Bill Curtis

Leading Media Expert Michael Levine Slams BBC for “Shameful” Coverage of Israel-Hamas War LOS ANGELES, CA – September 9, 2024 – In a fiery critique, Michael Levine, one of America’s most prominent media experts and best-selling authors, condemned the BBC for what he called a “shameful” failure to adhere to its own editorial guidelines in its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. A new study revealed that the BBC has breached its own editorial standards over 1,500 times during the ongoing conflict, sparking outrage and calls for accountability. Levine echoed the report’s findings that the broadcaster has “repeatedly downplayed Hamas terrorism,” an allegation that adds fuel to the growing criticism of the UK’s state-funded media outlet. “The BBC’s behavior is an affront to journalism,” said Levine. “By failing to fairly cover the heinous acts of terror committed by Hamas, they have not only breached their duty to the public, but also misrepresented one of the most significant conflicts of our time.” The report's authors leveled particularly harsh criticism at the BBC's Arabic channel, citing instances of inflammatory and dangerous rhetoric. One contributor, Mayssaa Abdul Khalek, allegedly called for “death to Israel” and defended a journalist who tweeted “Sir Hitler, rise, there are a few people that need to be burned.” Such alarming incidents have ignited concerns about an “institutional crisis” within the broadcaster. “This is a moment of reckoning for the BBC,” added Levine. “As a global media institution, it has a responsibility to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting. What we are seeing is the collapse of those values.” The report’s findings have intensified scrutiny on the BBC, with many calling for comprehensive reforms to restore public trust and integrity in its reporting. About Michael Levine Michael Levine is a best-selling author, media expert, and founder of Levine Communications Office (LCO). Over the course of his career, Levine has worked with a variety of high-profile clients including Barbara Streisand, Michael Jackson, and George Carlin. He is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading voices in media ethics and crisis management. ----- www.BoundlessMediaUSA.com

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“Media opportunities are for more established authors and experts than myself.” It’s time to bust this Smith Myth. Richelle Zizian Fredson and I do just that in my recent interview on her Bound + Determined podcast. From established publishers to innovative hybrid presses, from independently published debut authors to influential keynote speakers and industry luminaries, we explore strategies for amplifying the voices of 𝒂𝒍𝒍 authors. Some key points from our conversation include: 🗓️ The ideal timeline for book PR 🎤 What media is really looking for right now 📰 How the media landscape has changed for authors 📖 Why your book is the supporting character, not the main character It was such an enlightening and inspiring discussion. You can listen to all of our actionable takeaways at the link here: https://bit.ly/3yYS0JC. #Marketing #Author #Publishing #MarketingStrategy

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“Not a single organization representing journalists and news workers agreed to this undemocratic and secretive deal with one of the businesses destroying our industry.” This is another missed opportunity for meaningful progress and a reminder of Big Tech’s continued unchecked dominance. It also makes abundantly clear that the need for federal action is now more urgent than ever. It is past time for Congress to pass the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA), a bipartisan bill that would give broadcasters and other news publishers the power to come together and negotiate fair terms with Big Tech for how their content is used online. The size of tech platforms like Amazon, Facebook and Google dwarfs local TV and radio stations. These tech giants act as gatekeepers of online content, controlling how consumers access news, and how news publishers are compensated for the use of our content. At the same time, they also siphon away advertising revenue that would otherwise be reinvested into local journalism. The platforms exploit their dominant market position, making it harder for broadcasters to sustain their operations while benefiting from the valuable content created by local stations.  News is costly to produce, and stations invest significant resources to keep reporters in their local communities. The business practices of the tech giants prevent local stations from recouping their investment in local journalism, as these platforms exert enormous influence over what online content is eligible to be monetized. Big Tech controls the share of revenue they retain and the amount passed on to the content providers, who ironically bear the costs of producing the quality journalism that benefits the platforms. The bipartisan JCPA will level the playing field, allowing TV and radio stations to continue their vital work in producing trusted, fact-based journalism. With the upcoming elections, we need strong local newsrooms to keep Americans informed. In fact, the Swing State Project found that a majority of Americans trust their local broadcasters more than any other medium for election news. Local broadcast stations know the communities they report on, they drive on the same roads, take their children to the same parks and cheer on the same local sports teams as their audiences. From covering city council meetings to the high school football game to the upcoming election, broadcasters provide verified news and information Americans can trust. Local newsrooms need a level playing field to work with Big Tech. Congress needs to pass the JCPA – our democracy depends on it.

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My weekly segment with Neil Oliver, where we discuss the reemergence of nationalism and patriotism in Europe and the US, highlighting the cultural aspects, societal impacts, and challenges faced by contemporary elites regarding these sentiments. https://lnkd.in/dh-_8eKV

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Seeing great posts from friends, colleagues and media safety & freedom orgs today marking #WorldPressFreedomDay. Important time to appreciate the critical work and severe challenges - often risking life and freedom - that journalists face today. There is no more important part of my team's mission than enabling the exceptional work of all the Dow Jones-publications across conflict areas, covering crucial economic and business stories securely, telling the stories of climate and disaster, and working within increasingly hostile autocracies. Risky work that gives us all purpose - at the The New York Times, The Washington Post and beyond. "In a world increasingly characterized by geopolitical tensions and sweeping government restrictions, the role of journalists has never been more crucial—or more challenging. As they navigate the complexities of reporting from countries with significant security concerns, they face a myriad of risks that threaten both their safety and the integrity of the press. From the criminalization of independent journalism in Russia, to the surveillance-heavy landscape of China, and even the operational difficulties in Africa, our journalists encounter daily challenges just to bring us honest, reliable news." - Dow Jones

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The art market is the dumps--but how is the view from within Sotheby's, one of the world's chief auction houses? My colleagues Matt Wirz and Ben Foldy and I have been tracking Sotheby's owner Patrick Drahi's struggles to pay down his $60 billion in debt across his telecom empire and wondering how that cash squeeze could be impacting Sotheby's, the famed auction house he bought as a family trophy five years ago. We found out a lot. The 280-year-old house, owned by highly leveraged billionaire Patrick Drahi, is pushing off payments to some of its art shippers, conservators, staff and even its sellers as its awaits a financial lifeline from an Abu Dhabi fund, expected later this year. The house is also postponing some of its season's biggest sales as it gathers material in a tough climate, all the while trying to persuade crusty collectors to buy into its new fee structure. On top of that, it's shelling out tens of millions on lavish brick-and-mortar spaces in New York, Paris and Hong Kong---and paying dividends to a parent company controlled by Drahi. During a meeting this month of higher-ranking executives, some executives expressed worries about whether the company would be able to keep paying its employees on time, according to a person familiar with the discussion. The house disputes this and says the Abu Dhabi funds will set them on a firmer path for growth, but the optics in the meantime aren't pretty. Check out our look at Sotheby's high-wire act online at The Wall Street Journal now. https://lnkd.in/eS3BveKF

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The Subversion of Democracy: How Stormy Daniels Scandal Altered Election Results Delve into the impact of the Stormy Daniels scandal on the 2016 election campaign. Explore how revelations of hush money and subversion of democracy potentially affected the outcome. Join us as we analyze the consequences and discuss the ongoing jury deliberation. #StormyDanielsScandal #SubversionOfDemocracy #ElectionResults #HushMoney #JuryDeliberation #PoliticalScandals #DemocracyUnderThreat #StormyGate #2016Election #PoliticalConsequences

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