The Matrix Project is an effort to document personal factors that undermine powerful journalists’ claims of objectivity and impartiality. Are factors such as an elite education, establishment connections, personal wealth and interests in rival fields compatible with journalistic integrity? 

This page looks at Guardian journalist and author Jonathan Freedland. For more information on the database click here.

Education

Learn about the significance of a private/Oxbridge education here

Jonathan Freedland was educated at the independent University College School, London and went on to graduate from Wadham College, Oxford. (source)

Revolving Door

Learn about the significance of the Revolving Door here.

Jonathan Freedland has no significant experience outside the field of journalism.

“Establishment” Connections

Learn about the significance of Establishment Connections here

Primary

Jonathan Freedland’s father, Michael Freedland, was a prominent journalist and biographer. (source)

Jonathan Freedland’s wife, Sarah Peters, is a radio and TV producer who has previously produced documentaries for Channel 4 (source)

Secondary

Jonathan Freedland mentored comedian Sacha Baron Cohen whilst they were living on a Kibbutz run by the Labour Zionist Habonim Dror organisation (source)

Salary/Indications of Wealth

Learn about the significance of journalists with an unusual level of wealth here

Neither Jonathan Freedland nor The Guardian disclose his annual salary. As a prolific journalist, broadcaster and successful author, he is likely to earn significantly more than the UK national average.

As a point of reference, the Office for National Statistics list the average UK salary for 2021 as £26,193.

Complaints / apologies / controversies

Learn about the significance of complaints/apologies here

Freedland has been widely criticised by left-wing activists for his relentless and ruthless undermining of Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters. Whilst dissecting one of Freedland’s numerous attacks on Corbyn, Media Lens highlight ” the smug condescension at the core of Freedland’s mindset. From his superior perspective, there is simply no need to take seriously the ample evidence of intense media and political antagonism towards Corbyn and his policies“. (source)

Recently expelled JVL founder and Labour activist Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi attacked Freedland’s assertion that Labour under Corbyn’s leadership was “denying” it had a deep-rooted antisemitism problem. She stated in 2017 that:

“Freedland’s logic means that those who support justice for Palestine and Corbyn’s project to revitalise Labour as a party of the Left are at risk, if they talk about friends of Israel feeding stories to the media; or accuse them of supporting a state responsible for criminal actions in Palestine; or write about the exaggeration or downright fabrication of antisemitic incidents, or suggest that allegations are being made for political ends. Even if these are all true, and even if the authors are Jewish, Freedland will find a way to make an antisemitism allegation stick.” (source)

Freedland himself was forced to apologise in 2019 for wrongly accusing a Muslim Labour candidate of making antisemitic comments on Facebook. (source)

Summary

Jonathan Freedland is a privately-educated Oxford graduate. His father was a famous journalist and he is married to a media producer. He is likely to earn significantly more than the UK national average and was a prominent voice in the mainstream media campaign seeking to undermine the socialist politics of Labour under Jeremy Corbyn.

Impartial? Independent? Holding the powerful to account?

Learn more about the Matrix Project here.

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