Strategies for the Media: Understanding, Responding to, and Preventing Antisemitism

Covering Antisemitism Responsibly: A Guide for Media Professionals

AJC's Combating Antisemitism Playbook
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As a form of hatred rooted in conspiracy theories and shaped by current events and social trends, antisemitism uniquely threatens pluralism, democracy, public safety, and social trust. The public needs thoughtful, accurate reporting that breaks down this complexity and helps to explain its impact, protect communities, and strengthen societal values. This is especially important given that nearly one-third (30%) of U.S. adults are unfamiliar with the term “antisemitism” according to AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2025 Report. Including Jewish voices in coverage, providing context, and flagging and explaining antisemitic tropes can all help readers to better grasp the full picture, especially for readers who may be unfamiliar with lesser-known antisemitic tropes and conspiracies. This guide is designed to help both new and experienced reporters strengthen their coverage. 

Recent trends among American Jews, from AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2025 Report:

  • 91% of American Jews say they feel less safe as a Jewish person in the U.S. due to violent antisemitic incidents over the past year
  • 86% say antisemitism has increased in the U.S. since the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel
  • 55% changed their behavior out of fear of antisemitism
  • 31% were personally targeted, either in person or online
  • 73% of American Jews have encountered antisemitism online
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AJC’s Priority Recommendation is:

Name antisemitism when it appears and provide the context audiences need to understand it and its real-world consequences.

 

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Understanding Antisemitism

Antisemitism is constantly evolving, which is why AJC provides, and is constantly updating, publicly available resources on the topic. Responsible coverage begins with a clear understanding of antisemitism, requiring media professionals to not only recognize its forms, sources, language, and real-world consequences, but to also understand how framing, sourcing, and visual choices can shape public perception. Even unintentional imbalance, omission, or lack of context can fuel anti-Jewish narratives. 

  • Understand sources of antisemitism
    • Political Antisemitism including far-left narratives that deny Jewish self-determination or apply double standards to Israel, and far-right ideologies that portray Jews as conspirators threatening national identity or social order.
    • Religious Extremism and Fundamentalism that portrays Jews as enemies of faith or society, including forms of Islamist extremism, Christian extremism, and rhetoric promoted by groups such as the Nation of Islam or Black Hebrew Israelites.
    • State-Sponsored Antisemitism including propaganda, disinformation, and support for extremist groups to advance political or strategic goals, often emanating from Tehran and its proxies, Moscow, and, in some contexts, Beijing.
  • Recognize forms of antisemitism
    • Holocaust denial, distortion, and inversion 
    • Conspiracies about Jewish power or control
    • Targeting Jews or Jewish institutions because of Israel
    • Applying standards to Israel not expected of other countries or peoples
  • Be mindful of hate speech patterns
    • Othering: Jews depicted as outsiders or fundamentally different
    • Scapegoating: Blaming Jews for societal problems or crises
    • Dehumanization: Comparing Jews to animals, aliens, or morally deficient
    • Threat inversion: Portraying Jews or Israel as uniquely evil or oppressive in ways used to justify hostility or violence
  • Unpacking Antizionism
    • The vast majority of American Jews (83%) and the general public (79%) say the phrase “Israel has no right to exist” is antisemitic. This phrase is the definition of antizionism. Antizionism is opposition to Jews having a Jewish state in their ancestral homeland, and denies the Jewish people’s right to self-determination. 

 

Best Practice in Explaining the Rise of Antisemitism: 

A 2025 TIME article on rising antisemitism in the U.S. combined statistics, expert analysis, and human impact to show how antisemitic incidents surged and why they matter. It blended data with lived experience and explained how antisemitism does not just threaten Jews but undermines pluralism, weakens democratic institutions, endangers public safety, and erodes social trust.

 

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Responding to Antisemitism

When antisemitism occurs, journalists have the important responsibility to respond in ways that inform the public accurately, avoid amplification of harm, and reflect the real-world impact on Jewish communities.

  • Ask key questions
    • Who is quoted? Fringe or mainstream?
    • Are sources/data reliable?
    • How are Jewish communities affected?
  • Use trusted contacts
    • Local AJC offices, Jewish Federations, synagogue leaders representing mainstream Jewish voices. 
    • Use caution when engaging ideologically driven “experts.”
  • Track cumulative impact
    • Report on patterns of harassment, fear, and threats, not just single incidents.
    • Relay impact and human stories.
    • Include the experiences of affected individuals and communities alongside facts.
  • Report responsibly
    • Exercise heightened caution before amplifying viral claims, manipulated media, or unverified allegations during fast-moving crises.
    • Blur hateful images and symbols unless for educational purposes and ensure careful, contextual captioning for all visuals.
    • Ensure headlines accurately reflect verified facts and avoid framing that sensationalizes or unintentionally legitimizes antisemitic narratives.
    • Do not present antisemitic rhetoric or conspiracy narratives without context or scrutiny. When reporting statements that collectively blame Jews or invoke antisemitic tropes, journalists should clearly identify them as such and provide the factual, historical, and social context necessary to explain why they are harmful and misleading. 

