A new survey has revealed deep-rooted censorship and bias against Arab and Middle Eastern journalists working in American newsrooms since the start of the genocidal war on Gaza. The study, conducted by the Association of Middle East and Arab World Journalists (AMEJA), found that 85% of respondents have faced pressure to alter or limit their coverage, with many describing a climate of fear and scrutiny that undermines honest reporting.

Participants in the survey spoke of stories being reshaped or dismissed, of editors questioning their objectivity simply because of their heritage. Three-quarters admitted they now self-censor, carefully choosing words to avoid backlash or accusations of bias, while nearly half have endured online harassment. Many also lamented the near-total absence of Arab and Middle Eastern voices in senior editorial roles, meaning key decisions about coverage of their region are still made by those far removed from its realities.

The findings expose how deeply Western media institutions struggle to maintain fairness when reporting on Gaza. For two years, American outlets have overwhelmingly echoed the Israeli narrative, softening or omitting the suffering of Palestinians. The bias became so blatant that it even provoked public outrage, protesters gathering outside media offices accused leading newspapers of spreading propaganda and silencing dissenting voices.

The association’s president, Ayman Ismail, insists that addressing the issue is both possible and urgent. Protecting journalists, he says, would not only restore trust but improve the quality and humanity of coverage. “When those who understand the language, culture, and pain of the people are silenced,” he warned, “truth itself becomes the casualty.”