MISLABELING ON THE BATTLEFIELD. Talk by Verena Podolsky

On November 18, we invite you to an important conversation with Verena Podolsky, a member of the independent Fifty Global Research Group. How do some of the world’s most influential news organizations report casualties in Gaza? Where do their numbers come from? How clearly do they distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths? And how does the way information is presented shape public understanding of a war? On November 18, we invite you to an important conversation with Verena Podolsky, a member of the independent Fifty Global Research Group, about its study Mislabeling on the Battlefield. Founded by Tatiana Glezer, Fifty Global brings together volunteer researchers from around the world. For this study, the team analyzed 1,378 articles published by eight major English-language news organizations: the BBC, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Associated Press, Reuters, and ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). The researchers examined how casualty figures were reported, which sources were cited, and whether journalists distinguished between civilian and combatant deaths. The study identifies several concerning patterns: frequent reliance on figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run Ministry of Health without explicit attribution, limited reporting of combatant casualties, and differences in how Israeli and Hamas-provided figures are scrutinized. Verena will discuss the research methodology and findings, exploring how editorial choices, omissions, and repeated statistics can influence the public’s understanding of civilian casualties. She will also introduce two upcoming Fifty Global studies: one examining healthcare under armed non-state governance in Gaza, and another exploring how uncorrected claims can persist in news coverage through repetition. About the speaker Verena Podolsky holds an MA in Journalism from New York University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the City College of New York (CCNY). She has been a member of the Fifty Global research team since 2024. Join us for an evening of research, critical thinking, and discussion about journalism, information, and the responsibility of the media in times of war. Admission: $10 Space is limited, so we recommend purchasing tickets in advance. The event will be held in English.