Israel journalism fellowship recruits CNN and New York Times reporters

A journalism fellowship aimed at shaping the narrative on Israel has sparked controversy because of its ties to prominent media outlets. Founded in 2025 by Jacki Karsh and her husband, the program bills itself as “the world’s only journalism fellowship solely dedicated to Jewish topics” and claims to be “resolutely nonpartisan.” Yet its stated 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. Program 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 founder, Jacki Karsh, has made statements suggesting 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 that the United Nations and the Israeli Defense Forces consider 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 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 such as Amnesty International for being “stridently critical of Israel.”

Despite these concerns, the 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, fact‑based reporting remains a key issue.