Lighting the Darkness: Why Independent Journalism Matters This Hanukkah
Watch our video and meet some members of our team who put their lives on the line daily to ensure you receive trusted news.
As candles are lit this Hanukkah, we reflect on the ancient idea of bringing light into darkness. This year, that symbolism feels especially raw. On the first night of Hanukkah, a public celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney—meant to mark the Festival of Lights with a menorah lighting and communal joy—was violently attacked, leaving multiple people dead and many others wounded. What should have been a moment of warmth and visibility became a scene of terror. Jewish leaders in Australia responded with defiance, saying they would not hide in their homes or retreat from public life. Their resolve stands in sharp contrast to the darkness that sought to silence them.
Moments like these are why serious journalism matters. When violence strikes and fear spreads, facts matter. Context matters. Bearing witness matters. At a time when many newsrooms are shrinking or pulling back, The Media Line remains committed to reporting clearly, accurately, and without agenda from the Middle East and from Jewish communities around the world facing rising hostility.
Give the gift of hope
We practice what we preach:
accurate, fearless journalism. But we can't do it alone.
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
Join us.
Support The Media Line. Save democracy.
Today, The Media Line covered an event in Jerusalem memorializing the 15 killed at Bondi Beach. The central piece in our Mideast Daily News observes that the Australian government was mum.
Our reporting brings stories out of the shadows. It gives readers the background they need to understand not just what happened, but why it matters. It challenges distortion and resists the pull of silence when silence feels safer.
This Hanukkah, we ask you to help us keep that light burning. Your support allows The Media Line to continue reporting from places where truth is contested and courage is required. It enables us to cover attacks on civilians, rising antisemitism, regional conflict, and the human stories that too often go untold. Each contribution strengthens our ability to inform, explain, and illuminate.
The menorah teaches that even a small flame can push back great darkness. Your gift does the same. By supporting The Media Line, you are helping ensure that clear, independent journalism continues at a time when it is urgently needed.
Give the gift of light this Hanukkah. Support The Media Line.
