Columnist Teaching Palestinian Journalists

By: Dave Astor Creators Syndicate columnist Ray Hanania has organized an Internet class for Palestinian journalists through the U.S. Consulate General's office in Jerusalem.

The Palestinian-American writer (http://www.hanania.com) told E&P that about 40 Palestinian journalists in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Israel are participating.

Palestinian journalists, said Hanania, "need to understand that journalism is about accuracy, fairness, and also audience. ... I am encouraging the Palestinian media to expand from Arabic language to English language and distribute their best reporting to American audiences. I think that's the biggest obstacle they face in terms of 'getting their story out.'"

He added: "I also walk them through some stories that I feel need a better focus -- if I were their editor -- such as coverage of the 'wall-fence' and the issue of settlements."

Hanania's column is syndicated to papers such as The Dallas Morning News, Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel, and Newsday of Melville, N.Y.