Media Project
The Media Project is raising the quality and quantity of environmental reporting in Israel, through an integrated series of initiatives to engage key journalists in the sustainability agenda and issues.
The Media Project also runs an annual senior journalist seminar on sustainability and distributes a bi-weekly electronic newsletter summarizing in Hebrew key articles on sustainability from the world media.
Finally, Israeli Artists for Environment and Sustainability promotes a sustainable future for Israel through key personalities in the fields of art and culture
In Memory of Richard Pratt, z''l,
The founder of the The Pratt Foundation, Mr. Richard Pratt, z''l, has recently passed away at his home in Melbourne at the age of 74.
His death is a certainly a shock to us all, especially those who were honored to witness his amazing legacy and achievements, both in the business world and through the work of The Pratt Foundation in Australia and Israel. He will continue to be remembered as a great philanthropist and visionary.
Richard is survived by his wife Jeanne, his children Anthony, Heloise, Fiona, and their families. They will be in our thoughts as we reflect on his life and achievements. May his memory be for a blessing.
Pratt Prize for Environmental Journalism
The Pratt Prize for Environmental Journalism, funded by the Pratt Foundation is awarded annually to cutting-edge environmental reporting at the national, local, and community levels. The Prize is given for four categories of journalism and for the first time a Lifetime Achievement Award was given. This year's prizes were awarded at a ceremony held in Tel Aviv on March 31. Read more about the Pratt Prize and the winners for 2009.
Nitzan Horowitz (journalist)
(see the video below to learn more about the Media Project)
Profile of a Media Project Participant
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As a journalist, lawyer and social activist, I have come to know the Heschel Center’s wide-ranging activities and to view its role as center to environmental activity in Israel. My involvement in the Media Project inspired me to participate in the high-quality Environmental Fellows Program, which has already made a name for itself as the most successful program for nurturing environmental leadership. – Nitzan Horowitz
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Israeli Artists for Environment and Sustainability
Today, many artists around the world are identified with advancing issues associated with sustainability, a healthy environment and social justice. Among others, Bono is well-known for working to reduce poverty and advance the health and well-being in the developing world, Woody Harrelson is a spokesperson for organic food and bicycle transportation and Leonardo Dicaprio is at the forefront of the fight against global warming. Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth has transformed global environmental awareness, in particular to the climate crisis. Melissa Etheridge's theme song for the movie won the 2007 Oscar for best song. Following the film, Al Gore initiated the worldwide Live Earth event watched by Billions around the world.
In Israel, celebrity involvement in environmental issues is still in its infancy and based on artists' individual environmental interests. The Heschel Center's newly formed Artists Forum for Environment and Sustainability brings together performers from film, television, theater and popular music who are interested in creating environmental activism using the tools and language with which they are comfortable. The group is the main address for Israeli performers wishing to learn and act on issues of environment and sustainability.
Among the group's members: actors Shai Avivi, Yarden Bar Cochva, Leon Rozenberg, Amnon Woolf, Rikki Blich, Yuval Abramovitz; radio and TV presenters Avri Gilad, Meirav Michaeli, Dalik Volinitz, Noam Schneider; singer-songwriters Sharon Kantor, Muki, Dan Toren, Sha'anan Streett; writers Efrat Roman Asher, Shlomo Krauss and others.
The group meets monthly for discussion, decisions on activity and study with experts and public figures on various aspects of the social-environmental crisis, and also organizes different events to expand its membership base and to promote the social-environmental discourse among other artists. In April 2007, a weekend seminar took place to impact the incorporation of environmental and sustainability content into the media. As a consequence a large number of issues have been advanced in the media by the group's members, such as two permanent spots with Rikki Blich and Dalik Volinovitz on Avri Gilad's breakfast television show. The group also works to influence decision-makers, approaching Knesset (parliament) members and decision-makers in order to influence the agenda.
The Media Project is generously funded by The Pratt Foundation.
The Pratt Prize for Environmental Journalism is awarded annually to cutting-edge environmental reporting at the national, local, and community levels. Entries have more than doubled over the first four years, and the prominence and depth of media coverage of environmental issues has increased dramatically.
