Haifa Media Conference - "outside the bubble" whining or reality?

The conference was attended by about 650 journalists, publicists, media persons, speakers and other citizens for whom it was important to hear, voice, rub shoulders and be seen.
The purpose of the conference was to highlight the plights of the industry in general and the suburbs in particular and offer solutions (actually no solutions to the plights of local journalists were heard at the conference).

The conference was opened by Mr. Yona Yahav, the mayor who gave a presentation Amos Carmeli Award of recognition from the city of Haifa for the endless work for the city of Haifa.

After Yona Yahav, Amos Shapira, president of the University of Haifa, came up, who stated that the university was happy and proud to be a partner in this important conference, and announced in a loud voice the importance of the northern region in general and Haifa in particular to the State of Israel.

Shapira is not ashamed to publicize the University of Haifa, of which he is the head.
Shapira noted that the University of Haifa is first and foremost an institution that produces outstanding academic research and teaching. Shapira also noted that the northern region needs strengthening and turned to Yona Yahav with a call to set up tents in front of the government offices and to act to bring awareness that the leaders sitting in the center and in Jerusalem are neglecting the periphery and thereby putting the north at risk.
Amos Shapira noted his pride in being in the North and said: "Here the diversity enriches the institution: Jews, Arabs, ultra-Orthodox and military personnel sit in the same class and study together... This is the Land of Israel... This is the most Israeli university... The diversity and the common denominator is the strength of the State of Israel... "
Shapira ended his speech by saying that he was proud to be a graduate of the university and offered his help and even gave the audience the cell phone number for any help they might need.

Eliran Tal - organizer and initiator of the conference
"It is possible that the national media continue to stick to a security political agenda and forget the millions of people who chose to live outside the Gush Dan bubble, the local media is at a disturbing low... We take care of our own livelihood and we will act and succeed as we did in Peres Biano..."
Yair Tarchinsky, Chairman of the National Organization of Journalists
"The success has already happened... the number of attendees says it all... a conference of journalists who recognize a problem and decide to take action and not whine"
Awarding a certificate of appreciation to the Yehuda National Assembly from the Israel Police
The award was given by Furat Nassar (Channel 2) and Hatzi Shapira (Tselem Israel Hayom).
Senator Yehuda Maman has served 34 years in the Israel Police, of which 15 years as spokesman.
Meman indicated his availability, 24/7, holidays, Saturdays, small and large events.

Meman said: "I protected the police like a lioness protecting her cubs...understanding and paining the distance to the north..."

Meman noted the importance of the coverage for the entire country and the north in particular and shared his struggles throughout the service. He described the difficulties that arose during his work. He told about two unusual events that he particularly remembers:
The attack in Hadera, in which Maman's nephew was injured and it was necessary to overcome and continue to survey and report from the scene.
Another major event was the attack on the Maxim restaurant, where the journalists asked to know if Marc Biano was inside. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, which is not generally acceptable, Maman brought journalists and photographers into the scene of the event to record and show the world what is happening here in the north.
It was important for Yehuda Maman to bring the periphery to the center, throughout his work as a police spokesman.
In conclusion, Maman thanked the people he worked with over the years and noted that he had the privilege of working with hardworking, skilled, loving and especially caring people for the home (to the north).

First session: Periphery in the margins

The first session was moderated by Shai Golden (Director of the Current Affairs Department of Network Broadcasting).
Participate in the panel:
Aharon Lapidot (deputy editor of Israel Hayom), Robi Hamershlag (reporter of Channel 1 in the north), Orli Alkalai (reporter of the network at Vah Emekim), Rami Shani (reporter of Galz Walla in the south), Eli Ashkenazi (reporter of Haaretz newspaper in the north).

The questions that came up in the peripheral panel in the margins:

• Is there a distance from the periphery and weak populations that do not receive expression?
• Does anyone in the center care what happens in the north?
• Is the government the one who created the word paraphyria?
• Do we need the local news?
• Is the situation in the north particularly difficult or is it a difficulty that we are part of a global problem in the whole country?
• Can the residents of Israel contain a mass of bad news coming from the north?

Second session: Is there a future for the local media?

The second session was hosted by Noam Amir from Radio North non-stop.
Participate in the panel:
Doron Salomon (Yediot Haifa), Yaron Shoshan (Director of the Radio South News Department), Danny Nishalis (Member of the Haifa Municipality Council, one of the founders of the regional radio industry in Israel,
Boaz Golan (Editor-in-Chief and owner of the 0404 news site), Prof. Eli Avraham (Department of Communication at the University of Haifa), Hila Melamed (Had Karyot).
The issues raised:

• A local channel exists and is very much needed
• Is the press relevant? Is it current and available?
• In order for the press to be relevant, do we need a supplement of additional media?
• Is there respect for the profession as before, or can anyone write and express an opinion?

Distribution of an appreciation award to Mr. Amos Carmeli (Schwartz)

"The Three Tenors" took the stage: Haim Yavin, Moti Kirshenbaum and Yaakov Achimair, together with the host Haim A-Dor
Efi Netzer sings in honor of Carmeli.
All the friends praised Amos Carmeli, for being the outstanding reporter throughout all the years he was a journalist. Everyone praised Carmeli for his hard work, his humility, his way of life and the technique he developed to draw tears from interviewees (a conversation about the interviewee's mother), for being a warm, humane person, for wanting to bring the news first without rejection, for being an exemplary family man.

The entire event was produced voluntarily, organized in a short period of time and with zero budget...

Thanks to the organizers:

Eliran Tal, Itai Sheiner, the veteran personal security guard - Reuven Frizi, Shimon Sebag and his son Roi from the "Yad Ezer Heber" association, sponsors of the conference, Ramat Yochanan Productions Studio, Dakhil Haemakim, the Haifa University Student Union, Michal Even (brochure editor), Raya Gilboa - Graphic design and branding, Yoav Itiel - taking photos for the brochure.