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National Post

Leslie Roberts: Canadian media choose Hamas fiction over facts

As someone who's spent a career in newsrooms — reporting, anchoring, and holding truth to power — I've never been more concerned about the erosion of credibility in the media and the damage it's doing to public trust. That concern has only deepened in recent weeks as misinformation — and the careless amplification of it — continues to seep into even our most established Canadian outlets. Article content Article content Case in point: the events surrounding a supposed Israeli attack on a food depot in Gaza on Sunday. Several mainstream Canadian news organizations reported that Israel had killed Palestinians at the site — repeating claims that originated from Hamas without sufficient verification. Their source: Associated Press and Reuters, wire services Canadian media outlets subscribe to for international reporting. Trusted, not fact-checked from here. Within hours, video evidence and detailed reports from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strongly contradicted that narrative, showing it to be very likely false. It took almost a full day to see a single clarification in their reporting. By then, the damage was done. Once again, a claim manufactured by a terrorist group was laundered through respected western media, reaching audiences hungry for truth but served distortion. Article content Article content Article content I saw firsthand how misinformation spreads during a recent trip to Israel, sponsored by the Exigent Foundation, where the IDF now serves not only as a defense force, but also as a real-time fact-checking unit — challenging falsehoods as quickly as they emerge. In an era of instant outrage and algorithmic amplification, Israel is fighting not only a war on the ground, but a war over truth. Article content Article content There was a time — not so long ago — when journalists double- and triple-checked the facts before airing or publishing a story. We'd hold back, even under pressure, until we could confirm. We knew that credibility wasn't just currency — it was everything. Somewhere along the line, the speed of the news cycle began to outrun the discipline of journalism. And we're all paying the price. Article content Article content The Jewish community is paying the price most directly. These inaccuracies are not just journalistic failures — they're fuelling antisemitism across Canada. No wonder some Jewish Canadians are quietly contemplating 'an exit plan' if things continue to escalate. Many now say that, if it becomes too much to bear, Israel feels like the only safe place left. Article content When lies spread faster than facts, and when reputable journalists amplify propaganda from bad actors, our democratic foundation trembles. As Canadians, we pride ourselves on fairness and integrity — but our media must reflect those values. Reporting claims from a group like Hamas without scrutiny is not journalism. It's a disservice to every honest reporter still doing the work, and to the public that depends on us.