Josh Levs discussed media fact checking at the Albany Jewish Community Center on Feb. 23
ALBANY–Amidah Albany, in partnership with the Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center (AJCC), welcomed Josh Levs, award-winning broadcast journalist and host of the news fact-checking podcast They Stand Corrected. Levs addressed a crowd of 200 attendees about truth in journalism on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Center.
Levs grew up in this area. After graduating from Bethlehem Central High School he became a broadcast journalist for NPR, and then joined CNN as the network’s lead on-air fact checker. His honors include Peabody Awards, Edward R. Murrow Awards, and awards from the National Association of Black Journalists.
“At a time of so much disinformation, people desperately need to be equipped with concrete facts. That’s what They Stand Corrected and this event are all about,” said Levs. “Lies about Jews are fomenting unimaginably horrific terrorism and anti-Semitism.”
Two hundred came to hear Josh Levs discuss media fact –checking and in particular anti-Israel, anti-Jewish bias at the Albany Jewish Community Center.
“Our real story is heroic,” continued Levs. “We’re known as the People of: Israel (“Am Yisrael”), Judea (“Jews”) or Zion, based on a tiny stretch of land we come from, where some of us have managed to remain despite centuries of slaughters and expulsions by empires. We’re only 0.2% of the world because we don’t try to force anyone to be like us. And humans scapegoat minorities. But we remain strong, and never give in to a victim mentality. We work to build and rebuild. That’s why Israel is such an amazing modern nation, and why Jewish people are so active in building communities all over the world. We show that a minority can survive and thrive. It’s time for everyone to learn the truth.”
Levs spoke about media manipulation and the dangers that arise when truth is not given a larger place in society. He highlighted anti-Israel bias in the media, including rules news agencies follow that result in negative portrayals of the Jewish state.
“This event has provided a unique opportunity—not just for the Jewish population, but for the wider Capital Region community—to learn about the anti-Israel bias in some journalistic circles,” said Laura Weisblatt, Amidah Albany co-founder. “A direct line can be easily made from the proliferation of bias to the massive increase in anti-Semitism. We all need to understand the vital role accuracy in media plays on the public stage, specifically on international issues, from someone who has been on the inside and continues to be a voice for truth.”
From left, front and center, speaker Josh Levs, kneeling, and Amidah co-founder Laura Weisblatt. Second row is from left, Jody Ferrence, Heather Rockwood, Simi Leifer Fish, Susannah Levin, Michael Kohn, Albany Common Council Member Deborah Zamer, Dee Levy, Ephraim Sherman, Event Sponsor Herm Ungerman, Michelle Sanders, Laurie Sasson, Susan Ungerman, JFS CEO Jane Ginsburg, and JCC CEO David Posner.
In addition to his truth-seeking work, Levs is -known for his legal fight against Time Warner (then CNN’s parent company) for fair paternity leave as he needed to care for his premature daughter and sick wife. As a result, the company ultimately changed its parental leave policy to make it better for both mothers and fathers. Levs subsequently authored the book All In, challenging myths about dads and the modern family paradigm, which won the Nautilus Gold award.
Amidah Albany was founded after the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in Israel, in response to local rising anti-Semitism. Its goals are to support and stand up for the Jewish community in the Capital Region and beyond. The organization encourages supporters to fight against the misinformation and misrepresentation of Israel and the Jewish people, and to share tools to empower the community to stand strong against the resulting anti-Semitism. Information may be obtained from [email protected].
