Itai Dankner, the incoming CEO of Channel 13's news division, sent his first letter to staff today, addressing his move from a competitor, the upheaval the company has weathered in recent years, and the editorial vision he intends to lead.
"This transition isn't simple. not for me, and I assume not for you either," Dankner wrote. "Until a moment ago I was on the other side of the street, and I got used to seeing you as competition. The last few years haven't been easy; the company went through upheavals and crises, but you continued to do good journalism even when the ground was shaking. The crises took a toll, and that's something we'll need to change together. There's enough talent here to look any competitor in the eye."
Dankner addressed the shifts in Israel's media landscape and the challenges facing public discourse: "We're entering a fascinating and complex period. Israeli society is divided and tribal, and too many people choose their news according to the camp they belong to. We don't intend to tell viewers what they want to hear, but what they need to know, even when the truth isn't comfortable."
He also stressed the commitment to editorial independence and professional ethics: "There's a large public that wants liberal, credible, independent and curious journalism. Our credibility and ethics are not up for negotiation, not with politicians, not with money, and not with any other party. You can expect full backing from me when you do your work with integrity and courage."
Dankner closed by thanking outgoing CEO Tali Ben Ovadia for leading the company through a challenging period, as well as Idan Elrom and the board members for their trust. In the coming weeks, the incoming CEO is expected to hold a series of meetings with company staff to map the newsroom's needs and chart its path forward.
