The AP is not following its own code of ethics

The Associated Press has been a subject of many of my biased-media posts. But here’s one I haven’t yet written about: Their habit of spinning stories more negatively over a period of time.

Take a look at the blatant anti-Israel bias in the updates to the following stories. Watch how the writer of the second piece eliminates information damaging to the palestinians, and takes out information supportive of the Israelis. The headlines alone tell the stories:

First: Israel Successfully Tests Missile Defense
Dec 2, 10:22 AM (ET)
By AMY TEIBEL

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel carried out a successful test of its Arrow missile defense system on Friday, intercepting and destroying a missile similar to Iran’s long-range Shahab-3.

Updated: Israel Tests Missile Defense System
Dec 2, 9:37 PM (ET)

By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel’s Arrow missile defense system intercepted and destroyed a missile similar to Iran’s long-range Shahab-3 during a test Friday, prompting Israel’s defense minister to declare it an effective shield against a possible future Iranian nuclear threat.

Notice the differences in the lead. The rest of the articles are virtually identical. Well, except for these changes. Note the subtle difference in placement:

First: Israel considers Iran to be its biggest threat, and doesn’t believe Tehran’s claims that its nuclear program is peaceful. Israeli concerns were heightened recently after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged that Israel be “wiped off the map.”

Updated: Iran’s Shahab-3 can be equipped with nuclear warheads and can reach Israel, as well as several U.S. military installations in the Middle East. Israeli concerns were heightened after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in October said Israel must be “wiped off the map.”

But lest you think this is an isolated incident, let’s look at another pair of stories by the exact same writers. As before, Amy Teibel’s story, with the headline that is less favorable to palestinians, is first. Then along comes our pal Ramit to spin it pro-palestinian.

First: Palestinians Let Militants Back Into Gaza
Dec 2, 5:41 AM (ET)
By AMY TEIBEL

JERUSALEM (AP) – Palestinians have allowed up to 15 militants wanted by Israel to return to the Gaza Strip, violating a U.S.-wrested agreement that was to have let Israel monitor who enters the area from Egypt, Israel Radio reported Friday, citing Palestinian security officials.

The entry of the Hamas militants – including one of the group’s founders – through the border crossing at Rafah threatened to set off Israeli economic sanctions, which would further batter Gaza’s shattered economy.

Palestinian officials say anyone with a Palestinian identity card can enter Gaza from Rafah.

Updated: Militants Wanted by Israel Return to Gaza
Dec 2, 3:10 PM (ET)
By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI

JERUSALEM (AP) – Up to 15 Palestinian militants wanted by Israel have returned to the Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said Friday, complaining that the Palestinian Authority had not fulfilled its obligation since taking control of the border with Egypt last week.

The Palestinians said they did not violate a U.S.-brokered deal for operating the Rafah terminal, and that the fugitives had the right to return. European monitors at Rafah said they were trying to settle the dispute to protect the border agreement, the biggest diplomatic achievement since Israel’s unilateral pullout from Gaza last summer.

And yes, there’s still more:

First: Israel Radio said the militants had either been expelled from Palestinian territories by Israel, or fled, fearing Israeli retribution. Some left before the first Palestinian uprising against Israel broke out in 1987.

Their ranks included Hamas founder Ahmed el-Malah and Fadel Zahar, a brother of Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar, whom Israel expelled to Lebanon in 1991.

Updated: Raanan Gissin, a spokesman for Sharon, said the Palestinians have allowed “between 10 and 15” wanted militants into Gaza.

One of those to enter Gaza this week was Fadel Zahar, an activist with the militant group Hamas and brother of Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar.

Fadel Zahar said he was exercising his right to return after years of exile in Lebanon, Sudan and Syria.

Notice how there were no quotes from the “militants” in the first story, and no excuses made–especially the execrable “right to return,” language deliberately expropriated from the Israeli phrase that allows any Jew from anywhere in the world to claim citizenship in Israel. This man was a terrorist, exiled for planning murders. Not a refugee, as the AP spin would have you believe.

And yes, there is even more:

First: Also Friday, the Palestinians were holding primary elections in two major West Bank towns, Hebron and Tulkarem. The vote, the latest in a series of primaries ahead of January parliamentary elections, pitted old-timers from the ruling Fatah Party against young-guard candidates pushing for a greater role in decision making.

Polling in several West Bank districts has resulted in younger activists pushing aside corruption-tainted veterans. Fatah is holding its first primaries, in several rounds, and some have been marred by violence and disarray. Earlier this week, results in the Gaza Strip were nullified after gunmen attacked polling stations.

Updated: Also Friday, Palestinian officials with the ruling Fatah party called off primary voting in Salfit and Qalqiliya, two West Bank towns, after gunmen fired into the air and burned ballot boxes.

Violence and confusion have plagued Fatah’s staggered primary voting in recent weeks, leaving the party in disarray as it gears up for a stiff challenge from Hamas in an election scheduled for January.

Notice how the most damning facts are removed from the second version. Somebody at AP is one hell of an editor.

Now see if you think that Ramit is following the AP code of ethics here (emphasis mine, of course):

ACCURACY

The newspaper should guard against inaccuracies, carelessness, bias or distortion through emphasis, omission or technological manipulation.

It should acknowledge substantive errors and correct them promptly and prominently.

INTEGRITY

The newspaper should strive for impartial treatment of issues and dispassionate handling of controversial subjects. It should provide a forum for the exchange of comment and criticism, especially when such comment is opposed to its editorial positions. Editorials and expressions of personal opinion by reporters and editors should be clearly labeled. Advertising should be differentiated from news.

So. Ya think they’re living up to their code of ethics?

I’m thinking not.