Page 5 - shomrim-annual-2024

Dear Friends,
This year was an extraordinarily difficult year for Israel. The horrific attack on October 7, 2023, profoundly
impacted and altered our lives. As we write these lines in early 2025, hostages remain held in Gaza, and
although a ceasefire holds in the North, the region remains unstable and fragile. This report reflects how
these challenging circumstances have shaped our work in 2024.

Covering our own country during a time of war—especially as members of the Shomrim team were called
to reserve duty for extended periods—was an exceptionally difficult task. We found ourselves confronting
unprecedented questions that touched the very core of our mission as patriotic individuals who deeply
believe in the power of investigative journalism. Demanding accountability from those in power, even
during wartime—and arguably especially during such times—is a vital tool for safeguarding Israeli society
and democracy.
Our concerns about the state of Israeli democracy have, unfortunately, proven well-founded. Over
the past year, anti-democratic initiatives have not slowed due to the war; on the contrary, they have
intensified, threatening to bring dramatic and potentially harmful changes to Israel. This report highlights
how our work has focused on exposing these anti-democratic actions, creating meaningful impact, and
actively defending Israel’s democratic values. An essential part of our role has been amplifying the voices
of those excluded from decision-making processes and shedding light on the real implications of policies
on underrepresented and marginalized communities.

It is a privilege to be part of Shomrim during these challenging times. As you’ll see in this report, Shomrim
continues to grow—expanding our team and strengthening collaborations with for-profit media outlets.
These efforts enable us to reach broader and more diverse audiences, increasing our impact and influence.
We would like to take this opportunity to extend our deepest gratitude to our funders and supporters.
Your belief in our mission empowers us to make a meaningful impact and serve as steadfast guardians of
Israel’s democracy.
We invite each of you to read the full report and encourage you to continue following Shomrim’s stories.
Looking ahead, we are excited to launch new and important initiatives in addition to our ongoing work.
These include developing an innovative AI tool to measure source credibility, creating a unique internship
program in data journalism, reaching out to communities who rely on social media for their news rather
than traditional news outlets, and much more.

We sincerely hope that by the time of our next report, all hostages will have returned safely to their
homes, and those separated from their families and loved ones will finally be reunited. Only through these
reunions can we, as a nation, begin the healing process and ensure that such a trauma never happens again.

Thank you for standing with us.
With gratitude
Alona Vinograd, CEO

Shomrim | 5 | Annual Report