Latma
Encyclopedia
Latma is an Israeli media criticism website that also produces a weekly satirical news show.
The website was created in 2008 by a group of journalists claiming that "the only way to improve the Public discourse is exposing the true face of the news and journalism in whole". According to the site, the majority of the Israeli media, and especially the satire that is presented in them, lean to the political left. The site contains criticism about media outlets, reporters and journalists. The criticism is mostly directed towards politically biased articles.
The site's editor is Caroline Glick
. The regular writers are Shuki Blass and Avishai Ivri. The site's CEO is Shlomo Blass.
News characterizes the program as a "a parody TV show — kind of like Saturday Night Live
s Weekend Update." According to CBS, the anchor gravely explains, in Hebrew, that "this is the newscast that reaches conclusions long before the facts are known."
Glick told the Jerusalem Post that the group was founded with the intention of using comedy to critique the "egregious leftist slant of news coverage in this country." According to the New York Times, Latma "is an initiative of the Center for Security Policy
, a Washington think tank".
LatmaTV is staffed by Tal Gil'ad (screenplay), Avishay Ivri, the editor, directors Aviv and Yoni Karsutzki, writers Noam Jacobson
and Yehuda Safra, and the actors. Guest writers include Shlomi Catz and Itay Elitzur.
tabloid Aftonbladet
alleged that the IDF
harvested organs of Palestinians, LatmaTV produced a clip a parody on ABBA
's song "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme a Man After Midnight" entitled Primi Primi Primitive and Phlegmatic in which the Swedish foreign minister sings about how primitive and cowardly he is. The clip became a hit after it was quickly picked up by the leading newspaper in Sweden, DN.se, and by Swedish and Norwegian bloggers. The clip received many anti-Israel as well as antisemitic and Neo-Nazi comments. Latma website director Shlomo Blass said, "We were surprised by how quickly the clip took-off, we must have hit a sensitive nerve".
entitled We Con the World satirizing the political intentions of activists aboard the MV Mavi Marmara
, the Turkish-owned flagship that led the "blockade busting" Free Gaza flotilla. The video is a parody of the 1985 song "We Are the World
," by Michael Jackson
and Lionel Richie
. Israeli Government Press Office officials accidentally sent it to a list of journalists, and three hours later sent an apology describing the emailed video as having been "inadvertently released." The clip received over 3 million hits on YouTube
.
In July 2011, while the second flotilla to Gaza was planned, Latma released another parody about the flotilla: a parody of Beach Boys's song and video Fun, Fun, Fun
called Guns, Guns, Guns, where the flotilla sailors sing about their purpose: to bring weapons to Gaza. This video had less success than We Con the World.
and Bashar Assad singing joyfuly about using terrorism to conquer the world "from Tennessee to Teheran."
song and video "Sex Bomb" called The Iranian Bomb, where a fictional Iranian Minister of Destruction sings about his plans to acquire nuclear weapons. The goal of the video is to bring worldwide attention to the Iranian nuclear program.
The website was created in 2008 by a group of journalists claiming that "the only way to improve the Public discourse is exposing the true face of the news and journalism in whole". According to the site, the majority of the Israeli media, and especially the satire that is presented in them, lean to the political left. The site contains criticism about media outlets, reporters and journalists. The criticism is mostly directed towards politically biased articles.
The site's editor is Caroline Glick
Caroline Glick
Caroline Glick is an American-Israeli journalist for Makor Rishon and is the deputy managing editor of The Jerusalem Post. She is also the Senior Fellow for Middle East Affairs of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Security Policy.-Life:...
. The regular writers are Shuki Blass and Avishai Ivri. The site's CEO is Shlomo Blass.
The Tribal Update
One of Latma's creations is "The Tribal Update", a mock news show, featuring anchors Ronit Shapira (née Avrahamof) and Elchanan Even-Chen. CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
News characterizes the program as a "a parody TV show — kind of like Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
s Weekend Update." According to CBS, the anchor gravely explains, in Hebrew, that "this is the newscast that reaches conclusions long before the facts are known."
Glick told the Jerusalem Post that the group was founded with the intention of using comedy to critique the "egregious leftist slant of news coverage in this country." According to the New York Times, Latma "is an initiative of the Center for Security Policy
Center for Security Policy
The Center for Security Policy is a Washington, D.C. think tank that focuses on national security issues. The Center was founded in 1988 by Frank Gaffney, Jr....
