Shakoof - Driving Israeli Social Change through

Progressive Internet Journalism

Independence and Financial Transparency

Supporting Journalists

Questions and Answers

Shakoof is a non-for-profit internet-based news portal, that will provide transparent, professional, progressive and non-censored comprehensive journalism online. As a news portal, Shakoof aspires to function as an independent agent of social change in Israeli society, by providing journalism that serves the public's interests.

Why?

The Israel Democracy Institute reports a decline in the Israeli public's trust in democracy, putting values such as freedom and democracy at risk in Israeli society. Concurrently, the Israeli Center for Statistics reports that about half of the Israeli population is unable to make ends meet at the end of the month, 40% of the employees earn less than 4000 NIS monthly, and 36.5 % of Israeli children live in poverty.

The reduction of poverty and maintaining values of democracy, are fundamental in order to ensure a free and democratic welfare society in Israel, and yet neither is consistently or systematically debated or discussed publicly. While 30% of the Israeli population is directly affected by poverty, only 0.3% of all news items report on the issue. Alongside this, there is a growing internal and unofficial censorship determined by the political and financial agendas of publishers, agendas that directly contradict the wider public interest.

Shakoof was created to address both issues - the declining trust in democracy and the increase in poverty in Israel's society.‬ It is a vital new media instrument, as current commercial media in Israel functions neither to sustain or promote democracy nor to ensure the welfare of the lower or middle socio-economic classes.

What?

Shakoof will provide its readers with comprehensive coverage of current new events in Israel. Unlike other news sites, Shakoof will offer a critical approach, focusing on facts rather than speculation, and resisting the spin of interest-holders. Shakoof will adhere to a progressive vision, reporting with transparency and depth on social struggles in Israeli society and providing in-depth and balanced magazine feature articles. Shakoof will also critically review journalistic practice in Israel, thus empowering Israeli citizens to better evaluate the media - supposedly the watchdog of democracy.

Who?

Every citizen who is concerned about democracy and welfare in Israel is invited to join the Shakoof endeavor. We have a growing membership, as well as a group of well-established journalists such as Miki Rosenthal, Daniel Bloch, Anat Saragusti, Haim Shibi, Meron Rapoport, Yulie Khromchenko and others, who are involved as partners to realize the Shakoof vision.

How?

Shakoof is built on a diversified funding structure, financing its activities through a mixture of member fees, website advertisement, donations and other channels under development. Shakoof is currently seeking funding to realize the first stages of its operation. These include hiring a five-member staff of journalists and editors, designing a well-built basic website, and acquiring the necessary initial infrastructure (e.g. computers). For this first stage of operation, called Shakoof 1.0, Shakoof is looking to raise 36,000 USD per month for three months, totaling at $108,000.

As a matter of principle, the finances of Shakoof will be completely transparent to our shareholders and to the public in general. After all, "transparent" is what Shakoof means.

Shakoof welcomes all people to support its activities, as members of its non-for-profit organization and as donors. To learn more about opportunities for involvement, please contact us.