The Journalism Tribe
August 14, 2025
By NZB3
Interesting situation in the current conflict in the Middle East where the Israelis have deliberately targeted an enemy who is also a member of the press. This prompted a response from the Foreign Press Association that, I think, can be explained by a bit of high school biology.
As this (left) comment points out, the FPA guy has taken a radical position on behalf of his tribe, the Journalism Tribe.
“Frankly, | don’t care if al-Sharif was in Hamas or not. We don’t kill journalists for being Republicans or Democrats or Labour Party. Hamas is a political organization, as well as a terrorist organization, perhaps” – FPA President (New York)
It’s as if he thinks Journalists are a special group who should be untouched by war. Or, as this commenter on Facebook put it…
“This bozo thinks that it is illegitimate for one military to kill a member of another military/ terrorist org with which they are at war so long as the terrorist puts a “press” vest on.” – Yehoshua Jason Bedrick
Well, I think that is exactly how the Journalism Tribe.
Take a quick look at my old High School text book about animal territory…
“It is hard, however, for the average person to feel important in such a large territory so they break up into smaller groups; racial or teenage gangs, sports clubs, social clubs, political parties, unions, college fraternities, protest groups, yuppy social cliques, ote. Each pseudo-tribe has its club house and develops territorial signals such as uniforms, badge banners and slogans. Some become so exclusive that outsiders are banned, and others develop secret hand shakes and ‘passports’ (membership cards) to enter. If you want to see tribal warfare today, go toa sports mateh and observe the rival fans with their war-cries, chants, war dances and banner waving!” – Designs of Life, Meg Bayley (e1995)
Humans never grew out of this sort of territoriality or tribalism; We recruited it into the professions quite unconsciously.
Journalists have special ‘press pass’ cards and area access to go with their guild. They get to go places we don’t go, talk to people others don’t talk to, enjoy protections and ‘freedoms’ others don’t get. They get to ‘protect their sources’ and expect to be indemnified by something called ‘freedom of the press’. This old Ian Williams bozo really does think the dead Hamas guy was in his tribe thanks to his ‘press’ identity vestment and other induction rituals. So, as such, his body was sacred and holy and ought not be touched by war. It is a priestly order.
I’ve been thinking this way since high school about The State and the society we live in with its various pretenses and nonsenses. Besides, I’m a GenXer so lean toward cynicism toward such things by inclination anyway.
This particular example is so clear cut that it strikes me as worth blogging about. You will also notice how the Journalism Tribe makes huge ‘news’ stories about issues that affect their particular tribe or a member of it. If one of them gets hurt or killed it’s probably going to get a documentary made about it and win an award. For example, when Charlotte Bellis couldn’t get back to New Zealand (just like everyone else during the COVID Crisis) it was extra special because she was a member of The Journalism Tribe. When Murray Deaker has trouble in his front yard with a tree it becomes national headlines.
Consider also how other New Zealand tribes are seeking special protection and rights above the usual tier of justice. The Ambulance, Nurse, and Fire tribes are seeking legislation to make it a special offence to hurt people who are in their gangs. Of course they do. And they’ll think nothing of the inequality of this because they consider their own tribe to be superior and perform a superior role above all others.
I hope you like the Middle Ages and Prehistory. We’re going back for a visit.
Like Comment Share
