The instructions against Shaked and the story of Likud being buried: what is really behind the firing of the Channel 14 political reporter
A week has passed since the sudden dismissal of Channel 14's political reporter Kobi Bornstein and the spirits in the "Now 14" news system refuse to calm down.
But with all due respect to Bornstein, the channel's problem at the moment is far from being limited to the anti-journalistic image, and the employees are also starting to ask questions
David Wertheim
22/08/2022
Monday, August 22, 2022, 6:55 p.m. Updated: 7:20 p.m.
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Among other things, Bornstein was asked to make sure to note in his reports that Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked - who declares herself right-wing - "is a fiction and that it is mandatory to mention in reports about her that she is not right-wing"
A week has passed since the political reporter of Channel 14 was unexpectedly fired, and the spirits in the channel's news system refuse to calm down.
As you may recall, the Channel 14 management announced the dismissal of Kobi Bornstein only one year later following what was defined as his "disagreements" with the chief editor of the channel's news department, Yoram Cohen.
On the other hand, sources privy to the details claim that the dismissals were only the tip of the iceberg of attempts to force coverage sympathetic to Likud on him, while relegating him to only partial coverage of the political system (focusing only on the coalition, and staffing a reporter alongside him).
For example, the channel knows how to tell the story of Yoni Giorno, the Likud candidate who was convicted of crimes, brought by Bornstein and the channel decided to drop him on the grounds that it was "not interesting enough" - a few hours before he started broadcasts on the competing channels.
The same story, by the way, remains an orphan on Bornstein's Twitter.
In addition, in his previous role on the channel as an ultra-orthodox reporter, Bornstein wanted to do a magazine article on the phenomenon of drugs in yeshiva and was rebuffed on the grounds that "there is no point in flooding it outside".
Another time, Bornstein wanted to bring details from the negotiations between Shaked and Handel and responded with a similar answer, adding that "it's just Miriam for her". mention in reports about her that she is not right-wing."
Channel 20 at the launch of Channel 14 (Photo: Meir Ilfour)
In addition, it was recently announced on the IDF airwaves that the channel offered Likud members a "primary package" for a fee, which includes mobile alerts and articles about them that are assumed to be regular news content
However, the straw that broke the camel's back was around the cancellation of the interview with that Shaked about two weeks ago, which after a long boycott of the channel, agreed to Bornstein's request.
The channel did not really like the fact that no senior official of the channel would be interviewed by his side, and the interview which, as mentioned, was finally canceled, became the immediate reason for his dismissal.
It is important to mention: as published a few weeks ago in Vala!
Branch has reached a recording of a phone call by a channel employee revealing what happened behind the scenes after the interview that took place on the channel with Moshe Saada's wife, under the title: "Shaked knew - and kept quiet".
According to the source, an "instruction from above" was given beforehand on how to frame the article, and a source at the channel even said that "we received a message sheet - to harm Ayelet Shaked".
Following the publication, a demand was received from the ombudsman to open an investigation into the matter.
Senior officials at the channel do not deny that Bornstein, who was already in a strained relationship with the heads of the news department, was one of the "suspects" in the leak of the recording. This is an unfounded fact.
In addition, it was recently announced on the IDF airwaves that the channel offered Likud members a "primary package" for a fee, which includes mobile phone notifications and articles about them that are assumed to be regular news content (Channel 14 responded at the time that an advertising package was offered only on the website and in the app).
A symptom of a much deeper problem.
Bornstein (photo: screenshot, screenshot)
"Precisely because he was professional, he was fired"
The channel's system - which is careful about its rebranding as a news channel - is now missing an insider, a health reporter, a police reporter, a crime reporter, a political reporter, a welfare reporter, a culture reporter, and an environment reporter
Back to Bornstein.
At the end of last week, there was an editorial meeting of Cohen with the reporters, and the dismissals naturally took up a significant part of it.
According to sources who were present, quite a bit of criticism was hurled both by the reporters and by the editors and some of the presenters towards the move which was perceived as aggressive and unprofessional.
During the meeting, Cohen denied what was published in the media regarding the firing of Bornstein, and added that "we fired him because he did not do what was expected of him as a reporter, and this is a warning to you as well. I will not be afraid to fire someone who does not work properly."
This answer only deepened the suspicion among the employees.
"There is a great deal of anger about this issue, especially around the fact that 'until finally there was a professional reporter here - he was fired,' says Lavala! Barenja, one of the workers who was present at the yeshiva. Another worker completed the picture and said: "Precisely because he was professional, he was fired him".
But with all due respect to Bornstein, Channel 14's problem at the moment is far from limited to him or the problematic and anti-journalistic image that only deepened with his dismissal.
The channel's system - which is careful about its rebranding as a news channel - is now missing an inside reporter, a health reporter, a police reporter, a crime reporter, a political reporter, a welfare reporter, a culture reporter and an environment reporter.
According to the sources, the channel is aware of the problem and several inquiries have already been made to relevant reporters from other media organizations - most of them refused to join.
At the same time, the channel is suffering from a significant wave of departures.
Makoby Bornstein
said in response: "I have not referred to the dismissal so far, and I do not intend to refer to it now. I will use the platform to point out that the channel also has excellent people from whom I learned a lot during the period and for that I am grateful."
Channel 14
said that they are prevented from commenting on the Bornstein issue.
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Channel 14 - Channel 20
Ayelet Shaked
Yoram Cohen