More than 70 student leaders and fellows—joined by over a dozen advisers from the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, France and Israel—gathered in Boston on Aug. 4–6 for the 2025 International Student Leadership Conference hosted by CAMERA on Campus, a program of the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA). Over three days, participants took part in more than 20 interactive sessions aimed at sharpening their ability to identify and counter media bias, preparing them to put these skills into action on campuses worldwide.
“Conference attendees experienced a well-rounded blend of expert-led training, peer-driven workshops and intensive networking,” said Hali Spiegel, director of CAMERA on Campus. “From hands-on breakout labs to thoughtful roundtables with senior CAMERA researchers and veteran student leaders, participants honed their skills in media analysis, digital storytelling and rapid response strategy.”
Keynote addresses and lively discussions provided both inspiration and practical tools, equipping this global cadre of pro-Israel leaders to return to their universities ready to spot distortion, craft persuasive narratives and build strong, collaborative communities capable of responding to the dishonest assault on Israel in higher education.
Thanks to the generosity of CAMERA’s donors, students from North America, Europe and Israel were able to attend the conference at no cost, making it a truly international and accessible exchange of strategies, experiences and solutions.
“After observing this year’s conference, it’s clear to me that this new cohort is exceptionally well prepared to meet the challenges their pro-Israel communities will face—especially as hatred and disinformation continue to intensify,” Spiegel added.
The impact was immediate for attendees. “This conference empowered me to spot when context is stripped away to skew a story,” said Artem Kuklev, 2025-2026 CAMERA Fellow at the University of Victoria in Canada. “I’m leaving with the confidence to demand accuracy—even when the mainstream press seems uninterested in objective reporting. I will continue to speak out boldly in support of Israel.”
“At DCU, we learned how silent omissions can speak louder than any headline,” added Jamie O Mahony, CAMERA Fellow at Dublin City University.
“As a Yemenite Jewish activist, I saw firsthand how easy it is for diverse Jewish experiences to be erased. Here, we learned to amplify every voice,” said Adiel Cohen, social‑media influencer and Mizrahi activist.
Key Outcomes & Next Steps
- Network Expansion: CAMERA’s pledge of support to 30+ independent pro‑Israel student groups across the U.S., U.K. and Israel.
- Fellowship Growth: Mobilization of 70+ CAMERA Fellows as on‑campus media‑bias monitors and rapid‑response leaders.
- Ongoing Collaboration: CAMERA on Campus will work in collaboration with CAMERA student leaders to track and correct distortions in campus newspapers, the classroom and the quad for the upcoming academic year. For students interested in joining the fight for truth, visit www.camerafellowship.org for details!
