University newspapers have the responsibility to inform students, provide historical context and represent a diverse campus community fairly. The Daily Bruin should be able to report on Palestinian suffering while also recognizing the profound significance of Oct. 7 to Jewish and Israeli students. Its coverage surrounding the third anniversary of the Hamas-led attack raises important questions about editorial judgment, context and the prominence given to different campus perspectives.
Our concern is not that the Daily Bruin reported on Palestinian deaths or student demonstrations, both legitimate subjects for campus journalism, but whether its coverage reflects consistent standards in timing, framing and prominence.
The newspaper’s Oct. 6 article, “UCLA student group hosts vigil to mourn Palestinians killed in Israel-Hamas war,” was prominently featured online. On Oct. 7, it published “Protesters march on campus on 3rd anniversary of start of Israel-Hamas war,” alongside an Instagram post about the demonstration. Both stories appeared above the fold on the front page of the Oct. 7 and 9 print editions, respectively, and both print headlines identified Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA.
Oct. 7, 2023, was not simply the date Israel began its military campaign in Gaza. It was the date Hamas – designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and other governments – led an attack in Israel that killed at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, involved sexual violence and torture and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage. It was the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.
For Jewish and Israeli members of the UCLA community, Oct. 7 is a day of profound grief and remembrance. Palestinian civilians who have died in the ensuing war also deserve to be mourned, and their suffering merits serious reporting. Responsible journalism must be able to acknowledge both realities without minimizing the atrocities committed by Hamas or the trauma experienced by Jewish and Israeli communities.
In its Oct. 7 article, the Daily Bruin reported that the Oct. 7 protest organized by SJP commemorated Palestinians killed since Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza. Yet, the article did not adequately explore the significance of holding this demonstration on the anniversary of the Hamas attack.
Choosing a date for a demonstration is an exercise of free expression, but journalists have a responsibility to examine its significance and explain its competing meanings. Framing Oct. 7 in this article primarily as the beginning of Israel’s military campaign, rather than also as the anniversary of the Hamas attack, leaves readers without essential historical context.
Institutional context matters, too. In both articles, the Daily Bruin identified SJP as the organizing group, but it did not explain that, in March 2025, UCLA’s Office of Student Conduct recommended that UCLA indefinitely revoke the student-organization status of SJP and suspend Graduate SJP’s status, following a demonstration outside a UC regent’s home.
Accurately explaining the status of a campus organization can help readers understand its relationship with the university without diminishing students’ rights to peaceful expression.
The casualty figures cited in the coverage also warrant explanation. The coverage cited approximately 74,000 Palestinian deaths, attributing the figures to Gaza’s Health Ministry. These aggregate figures do not distinguish combatants from civilians. They should not be dismissed, but readers deserve context about what the numbers establish and what they do not. Consistent journalistic standards require appropriate qualifications when reporting casualty figures.
Editorial prominence is another concern. The Daily Bruin deserves credit for publishing “Jewish students, faculty gather at vigil to remember victims of Oct. 7 Hamas attacks,” which reported that approximately 200 people gathered in Bruin Plaza. By comparison, the SJP protest drew more than 70 participants, and the Oct. 6 Palestinian vigil drew approximately 50.
On Oct. 8 at 1:26 p.m., the Jewish vigil piece was published online, but it was not featured on the Daily Bruin’s main online landing page that day. This created substantially less visibility than the pieces highlighting SJP and the Palestinian protest and vigil. By Oct. 9, it appeared in a right-hand column, rather than in the central, more prominent position given to the SJP protest story Oct. 8. In the Oct. 9 print issue, it was placed beneath the headline “SJP walks on Israel-Hamas war anniversary.”
Attendance alone does not determine newsworthiness, nor does placement prove bias. However, giving greater prominence to coverage of Palestinian deaths and an SJP demonstration on Oct. 7, without adequately acknowledging the anniversary’s significance to Jewish students, reflects insufficient sensitivity to the experiences of UCLA’s Jewish community.
When a larger gathering commemorating Oct. 7 victims receives less prominence than a smaller political demonstration, the newspaper’s editorial choices reasonably invite scrutiny. Publishing a story and ensuring readers encounter it are not the same thing.
We encourage the Daily Bruin to publish a transparent audit of its coverage from Oct. 7, 2023, through Oct. 7, 2026. The review should examine the volume and prominence of stories about pro-Palestinian advocacy, Jewish and Israeli students and organizations, antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Muslim discrimination. It should assess article counts, homepage and print placement, headlines, photographs, social media promotion, historical context and the consistency with which casualty figures and claims by advocates are qualified.
The audit should not presume bias or demand identical coverage of every viewpoint. Its purpose should be to determine whether the newspaper applies consistent, defensible standards and adequately represents the breadth of the UCLA community.
UCLA should encourage rigorous inquiry, thoughtful debate and respect for people with differing experiences. The Daily Bruin helps shape how students understand one another. Its credibility depends on providing context, scrutinizing claims and treating campus communities fairly.
As educators, we ask students to examine evidence, consider context and question their assumptions. Our campus journalism should meet the same standards.
Dr. Alyssa Ziman is a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Michelle Zeidler is a professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Deborah Termeie is a continuing lecturer at the School of Dentistry. Daniel J.B. Mitchell is a professor-emeritus at the Anderson School of Management and the Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Comments are closed.