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I am proud to be a supporter of Audiomakers for Liberation and their recognition of our industry’s complicity in the Genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. Solidarity to all audio makers resisting in Broadcasting, Podcasts, in the Arts and Education.

Ceasefire now. Free Palestine.

read in full: https://audiomakersforliberation.com/2023/11/10/audiomakers-for-liberation-open-letter-to-the-industry/

Original “Free Palestine” Artwork by CARLOS BARBERENA (@carlosbarberena)

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STOP THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA CEASEFIRE NOW!

FREE PALESTINE

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We say first and foremost: free, free Palestine and join those globally calling for a ceasefire. As anti-racist audio makers, we recognise the complicity of our industry in the horror that has been unfolding this last month. However, we recognise this stretches back long before October 7th. Due to our own experiences, we are unsurprised but no less disgusted by the unchecked biases framing reporting and lines of enquiry on air. We are outraged by the horrific discourse that has been running as background noise to genocide.

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Now is the moment for a reappraisal of responsibilities and values. We understand this war is being fought on many fronts, including via information. We know the power of broadcast and recognise the silencing power that cultures of fear in the media create—benefiting only Western Imperialist interests. We are aware of the countless examples of individuals who have lost their jobs because of their speaking out against violence right now.

We have experienced being censored for the sake of the hypothetical sensitivities of presumed audiences. We have been asked in our work to appease the panic and political illiteracy of editors and senior figures. We have worked under the editorial violence of so-called objectivity and the sheer dishonesty of uninterrogated claims of impartiality. It is possible to be rigorous – to work with due diligence – without upholding violence. We are constantly asked to soften how we name colonial violence: the cost of that is unfolding in Gaza right now. If you have ever wondered why some of your colleagues fight hard to name and resist editorial tyranny – this is why

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We call upon our colleagues to:

•   Be under no illusions about the consequences of your reporting:
• there are no two sides to a conflict where one state wields advanced weaponry, is internationally supported and has the power to repress in the way that Israel has.
•   Call genocide, genocide.
•   Gear your reporting towards pushing state officials for a ceasefire

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We call upon our colleagues to:

•   Legitimise Palestinian resistance and leadership – it needn’t be framed in opposition to anti-semitism.
•   Be critical of the de-legitimising phrase ‘Hamas-led’.
•   Question the information emerging from Israel.
•   Hold Israeli officials to account.
•   Recognise that we can tackle anti-semitism whilst naming Zionism for the fascist project that it is.

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We call upon our colleagues to:

• Respect the Jewish faith by separating it from the state of Israel: to protect Jewish people from antisemitism, to push against the lie that this is a religious war, and most importantly, to avoid legitimising fascism.

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Full letter and resources available

at

AUDIOMAKERSFORLIBERATION.COM