A journalism fellowship aimed at shaping the narrative on Israel has sparked controversy due to its ties to prominent media outlets. The program, founded in 2025 by Jacki Karsh and her husband, bills itself as “the world’s only journalism fellowship solely dedicated to Jewish topics” and claims to be “resolutely nonpartisan.” However, its goal of “shifting the narrative” in Israel’s favor has raised questions about its impartiality.
The fellowship has enlisted 16 mentors from reputable outlets, including The Atlantic, CNN, and The New York Times. Notable mentors include CNN commentator Van Jones and New York Times journalists Jodi Rudoren and Sharon Otterman. The program’s director, Rob Eshmen, maintains that the fellowship aims to promote “fairness and accuracy on Israel and Jewish issues” by fostering journalism grounded in evidence, integrity, and independence.
Critics point out that the program’s founder, Jacki Karsh, has made statements that suggest a strong bias in favor of Israel. She has described Hamas as “real life monsters” and compared them to Nazis, while also challenging Gaza casualty figures. The United Nations and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have stated that these figures are broadly accurate. The conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant loss of life, with over 65,000 Palestinians killed since Israel launched its military operation in response to a Hamas surprise attack.
The fellowship’s mentors have also faced criticism for their past comments and actions. Van Jones apologized after backlash for linking images of dead Palestinian children to an Iranian and Qatari disinformation campaign. Atlantic writer Michael Powell has criticized rights groups like Amnesty International for being “stridently critical of Israel.”
Despite these concerns, the fellowship’s director insists that the program is committed to promoting accurate and fair reporting on Israel and Jewish issues. The initiative has sparked a debate about the role of journalism in shaping public perceptions of complex conflicts like the one in Gaza. As the situation in the region continues to unfold, the importance of impartial and fact-based reporting will remain a key issue.