Off the Air: How We Reclaimed Public Screens From Propaganda

To everyone fighting the toxic lie machines ripping our democracies apart: I just published an op-ed in The Times of Israel on how we defeat these propaganda outlets:

Almost every modern democracy faces the same threat: Fox News-style outlet that disguises itself as journalism. In Israel, it is Channel 14. These channels do not report the news. They amplify government rhetoric, spread division, and attack minorities and political opponents.

We want to share one simple, effective tactic that is already delivering concrete results on the ground in Israel.

If authoritarian regimes copy-paste tactics of oppression, then we, Liberal activists who are fighting the same battle, must learn from each other.

Uri Misgav, a senior journalist, and I launched a targeted campaign combining direct advocacy with public pressure. We sent personal letters to hospital directors, municipal leaders, and senior public officials, urging them to stop broadcasting partisan propaganda in shared waiting areas.

Crucially, we published every single letter on social media to build public accountability. Alongside our call to remove propaganda, we proposed neutral, unifying alternatives: nature documentaries, music, culture, and science channels.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Dozens of major institutions have already agreed to change their default programming, removing inflammatory broadcasts from thousands of public screens. This is particularly crucial in settings like hospitals, where patients, families, and staff should never be forced to consume hate speech, racism, or state-aligned propaganda while awaiting medical care.

Beyond cleaning up public spaces, this has re-energized the pro-democracy movement. Activists today desperately need achievable victories. This campaign offers “low-hanging fruit”: an accessible, highly practical effort that produces visible impact.

Naturally, removing propaganda from public screens is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. We continue to fight through litigation, regulatory bodies, independent journalism, and public education. But this particular tactic is simple, adaptable, and ready for immediate global export.

Wherever partisan propaganda channels pollute shared spaces, whether in hospitals, airports, municipal offices, gyms, or public transport hubs, we urge you to challenge those in charge and demand neutral alternatives. Offer simple options such as nature, culture, science, or music channels. Make the results public.

This is a global battle, and none of us should be fighting it in isolation. Let’s start exchanging tactics, legal strategies, and campaign tools across borders