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US media coverage

Ganesh

07:59 / 13.09.01

Although I don't particularly tend toward any of the conspiracy-themed interpretations of Tuesday's events, I'm starting to become pissed off with the media coverage which appears, at best, irresponsible and, at worst, cynically directive of people's reactions.

The footage of people falling to their deaths, for example, was not repeated in later news summaries, presumably because it was extremely distressing to watch. The brief clip of dancing Palestinians, on the other hand, has been looped and repeated several times - although it's largely incidental, particularly in the light of Arafat's unequivocal statement of support.

I'm concerned that watchers are being eased from numbed, questioning shock into directed but essentially unquestioning anger.

08:38 / 13.09.01

I know you've mentioned this a couple of times Ganesh. It's a big contrast to the reports of Palestinians dancing in the streets, and I have the feeling it wasn't given as much attention. Maybe just my impression - I was out of the news loop last night.

LA Times

quote:Arafat, one of hundreds of Palestinians who participated in the blood drive, smiled as doctors drew blood from his right arm. Blood donations were to be passed on to the U.S. Embassy.
As Arafat emerged from the hospital, about 200 Palestinians started chanting: "We are ready to give our soul and blood for you."
Asked if he had a message for the American people, Arafat said in English: "God bless you, God bless you, God bless you."

[ 13-09-2001: Message edited by: Wheaty Goodness ]

10:08 / 13.09.01

Watching in New York, all the local stations and the Cable stations, for two days straight now, I've seen the dancing Palestinian footage only about twice. I think the media in the US is actually being responsible about this, to avoid any racially motivated attack. This may change in the days to come.

10:24 / 13.09.01

From Salon.com:

The NYT reports, both in its lead and in a separate inside story, that Yassir Arafat "angrily" rejected any suggestion, based on widely broadcast news footage of Palestinians dancing in the streets, that they had rejoiced over the terror attack. Arafat tells the paper that "it is clear and obvious that it was less than 10 children in East Jerusalem, and we punished them." Also, both the Times and USAT report that Arafat donated blood for U.S. attack victims. USAT adds that the Palestinian cabinet secretary called international news agencies and said that their staffs' safety could not be guaranteed unless they withdrew footage of Palestinian police firing joyfully into the air.

10:26 / 13.09.01

additionally, it is incredibly hard to think about possible media conspiracy when much of the time yesterday on local tv/radio was taken up by relatives of the "missing" calling up and describring or showing pictures of their lost loved ones. Truly heart wrenching to see and hear. THis morning I heard an estimate that some 3,700 are "missing." THat seems low to me, and the casualty count will grow much greater.

10:33 / 13.09.01

I am concerned that the American people are being convinced of the perpetrator before an investigation is completed. I think it will shake out that more than one group was involved, but the focus will have been put on Osama Bin Laden by the press.

The FBI has been really quiet about who and what they have found other than stating facts, which is completely appropriate. This leaves the media plenty of room to extrapolate, infer and plain make shit up.

I haven't seen the Palistinian footage since Tuesday. And I am glad of it. To show an image that associates an entire religion and cultures with a couple hundred ringers is not appropriate. What we don't want to do is poison the well against all people from the middle east - they had nothing to do with this. We also don't need to pick a suspect for this until we know who it is.

Yep, people are angry and want to pin this on someone, but as the days go on, I am seeing a dawning of reality. The concept of bombing the crap out of SOMEONE for this sounded good a day ago when everyone was shocked and angry. Now people are starting to think about the consequences of that. America, not being unique, has it's share of stupid people, but hopefully the majority can see through what is being shoveled their way.

10:42 / 13.09.01

I wasn't talking about a conspiracy. Just seemed there was more 'noise' (not just in the media) about the image of Palestinians dancing in streets than to this one. I suppose it's natural. But - to me anyway - the image of Arafat giving blood is a very stong one.

[ 13-09-2001: Message edited by: Wheaty Goodness ]

Ganesh

20:11 / 13.09.01

Yeah. I think it was probably a case of timing, rather than anything else.

15:05 / 14.09.01

*thread-tilt*

I just wote a letter to "O Globo", the biggest newspaper in Brazil, scolding them for been feeding us with their stupid shallow coverage of the events and suggesting that they should try to make the people understand some of the political background that contributed to this mess.

Not that they will care, but you know... so I won't feel like I'm not doing anything useful...

15:35 / 14.09.01

'nesh - We've seen the footage of people jumping out of the buildings often and daily.

We've only seen the footage of the Palestinians dancing a few times. Definitely we've heard more reports of racism against Muslims and it has been denounced time and time again, to the point where I wonder are they looking for cases of Arab discrimination in order to denounce them, thus discouraging more of them?

Today at the national memorial service, among many speakers was a muslim faith leader (don't know what muslim priests/holy men/clergy are called, embarassingly enough). I thought that was very appropriate.

Working here at NBC Tower in Chicago, we got an email this morning that said that the networks were having a tough time deciding when to start pulling news coverage. Their numbers dropped yesterday and "the newscasters are obviously running on empty," the memo said. No network wants to be the first to return to regular programming.

I'm very against the logos for this - "ATTACK on America" and such. I don't know, it's all a little cloying I guess..

Ganesh

18:51 / 14.09.01

Perhaps my viewpoint is slightly warped by having seen the 'dancing Palestinians' clip looped (ie. three or four repetitions seamlessly linked so it looks like one long piece of footage - if you're very stupid) and repeated. As you say, it's barely been shown in the last day or so.

19:33 / 14.09.01

Oooh - one of the major networks just started showing some commercials again - and they were kind of creepy. First one Red Cross, OK, that makes sense. Second one was a pro-tolerance ad. Definitely down with that but I still feel weird when a public service ad is telling me how to feel, last one featured some guy getting splashed by a cab and instead of shouting at the driver showing "compassion" (which was the theme of that PSA).

I'm getting the feeling they're only allowed to show PSAs. I know the I read this morning said that advertisers were particularly hesitant about finance, tourism and travel ads.

wembley can change in 28 days

19:43 / 14.09.01

I can't tell you how many television commercials I've seen in the last two days to join the Canadian Armed Forces, and I don't think it's necessarily a fabulous idea to suggest to young people in Canada that an appropriate response to this situation is to learn how to drive a tank. Anyone else getting recruitment up the nose?

19:52 / 14.09.01

Cherry--there's an article in the Sun-Times today about racial tension with a quote from one Linda Gudelj about how she won't rest until every Arab is driven from the US.

She works for my company.

All day people have been going by and chastizing her for it. She finally sent a letter of apology around.