Haaretz journalist's campaign leads to removal of Channel 14 from medical facility screens
Following appeals by Uri Misgav and Tomer Avital, several medical institutions announced that public screens would broadcast nature or non-news content. Beilinson, Assuta, and Ichilov presented their policies on the matter, while Channel 14 criticized the move.
Appeals by Haaretz journalist Uri Misgav and independent journalist Tomer Avital to several hospitals, HMOs, and medical centers, requesting to stop broadcasting Channel 14 on public screens, have led to changes in some of the institutions. Several of them announced that instead of news broadcasts, nature content or "pleasant and calming" content that is not news-related will be shown.
At Beilinson Hospital, it was stated that the screens in common areas have been switched to nature content, as part of the desire to maintain a "pleasant, respectful, and conflict-free" environment for patients and visitors. They further emphasized that the hospital is an apolitical body that provides services to the entire public. Misgav welcomed the decision and attributed it to the campaign he conducted together with Avital.
At the Assuta network, the policy was also updated. The network stated that news from any channel will not be broadcast, and instead, calming content will be shown, out of a desire to reduce tension among those waiting for treatment. Misgav later announced that Assuta had also stopped broadcasting Channel 14 on public screens.
At the same time, appeals on the matter were also sent to other institutions, including the Clalit and Maccabi HMOs, mental health centers, and other hospitals. Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Reuven Ladiansky, appealed to the management of Ichilov Hospital with a request to re-examine the broadcasting of Channel 14 in public areas. In response to his appeal, the hospital director, Prof. Eli Sprecher, replied that the decision to display information on health, safety, and hospital services on public screens had been made previously, and that this is the content currently being displayed.
Channel 14 criticized the moves. In a publication on the channel's website, it was claimed that this is an infringement on freedom of speech, and in response to the reports about Beilinson, it was stated:
"Contrary to the false and biased publication, there is no directive in the hospital not to broadcast Channel 14."
However, the hospital reiterated its position that the screens in public spaces were switched to nature content in order to maintain a calm public space for all patients and visitors.
