Whoopi Goldberg, co-host of “The View,” criticized the media’s coverage of the ongoing anti-Israel protests on college campuses, accusing them of prioritizing “clickbait” over substantive reporting. During a segment on the show, Goldberg expressed concern that the media’s focus was disproportionately on the most sensational aspects of the protests, neglecting the more peaceful demonstrations.
Goldberg highlighted the importance of media responsibility, urging news outlets to cover the entirety of the events, including the peaceful elements of the protests, which she feels are often overlooked. She noted that while some coverage might attract more viewers or readers, it does not necessarily represent the full scope of what is happening on the ground.
The discussion on “The View” also featured remarks from co-hosts Ana Navarro, Sara Haines, and Alyssa Farah Griffin, who condemned the instances of antisemitism linked to some of the protests but supported the right to peaceful protest. Haines pointed out that the protests had led to significant disruptions on campuses, including the cancellation of classes and graduations.
Co-host Sunny Hostin suggested rebranding the demonstrations as “anti-war” protests to better convey the protestors’ messages against the broader backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, rather than framing them strictly as pro-Palestinian or pro-Israel. Hostin also argued that criticism of Israeli government policies should not be conflated with antisemitism, a sentiment she attributed to far-right political tactics.
Navarro, meanwhile, touched on the political implications of the protests, cautioning protestors against undermining support for President Joe Biden, whose policies she argued would be more beneficial than those of Donald Trump for the groups the protestors champion.
Goldberg’s call for a more nuanced and comprehensive approach to reporting on sensitive political issues underscores the ongoing debate over media responsibility and bias in covering complex social and political movements.