Some of the media have made a mea culpa over their coverage of the clashes between Maccabi Tel Aviv hooligans and Dutch citizens in Amsterdam, while others lack cruelly the will to do so.

However, Chomsky had in mind more elaborate, subtle narratives, where the media and government made genuine efforts to craft stories that more closely resembled reality. He could never have anticipated a media so unprepared for the new realities of a world where everyone has access to mobile phones, digital tools, and access to live coverage that can undermine their narratives. The media coverage of the clashes between hooligans of the Maccabi Tel Aviv and local citizens in Amsterdam caused a monumental, humiliating embarrassment, and colossal damage to their already fragile reputation.

Debates, Apologies from Some, Silence from Others

I am glad to see various debates and mea culpa regarding the media coverage of the clashes between Maccabi hooligans and Dutch citizens in Amsterdam between 5 and 7 November 2024, starting with the city’s mayor, Femke Halsema. However, Dutch citizens are still waiting for apologies from the prime minister and other authorities.

Correct reporting initially came from Sky News reporter Alice Porter, but she was later compelled to re-report, this time denying the reality of the facts she had previously accurately reported, portraying the hooligans as victims. From what I understand, the original false narrative was set by Reuters, as I will explain below.

Surprisingly, Sky News Australia, despite the debates, corrections, and apologies offered by many of their mainstream colleagues, has persisted with their false........

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