 

Best Practice in Responding to Antisemitism: 

Sara Eisen models how journalists can confront antisemitism with both professional rigor and moral clarity. Her approach highlights several best practices for responsible reporting:

  • Clearly identify antisemitic tropes rather than framing them as vague political commentary.
  • Recognize when rhetoric about Jews, Israel, or Zionism echoes conspiracies about power, control, or influence.
  • Ask consistent accountability questions across political and ideological lines.
  • Avoid normalizing extremist or conspiratorial rhetoric through passive coverage.
  • Distinguish legitimate criticism from rhetoric that promotes stereotypes or collective blame.
  • Understand antisemitism as a broader democratic and societal issue, not only a Jewish issue.
  • Recognize that lived experience can strengthen reporting when paired with fairness, rigor, and factual accuracy.

 

  • Apply ethical judgment
    • Balance freedom of expression with protection from harm.
    • Be trauma-informed when covering survivors or affected communities.

 

Best Practice in Reporting on Antisemitic Imagery:

The Associated Press covered a 2024 Harvard incident where a widely criticized antisemitic cartoon was posted on social media. The report quoted university leadership condemning the image and explaining why it was harmful. Most importantly, the article did not reprint the problematic image.

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Preventing Antisemitism

The media plays a critical role not only in documenting antisemitism, but in preventing it — through investigative rigor, self-examination, and the creation of shared resources that improve industry standards.

 

Best Practice in Preventing Antisemitism:

The Forward’s investigation into Elon University’s approach to antisemitism highlighted solutions that build safety, trust, and accountability. Reports on effective institutional responses can help scale critical efforts.

 

  • Reduce bias: Cover antisemitism consistently across ideological lines.
  • Plan for risk periods: Elections, Jewish holidays, and Middle East conflicts often coincide with spikes in antisemitism.
  • Rely on vetted and trusted sources, like AJC’s Translate Hate, a visual glossary of words and symbols that are antisemitic or can become antisemitic in context. Complement these materials with on- or off-the-record discussions with experts on current issues related to contemporary antisemitism.
  • Share best practices widely: Disseminate findings, resources, and lessons across newsrooms, journalism schools, and professional networks to strengthen industry-wide standards and prevent harm.

 

Cover Israel Responsibly and With Awareness of Antisemitism Risks:

  • Acknowledge the connection to Jewish identity – According to AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2025 Report, over three in four American Jews (77%) say caring about Israel is an important part of what being Jewish means to them. Reporting on Israel can influence domestic antisemitism, so be mindful of how language and framing may affect Jewish communities.
  • Distinguish critique from antisemitism – Criticism of Israeli government policies is legitimate. However, holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of Israel, targeting Jewish individuals or institutions in response to events involving Israel, or invoking antisemitic tropes and rhetoric is antisemitism. Invoking tropes, or using loaded phrases that may carry antisemitic interpretations or implications such as “From the River to the Sea” or “Zionism is Racism”. Journalists should contextualize such language carefully and avoid framing antisemitic attacks against Jews as  reactions to geopolitical events.
  • Provide historical and social context – Situate current events within Jewish history, regional politics, and cultural norms. For example, explaining why Israel responds in particular ways after crises like October 7 helps audiences understand historical context and security considerations.
  • Use sources responsibly – Clearly identify the origin of data, especially when reporting numbers from politically affiliated entities. Help audiences assess reliability and limitations, and strive for balanced representation of all affected communities.
  • Highlight broader societal impact – Explain how antisemitic narratives, including Holocaust distortion or collective blame of Jews, affect communities beyond immediate events. Coverage that clarifies responsibility and addresses real-world implications strengthens understanding and reduces harm.

 

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Key Resources

 

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More AJC Resources on this Issue

Protecting the Memory of Jedwabne: Truth, Remembrance, and Responsibility - AJC Advocacy Anywhere
Protecting the Memory of Jedwabne: Truth, Remembrance, and Responsibility - AJC Advocacy Anywhere
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What to Know About Holocaust Distortion and Antisemitism in Poland
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AJC Commemorates 85 Years Since the Jedwabne Pogrom
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