Is Paris Burning? News Marginalizing the Rioters
COMMENTARY
The city is on fire. African and Arab Muslim youths recruited to the cause are rioting. Flashes of extensive property damage roll by on television and computer screens. Is this Ramallah? No. This is Paris.
The foundations of reporting are the five "W"s (who, what, where, when, why) and the "H" (how) that make up the facts of any news story. So why is it when looking at the majority of news written about the Paris Riots, the 'who' is either burred deep within the story or marginalized by generalization? The mainstream media, who tend to report close to the sensational news byte, appear to favor (or feel sorry for) the French, and as such are unable to report the story framed as a problem of economics, racism and religious intolerence.
Presented below are today's stories and my observations:
NEWSBYTES
(AP) State of Emergency Declared in France
Rioters are identified only as 'youths.'
(AFP) French government approves emergency curfew powers
Rioters are identified only as 'youths.'
(AP) Rioting Threatens France's Tourism Image
Rioters not identified.
(AP) Tough French Projects Were Once Desirable
Rioters not mentioned.
(Washington Post) French Officials Try to Ease Fear as Crisis Swells
Several mentions of 'youths' one mention of Muslim Web sites.
(NYT) Suburban Officers Criticized as Insensitive to Racism
Mentions racism but fails to mention races affected.
(WSJ) France Authorizes CurfewsAs Riots Cast DoubtOn Its Policing System
In second paragraph, identifies rioters being men of "North African descent, from poor, mostly Muslim neighborhoods."
(Reuters) France backs curfews to curb riots
Refers to Muslim clerics statements but does not identify rioters as Muslim youths.
(CBS News) France Invokes Emergency Laws
Identifies rioters as 'youths' but removed their earlier story discription, "black and Arab youths who feel disenfranchised."
FOX News State of Emergency Declared in France
Identifies the ritoters as, "a nationwide insurrection by disillusioned suburban youths, many French-born children of immigrants from France's former territories like Algeria."
TENSION: Hot
GRAVITY: If thousands of cars were burned in the US, heads would surely roll
Tags: News, Paris, Paris riots
The city is on fire. African and Arab Muslim youths recruited to the cause are rioting. Flashes of extensive property damage roll by on television and computer screens. Is this Ramallah? No. This is Paris.
The foundations of reporting are the five "W"s (who, what, where, when, why) and the "H" (how) that make up the facts of any news story. So why is it when looking at the majority of news written about the Paris Riots, the 'who' is either burred deep within the story or marginalized by generalization? The mainstream media, who tend to report close to the sensational news byte, appear to favor (or feel sorry for) the French, and as such are unable to report the story framed as a problem of economics, racism and religious intolerence.
Presented below are today's stories and my observations:
NEWSBYTES
(AP) State of Emergency Declared in France
Rioters are identified only as 'youths.'
(AFP) French government approves emergency curfew powers
Rioters are identified only as 'youths.'
(AP) Rioting Threatens France's Tourism Image
Rioters not identified.
(AP) Tough French Projects Were Once Desirable
Rioters not mentioned.
(Washington Post) French Officials Try to Ease Fear as Crisis Swells
Several mentions of 'youths' one mention of Muslim Web sites.
(NYT) Suburban Officers Criticized as Insensitive to Racism
Mentions racism but fails to mention races affected.
(WSJ) France Authorizes CurfewsAs Riots Cast DoubtOn Its Policing System
In second paragraph, identifies rioters being men of "North African descent, from poor, mostly Muslim neighborhoods."
(Reuters) France backs curfews to curb riots
Refers to Muslim clerics statements but does not identify rioters as Muslim youths.
(CBS News) France Invokes Emergency Laws
Identifies rioters as 'youths' but removed their earlier story discription, "black and Arab youths who feel disenfranchised."
FOX News State of Emergency Declared in France
Identifies the ritoters as, "a nationwide insurrection by disillusioned suburban youths, many French-born children of immigrants from France's former territories like Algeria."
TENSION: Hot
GRAVITY: If thousands of cars were burned in the US, heads would surely roll
Tags: News, Paris, Paris riots
posted by Steven Moyer at 10:49 AM
1 Comments:
A priest this morning said there is plenty of liberty in France, but little equality and fraternity. I'm led to believe if the French government actually allowed liberty to business types infinite jobs and opportunities would be created.
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