BANGOR — Linda Gradstein, who for 20 years was the Jerusalem correspondent for National Public Radio, will discuss whether there is or is not a media bias against the Jewish community and Israel at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Congregation Beth El, 183 French St.
Gradstein is now the Mid-East bureau chief for the Media Line, an American news agency specializing in coverage of the Middle East.
Gradstein reports for PRI’s The World, AOL News and writes for Slate Magazine. She has covered important events in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip such as the intifada, the mass immigration of Soviet immigrants to Israel, the leadership of Yasser Arafat, Hamas in Gaza, the Persian Gulf War and major elections in Israel. Gradstein was the Israel correspondent for NPR News from 1990 to 2009.
Gradstein earned a bachelor’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University in 1985 and a master’s degree in Arab Studies. She spent a year as a Rotary Fellow at the American University in Cairo and was selected to be a Knight Journalist Fellow at Stanford University in 1998-9. She speaks both Hebrew and Arabic.
Gradstein is a visiting professor at Georgetown University and the College of Charleston, teaching courses in covering conflict and radio reporting.
Gradstein’s visit is sponsored by Congregation Beth El, the University of Maine Judaic Studies and the Jewish Community Endowment Associates.