Media Central


*Activities Update – May-June 2009* Throughout May and June, MediaCentral continued to provide services to foreign journalists, promoting accurate reporting about Israel , Israel ’s place in the world and its reaction to global events. One of the most important services that MediaCentral supplies is taking journalists to controversial sites so that journalists rely on their own observations rather than second- and third-hand descriptions from other people. MediaCentral is there to personally assist every journalist and provides exclusive, specialized events, tours and vital services that help to make sure media coverage of Israel is fair, accurate and balanced.
Just the Facts: Summary Stats for May/June ‘09
Calls to/from the media		78
Emails (not including mass-mailings/invitations)		54
Hospitality (coffee, lunch, drinks); mtgs w/ journalists		21
Journalist Drop-Ins		16
Research requests from the media		22
Events (briefings, field-tours, TGITs)		13
Attendees at Events		99
			Briefing on the Golan Heights w/ Col. (res.) Koby Marom

*Building personal relationships* by providing services to foreign press (examples):
Hi Aryeh, I'm just calling to say thank you for the event this evening. It was good. Well done! It was really an on- time, immediate response to the news as it breaks.	Thank you very much Avital. As always, you are very helpful and very professional. EFE Spanish News			Aryeh, It was a very good idea to do the telephone press conference, especially because it was in the evening. I am looking forward to similar activities. Alfred Muller, Norwegian Correspondent [via email]
Supplied information regarding Jerusalem Day and other information about Jerusalem	Provided an expert on water issues			Provided contact info for an Iran expert
Supplied contact information regarding Tel Aviv’s 100^th anniversary	Helped to make contact with the Druze community in Israel			Gave a list of contacts and interviewees in the disputed territories
	Provided contact information for a series of interviews

Highlights: Press Briefings, Field Tours and Events: (For more information click the event)

18 May

Exclusive tour to settlements for top-tier journalists

With The NY Times, The London Times, El Pais and National Public Radio.

May 21

Jerusalem Day Field Tour - City of David & Silwan (Al-Bustan area)

(& Video Link)

27 attendees including: Record TV Brazil, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Ohmny News Korea , Kyodo News Japan , GPD Netherlands, Czech Radio, Toronto Star, ABC Australia, ABC Spain and more.

May 26

Iranian Elections- Implications for Israel

(& Video Link)

17 attendees including: RUFA, HBL ( Finland ), CBC Canada, Tokyo Shimbum, Global TV Canada and more.

June 2-3

2-day Golan Field Tour

Exclusive Field Tour for BBC, AFP, Radio France International, Swiss media and China radio international.

June 11

Ethiopian National Project

7 attendees.

June 15

Special telephone press briefing:

Analysis of PM Netanyahu's speech at Bar- Ilan University

15 attendees, including: BBC, China radio international, Radio France International, Jiji Press Japan, RD Netherlands, Mclatchy News, South African Broadcasting Corp. and more.

June 16

Liberal Democracy in Palestinian Society: Special Forum (held at the American Colony Hotel)

19 attendees including: US, British, Swiss, Norwegian media, UN magazine, Al-Quds newspaper and more.

See MediaCentral’s video, with examples of our events and comments by journalists using our services, like the Middle East bureau chief of ABC News, as well as by supporters like Natan Sharansky and former Israeli ambassador to the US, Danny Ayalon, which gives you a feel for what we do and how we operate. (Also can be seen at http://www.steekr.com/n/50-17/share/LNK413848989d711a1bc/.)

Funded in part by, and with great appreciation to:

UJA Federation of New York – Solelim Fund * Legacy Heritage Fund * United Jewish Appeal Aspen Valley

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia * MZ Foundation * Jewish Federation of Central California ( Fresno )

Gorlin Family Foundation with a matching grant from the Jewish Funders Network

Bernard Osher Jewish Philanthropies Foundation of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund of San Francisco

Public Events During Aryeh’s July trip to the US :

1 Jul - 7pm KolDor event in NYC

2 Jul - 7:30pm Bet Torah Synagogue Mt. Kisco

3-4 Jul - (Shabbat) Magen David Cong. Deal (Ocean) NJ

8 Jul - Republican Jewish Coalition lunch in NYC

9 Jul - 8am NY Press Club event @ TimeWarner Center

10 Jul - (Shabbat) 9:30pm Manhattan Jewish Experience (@ 5^th Ave. Synagogue)

11 Jul - (Shabbat) 8:30am Safra Congregation

11 Jul - (Shabbat) Seudah Shlishit Manhattan Jewish Center

12 Jul - 3pm Garden party in New Rochelle

13-16 Jul - Denver & Boulder , CO