Jerusalem

Media Projects

Under The Same Sun

We have recently completed production on our docu-drama film Under The Same Sun, produced in Israel and the Palestinian Territory.

Under The Same Sun follows the lives of two businessmen—one Palestinian and one Israeli—as they struggle to forge a business relationship. The film focuses on how these business leaders cope with the unique political and personal challenges posed by operating in societies where there is a strong stigma against working with the “other”.

This newly envisioned and entertaining docu-drama stems from the original four-part TV documentary, Shape of the Future, that was created by Common Ground Productions (CGP) in 2005 and which focused on final status issues in a common ground way.

The film seeks to humanize the “other” for both Israeli and Palestinian audiences, and aims to dispel the belief held by many that there is no partner on the other side.  Ultimately, it is grounded in the idea that for meaningful peace negotiations to resume, the two publics need a vision worth striving for, and Under the Same Sun envisages a future of peace in the region.

Funded by the European Union, the film is a co-production of CGP and Lama Films.  It is due to be broadcast simultaneously on both Israeli and Palestinian TV in late 2012, and work has begun on an international version of the film.

Carmel Fire Documentary

The Carmel Fire is a documentary film being produced by the Ma'an Network and Search for Common Ground. The film tells the story of the historic cooperation that took place between firefighters of the Palestinian Civil Defense and Israel Fire and Rescue during the tragic Carmel fire in December 2010 near Haifa. The story will be told through the voices and first-hand testimony of firefighters who took part and their commanders. Firefighters from the Palestinian Civil Defense will be joined in telling the story by counterparts from Israel Fire and Rescue.

Highlighting the common humanity of individual firefighters, and the shared humanitarian interests and concerns of their institutions, the film explores the intersection of human values, national institutions and statehood – of possibilities for the future whose groundwork is being laid by the trust-building activities, capacity-development and practical cooperation of civil security institutions.

The film is due to broadcast on Ma'an by the end of the year.

Common Ground Journalism

In October 2011, SFCG in Jerusalem completed its Common Ground Journalism project, a two-year programme aimed at shifting the behaviour of Israeli and Palestinian journalists, towards increased self-awareness of their role and responsibility as journalists in a conflict region and increased capacity to produce more balanced reporting.

SFCG trained 88 mid-career journalists - approximately an equal number of Israelis and Palestinians - from major local TV, radio, and newspaper outlets in Israel and Palestine. They were involved in uni-national workshops, followed by joint Israeli-Palestinian workshops, which took place in Nicosia, Cyprus, and in Belfast, Ireland. The Israeli and Palestinian journalists were exposed to the challenges and dilemmas faced by other journalists in covering their own conflict.

As an outcome, the participating journalists are expected to shift the way the media portrays the Arab-Israeli relationship. This enlightened manner of reporting will contribute towards expanding the possibilities for greater understanding by focusing on the whole Palestinian-Israeli relationship, not just the conflictual aspects of it. The evaluation - conducted by Alpha International and professors from Hebrew University - revealed a strong shift in the professional behaviour of the participating journalists, both on the Israeli and on the Palestinian side: an average 60% shift in their journalistic outputs from more one-sided sensational news coverage to more responsible two-sided coverage.

The project culminated with the publication of A Guide for Professional Journalism in Conflict Zones, which is available as an open source on our website and disseminated internationally.

This project was implemented with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Cooperation with Israeli and Palestinian Media Outlets

Strengthening independent media is crucial for stimulating open debate and creating a space for alternative voices in today's political environment in both Israel and in the Palestinian Territory. As a result, Search for Common Ground's Jerusalem office has been collaborating with the Ma'an Network, Alma Films, Wattan TV and Lama Films to develop innovative programming for Palestinian and Israeli viewers that promotes peaceful ways to support conflict resolution.

