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for college students by college students

Birthright Trip

MSU student urges participation in program
that examines media bias toward Israel.

By Becca Fishman

jewish@edu Staff Writer

or many college students, Taglit-
Birthright Israel is time to connect
with our beautiful home that we call
Israel. Throughout these 10 days, college stu-
dents from across the world gain knowledge
and insight into our country's history by trav-
eling and experiencing the country. Taglit-
Birthright Israel is truthfully a life-changing
opportunity that Jewish young adults across
the world are privileged to experience.
Although each Taglit-Birthright Israel trip
educates its participants on the strong histo-
ry of Israel, both past and present, Michigan
State University Hillel's Bus 990 last summer
was given a unique opportunity to learn
more about this rich country through a new
partnership with CAMERA, the Committee
for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting.
Founded in 1982, CAMERA is a media-
monitoring, research and membership orga-
nization devoted to promoting accurate and
balanced coverage of Israel and the Middle
East. CAMERA fosters rigorous reporting,
while educating news consumers about
Middle East issues and the role of the media.
The partnership between MSU's Lester
and Jewell Morris Hillel Jewish Student
Center and CAMERA truly brought an eye-
opening aspect to our Taglit-Birthright Israel
experience. It allowed me and my peers to
realize how media coverage of Israel can
vary vastly across the world. In the past few
months, news stations across the globe have
been broadcasting issues taking place in the
Middle East. Especially in times of heartache
for Israelis, such as the bombings last fall,

F

it is crucial to understand the inaccuracies
behind what the media often presents.
After participating on a CAMERA Taglit-
Birthright Israel trip, I was able to under-
stand the news media bias regarding Israel,
allowing me to form a more accurate opin-
ion of the situations at hand.
As registration for Taglit-Birthright Israel
summer trips approaches, it is important to
know that MSU students will have an oppor-
tunity to join a CAMERA bus this May. I hope
that the students lucky enough to participate
will take advantage of the information that
CAMERA has to offer.
It is so important for young adults, and
the greater community, to understand the
inaccuracies in media reporting. If you are
unfamiliar with CAMERA, I urge you to take
a few minutes to learn more about the orga-
nization at www.camera.org . Its mission not
only positively impacted my trip experience,
but also allowed me to better recognize and
counter news media inaccuracies and bias
regarding Israel. @

The
Craig Fahle
Show

While You're Living Your Life

Craig Is Getting Ready

Becca Fishman of Franklin is a sophomore

at Michigan State University. The

partnership program between Taglit-

Birthright Israel and the Committee

for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting

successfully launched as a pilot project

at Michigan State University, Princeton

and SUNY Binghamton last spring. The

program is being expanded throughout the

United States, thanks to an anonymous

donor.

/AA

You Can Count On
The Craig Fahle Show

MSU in Israel: Junior Sarah Elam, Boca Raton, Fla.; MSU
graduate Sam Mikalonis, Huntington Woods; sophomore
Becca Fishman, Franklin; junior Sam Warheit, Barrington,
Ill.; junior Morgan Silver, Huntington Woods; sophomore
Ally Seal, Ann Arbor; sophomore Emily Langnas, Bloomfield
Hills; sophomore Jake Silbert, Bloomfield Hills.

Weekdays at 10 a.m. & 7 p.m.

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UNIVERSITY

1825000

March 21 • 2013

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