the haredi press is, by definition, culturally autistic, one cannot expect it to act otherwise, reminds me of a similar explanation for one-sided criticism of Israel: namely, Israel has high standards, so it can be criticized; whereas her enemies don't, so they can't be expected to be held to the same high standards.
Is my problems with your double standard so hard to fathom?
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