The Ma'an Network (Ma'an), based in Bethlehem, is a well-established Palestinian NGO comprising eight local TV stations and 9 radio stations throughout the West Bank and Gaza.  In addition, Ma’an broadcasts via the Mix/Ma’an satellite, reaching the entire MENA region.  Using these capabilities, and in partnership with Search for Common Ground with funding from the US State Department Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), it currently broadcasts two daily unaffiliated satellite newscasts 6 days a week – by Palestinians, for Palestinians.  The broadcasts include live locations from Gaza, Nablus, Ramallah and Bethlehem, as well as regular live interviews with Israelis.

Palestinian TV Productions

With a grant from MEPI, we partnered with Ramallah-based Wattan TV to develop its news webcast and produced two TV programmes. The programmes, Youth Social Entrepreneurs and Voter Mobilization, promoted different aspects of democratic values and enhanced Wattan's website and web TV presence.

Football Drama Series The Team

SFCG's Jerusalem office is co-producing a pair of TV drama series called The Team in both the Palestinian Territory and Israel. They are part of an SFCG franchised global peace-building project in 17 countries aimed at reaching millions of people. Using a soccer (football) theme, The Team highlights a very simple message: if you cooperate together you will score goals.

The Palestinian Territory
The Team follows a football club and its players as they go about their daily lives in Palestinian society. The series demonstrates that Palestinians can solve their own problems when they seek cooperative solutions. Episodes dramatise the importance of the rule of law, freedom of assembly and association, and the challenges faced by women in society, dispelling negative stereotypes by portraying characters that are recognisable to the average Palestinian but are rarely represented on their nightly news programmes. The 28 episode drama series, funded by the US State Department, was produced by the Ma'an Network with cinematographic quality and was broadcast as the lead in to the World Cup June 2010 broadcasts on Palestinian TV.

Israel
SFCG is collaborating with executive producer Arik Bernstein, head of the Israeli company Alma Films, to develop an eight-episode football drama series, The Team, based in the mixed Jewish/Palestinian economically challenged town of Ramle, Israel. The purpose is to create increased mutual understanding and empathy amongst the different ethnic groups. The project is being funded by private donations and additional funding from Israel's national TV channel 1.  The full script will be complete by the end of 2012, and broadcasting is scheduled for Spring 2013.

Alma Films is an Israeli film company that produces documentaries, dramas, and satire shows. Numerous Alma productions, which are aimed at both Israeli and international audiences, have won industry awards.

Common Ground News Service (CGNews)

CGNews offers perspectives on key issues affecting Muslim-Western relations and the Arab-Israeli conflict. CGNews articles present constructive ideas, provide solutions, humanize the other, offer hope and shed light on a variety of issues, including but not limited to: Muslims in the West The Arab-Israeli conflict Social and political events in Muslim-majority countries Interfaith dialogue Civil society activism, especially women's activism.

The Jerusalem branch of CGNews commissions articles specifically about the Arab-Israeli conflict.

CGNews articles, written by authors from over 45 countries, have been republished over 37,000 times to date; and of the authors, nearly 50% have been women addressing Muslim-Western issues in recent years. Articles distributed by the news service have appeared in more than 4,800 media outlets around the world, including distributing partner McClatchy-Tribune Information Services, which partners with 450 global news outlets.

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Blogging for Social and Political Change Network

We facilitate an international network of 20 leading bloggers worldwide, and provide ongoing support and skills to them as they work for positive social and political change in their societies.  In addition, we work with local Palestinian bloggers to develop their skills in social media.  Ultimately, the network seeks to promote democracy, increase international understanding, prevent extremism, and promote free speech and internet access.

In June 2012, in collaboration with Search for Common Ground, the Arab Media Internet Network (AMIN) orchestrated a local workshop in Ramallah.  The discussion focused on the merits and pitfalls of reporting news via Facebook, as well as sensitive legal issues for bloggers and online journalists.  In attendance were 30 independent social media activists and students from Birzeit University, Al-Quds University, and Al-Quds Open University, who contributed to an animated and highly interactive discussion.

Recently, the Global Bloggers For Change (GBFC) network, which partners with Search for Common Ground, has welcomed new bloggers from Egypt, Gaza, Tunisia, and Oman who will contribute their unique voices to the evolving Middle East blogosphere.