Spheres of Influence is partnering with the UBC Middle East Studies Students Association and UBC Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights to host the event Media Representations of Palestine. The event will take place on August 5th, 2021 from 5-6 pm PDT on Zoom.

To attend, you must register ahead of time on Eventbrite. Tickets are free but we are happily accepting donations, which will go towards honorariums for our speakers as a token of our appreciation for the time and mental/emotional labour they’re contributing. We will be sending out the Zoom link to registered participants on the day of the event.

We are looking forward to welcoming a panel of prominent Palestinian journalists, academics, and activists, who will share their rich insights, experiences, and perspectives. The event will begin with an overview of the situation, presented by Majeed Malhas, a Senior Writer and Editor at Spheres of Influence, followed by a panel discussion touching on important issues of misinformation, bias, and underrepresentation. We will also be collecting questions from the audience throughout the event and opening space for a Q&A period towards the end.

For decades, the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, and the violent tensions that have resulted, has made the front page of newspapers across the globe. As the crisis is steeped in geopolitical interests, colonial histories, and religion, it is deeply complex and has been constantly skewed and distorted by media outlets across the globe. At Spheres of Influence, we’re working to critically address the dominant reporting styles of global issues and move towards more ethical, intersectional, and decolonial storytelling, so this event is deeply important to us. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

To get up to speed on what’s going on, check out some of these articles:

“Sheikh Jarrah and the Perpetual State of the Palestinian Nakba” by Rahma Naveed

“Deconstructing the Media Narrative Around Israel’s Occupation” by Benoit Dupras

“Postponement of Palestinian Elections Reflects the PA’s Redundancy” by Majeed Malhas

“Israel is an Apartheid State” by Danica Torrens

“Support for Israel Reaches American National Conversation as Progressives Challenge Congress on Arms Sale” by Majeed Malhas