Media Influence Matrix Country Profile

Israel’s media and information landscape is shaped by a combination of strong public broadcasting traditions, a competitive commercial sector, deep political polarization, and rapid digital transformation. The country maintains a diverse press and broadcast environment, yet structural vulnerabilities persist: concentrated ownership, financial instability in legacy media, politicization of regulatory institutions, and increasing dependence on global technology platforms for distribution.

Regulation and Policy Influence

Israel’s media regulation is built on a complex institutional framework that separates broadcast oversight, telecommunications regulation, and press governance. Public service media operate through the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN), which replaced the former Israel Broadcasting Authority in 2017 after a politically contentious restructuring process. Although designed to strengthen editorial independence, KAN’s establishment was accompanied by intense political pressure, reflecting broader concerns about governmental influence over public media.

The television sector is regulated by the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council and the Second Authority for Television and Radio, while telecommunications fall under the Ministry of Communications. The legacy MIM report highlights that the Ministry has historically been at the center of political efforts to influence regulatory appointments, licensing decisions, and public broadcasting governance. Regulatory stability has therefore fluctuated across administrations.

Print media operate under a more market-driven model, without a dedicated regulatory authority. While Israel’s press remains formally free, political actors exert influence through ownership structures, editorial appointments, and selective access to information.

In the digital sphere, Israel relies primarily on platform self-regulation and general competition law. The rapid growth of online news consumption, and the expanding role of platforms in shaping political discourse, has outpaced the state’s ability to regulate digital content or ensure transparency in algorithmic distribution.

Legacy report (Regulation): https://journalismresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/mimisraelregulation.pdf

See Israel in State Media Monitor.

Provenance and Funding

Israel’s media market is characterized by a small number of influential privately owned groups that operate multiple outlets across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. Prominent actors include Keshet, Reshet, and Channel 12, as well as print groups such as Yedioth Ahronoth, Maariv, and Israel Hayom, the latter established with significant financial backing from foreign philanthropic and political interests, reshaping the print market and intensifying political competition among publishers.

The legacy MIM funding study describes a media system marked by high commercial concentration and recurring financial instability. Many outlets rely heavily on advertising revenues, which are increasingly volatile in a platform-dominated market. Digital consumption has further eroded the traditional revenue base of print newspapers, accelerating restructuring and newsroom downsizing.

Philanthropy plays a notable role in sustaining investigative journalism and independent outlets. Funding from international foundations supports fact-checking initiatives, public interest reporting, and digital innovation projects. However, philanthropic dependence also raises concerns about long-term sustainability, especially in politically sensitive contexts.

Public service media, although formally independent, remain vulnerable to political pressure through budget allocations and proposed structural changes. The debate over KAN’s autonomy continues to be a recurring feature of media policymaking.

Government advertising is an important, though sometimes opaque, component of the funding landscape. Allocation practices have occasionally been criticized for favoring politically aligned outlets or reinforcing existing market imbalances.

Legacy report (Funding): https://journalismresearch.org/2021/06/media-influence-matrix-israel-funding-journalism/

Technology, Platforms and the Information Environment

Israel’s technological and digital ecosystem is highly developed, with widespread broadband access, a dynamic telecommunications sector, and some of the highest levels of social media usage in the region. The legacy MIM technology report highlights the central role of Facebook, WhatsApp, Google, and YouTube in shaping information flows, political communication, and audience engagement.

Platform dependence has intensified political polarization and contributed to rapid misinformation spread during election cycles, security crises, and periods of social unrest. The combination of a contentious political environment and high platform penetration complicates efforts to ensure accurate information and maintain trust in the media.

Israel’s telecommunications sector is competitive and technologically advanced, led by operators such as Bezeq, Hot, Partner Communications, and Cellcom. High-speed broadband and mobile connectivity enable sophisticated digital media operations, yet disparities persist between urban centers and peripheral regions.

AI adoption is growing within news organizations, particularly in areas such as automated translation, data-driven reporting, and content recommendation. However, regulatory frameworks governing AI in journalism or platform technologies remain underdeveloped. Much of the regulatory impetus comes from emerging international norms and the broader policy environment around cybersecurity, information integrity, and online extremism.

Israel’s digital public sphere is dynamic but fragmented, with platform algorithms, security tensions, and political polarization exerting significant influence over public communication.

Legacy report (Technology): https://journalismresearch.org/2021/03/media-influence-matrix-israel-technology-public-sphere-and-journalism/

Key Companies (Selection)

• Keshet Media Group — major commercial broadcaster with extensive influence across television and digital content.
• Reshet — leading broadcaster and operator of Channel 13.
• Channel 12 (Keshet) — dominant national news provider.
• Yedioth Ahronoth Group — influential print and digital media conglomerate.
• Israel Hayom — free daily newspaper with strong political connections.
• Maariv — longstanding newspaper with shifting ownership structures.
• KAN (Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation) — public service media provider across television, radio, and digital platforms.
• Bezeq, Hot, Partner, Cellcom — major telecommunications companies shaping digital access and distribution.