Israeli media landscape, and the importance of a profound understanding of it

Due to the complexity of its society’s composition, political spectrum and economic complexity, Israel’s media sector is also extremely complex. Hence, different types of media, their political affiliation, their agenda and their distribution or exposure, are major considerations in promoting a product or an idea in Israel.

Personal acquaintance with journalists and editors is particularly important in Israel. Every journalist in Israel has a specific field of coverage, strong personal opinion, agenda, and unique character and personality;, knowing these special characteristics ahead of time, can bring successful publication. Therefore, anyone who wishes to be reflected in the Israeli media, must work with a public relations firm, which like ours, is well connected with local key figures, and knows all about them.

On the other hand, merely by its presence, and unique situation, , Israel is a country that is connected to the news like a lifeline. Israeli citizens are intensive consumers of icurrent affairs information as it touches every single person. Every half an hour a news flash comeson the radio and television news broadcasts are the most noticeable. . Television channels often interrupt their regular broadcasts with special newscasts or breaking newsflashes.

Traditional media in Israel has three large general consumer dailyies. In addition, there are three financial newspapers, which have a huge impact on the public agenda and decision makers. Each major media group also has a popular news portal, and there are 2 commercial TV channels in Israel (channel 2, channel 10), in addition to the national public service TV station - Channel 1.

There are also two print news magazines, issued every week to several weeks. There are also several newspapers and websites specifically targeted to the Religious Zionist sector, the Orthodox religious sector, Arab sector, English-speaking, and Russian-speaking sectors of the population in Israel.

All major media sources have mobile applications for iPhone and Android, and according to the rest of the world, a large volume of information (40%-60%) passes to the public via these means. Israel has many other media platforms, such as local newspapers and regional radio.

Israel's new media (Facebook, blogs, forums and other internet-based social media) is an important arena in determining the agenda, sometimes even more than traditional media. Unlike other countries (eg Germany and Western Europe), social media in Israel is dominant, intense, powerful, and popular. Therefore, any person or organization who wishes to achieve their goals and their interests in Israel, would want to dedicate at least some part of thieir media content to these platforms.

The Israeli public is characterized by great variety. There are many sectors, cultural, religious, etc., and they are all very different. The platforms for delivering messages are also many and varied. Every industry, product, idea or service can be well promoted. The key to successful marketing, branding and public relations in Israel is setting a clear strategic goal, finding the target audience and its whereabouts, and finding the most effective way to reach it, while maintaining creativity, reliability and clarity of the message sent to it.

All of these elements simply have to be accompanied by a media consultant who is a master of the Israeli media map, and holds close relationships with key figures within it.