Al Jazeera program examines US media coverage of Gaza
Marc Lamont Hill interviewed author Adam Johnson on claims that US corporate media enabled Israel’s assault on Palestinians in Gaza.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
Al Jazeera’s UpFront aired a 25-minute interview with journalist and author Adam Johnson about US corporate media coverage of Gaza and its effect on public debate. The program, hosted by Marc Lamont Hill, focused on Johnson’s argument that major US outlets helped make Israel’s violence against Palestinians more acceptable to Western audiences.
Al Jazeera framed the interview around what it and Johnson describe as genocide in Gaza. Johnson is the author of the new book How to Sell a Genocide, according to the network.
The episode was published on June 28, 2026. Al Jazeera said Hill spoke with Johnson about how corporate and legacy media coverage over the past two and a half years has shaped public attitudes and political decisions in the United States.
Ceasefire violations and journalist deaths
Al Jazeera said Israel has continued to violate a Gaza ceasefire brokered by the United States last October. The network said more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since then, including at least 265 children.
The program also cited a recent Israeli attack on Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp that killed Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Wishah. Al Jazeera said Wishah is among more than 200 Palestinian journalists killed by Israel since Oct. 7, 2023.
According to Al Jazeera, Wishah was the 12th journalist from the network killed by Israel during that period. The network presented his death as part of a broader discussion about media coverage, accountability and the risks faced by Palestinian reporters in Gaza.
Focus on Western media
Al Jazeera said the interview asked whether Western media has helped normalize Israeli violence against Palestinians. The program also examined how US media institutions have covered the Gaza war and whether that coverage has influenced policy discussions.
The network described the discussion as an interview with Johnson on the role of US corporate media in enabling Israel’s actions in Gaza. Johnson’s book title and the program’s framing point to a broader critique of how news organizations present civilian deaths, ceasefire violations and attacks on journalists.
Al Jazeera did not provide a full transcript in its episode listing. The network promoted the interview as part of UpFront, its current-affairs program hosted by Hill.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.