, a Washington think tank".
LatmaTV is staffed by Tal Gil'ad (screenplay), Avishay Ivri, the editor, directors Aviv and Yoni Karsutzki, writers Noam Jacobson
Noam Jacobson
Noam Jacobson is a musician, singer, songwriter and bandleader from Ramat Gan, Israel.Jacobson is a regular on the Israeli satirical television program Latma where plays such characters as Tawil Fadiha, the “Palestinian Minister of Uncontrollable Rage,” Rashid Hamumani, "Iranian minister of...
and Yehuda Safra, and the actors. Guest writers include Shlomi Catz and Itay Elitzur.
Swedish antisemitism satire
Following the 2009 Aftonbladet-Israel controversy, in which a writer for SwedishSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
tabloid Aftonbladet
Aftonbladet
Aftonbladet is a Swedish tabloid founded by Lars Johan Hierta in 1830 during the modernization of Sweden. It is one of the larger daily newspapers in the Nordic countries. Aftonbladet is owned by the Swedish Trade Union Confederation and Norwegian media group Schibsted, and its editorial page...
alleged that the IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
harvested organs of Palestinians, LatmaTV produced a clip a parody on ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
's song "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme a Man After Midnight" entitled Primi Primi Primitive and Phlegmatic in which the Swedish foreign minister sings about how primitive and cowardly he is. The clip became a hit after it was quickly picked up by the leading newspaper in Sweden, DN.se, and by Swedish and Norwegian bloggers. The clip received many anti-Israel as well as antisemitic and Neo-Nazi comments. Latma website director Shlomo Blass said, "We were surprised by how quickly the clip took-off, we must have hit a sensitive nerve".
We Con the World
In 2010 Latma produced a viral videoViral video
A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
entitled We Con the World satirizing the political intentions of activists aboard the MV Mavi Marmara
MV Mavi Marmara
MV is a Comoros-flagged passenger ship, which was formerly owned and operated by İDO Istanbul Fast Ferries Co. Inc. on the line Sarayburnu, Istanbul-Marmara Island-Avşa Island in the Sea of Marmara. Built at the Golden Gate Shipyard by Turkish Shipbuilding Co...
, the Turkish-owned flagship that led the "blockade busting" Free Gaza flotilla. The video is a parody of the 1985 song "We Are the World
We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World...
," by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
. Israeli Government Press Office officials accidentally sent it to a list of journalists, and three hours later sent an apology describing the emailed video as having been "inadvertently released." The clip received over 3 million hits on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
In July 2011, while the second flotilla to Gaza was planned, Latma released another parody about the flotilla: a parody of Beach Boys's song and video Fun, Fun, Fun
Fun, Fun, Fun
"Fun, Fun, Fun", written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, was a hit single by The Beach Boys that was released in 1964 on the band's album Shut Down Volume 2.- Composition :...
called Guns, Guns, Guns, where the flotilla sailors sing about their purpose: to bring weapons to Gaza. This video had less success than We Con the World.
The Three Terrors
The Three Terrors was produced in June 2010 as a sequel to We Con the World. It features three tenors who represent Iran, Turkey and Syria and who resemble Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Recep Tayyip ErdoğanRecep Tayyip Erdogan
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been Prime Minister of Turkey since 2003 and is chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party , which holds a majority of the seats in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Erdoğan served as Mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998. He graduated in 1981 from Marmara...
and Bashar Assad singing joyfuly about using terrorism to conquer the world "from Tennessee to Teheran."
Other videos
In August 2010, Latma release a parody of Tom Jones'sTom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
song and video "Sex Bomb" called The Iranian Bomb, where a fictional Iranian Minister of Destruction sings about his plans to acquire nuclear weapons. The goal of the video is to bring worldwide attention to the Iranian nuclear program.
Awards
- Latma was awarded the Israel Media Watch 2011 prize, given to "organizations that made courageous, meaningful, and quality contributions to the criticism of the media in Israel". It was chosen by an online poll involving over 4,000 voters. According to Israel Media Watch, Latma brings balance to the left-wing bias of mainstream Israeli satire.