Middle East Media Reporting.

[miked10270 0]

OK... I posted this link in another thread, but on fuller reading, perhaps it deserves a thread of it's own.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/sociology/units/media/israel.htm

From Glasgow University. Which is unlikely to be biased on the basis that you can't get a deep-fried Snickers bar ANYWHERE in the middle-east.

PS: Latest Glasgow "delicacy"? Jumbo pork sausage, wrapped in Doner Kebab meat, adn of course... Deep-fried in batter. It's called a "Storner". 1,046 calories & 46g of fat.

Still. You can get healthy options, like cheese & tomato pizza... Yep... You guessed it!... Deep fried in batter!

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[quade 4]

UK Middle East Media Reporting

Note this has very little (any?) relevance to the coverage in the USA. I'm not saying that you meant that it did, just that there are some folks that LOVE to say that there is a huge amount of media bias in the US and while that may be true in 1 or 2 particular news organizations, this study shouldn't be used for that argument in anyway.

Understand that US news is run a bit differently than the state sponsored media in most other countries.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[miked10270 0]

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UK Middle East Media Reporting

Note this has very little (any?) relevance to the coverage in the USA.

Are you suggesting that American media news coverage is unbiased on the Middle-East compared to The BBC & other British media?

My position would be that the American media probably shows the same bias, for the same reasons. Perhaps even more so, given the US Administration position on Israel.

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[Andy9o8 2]

On the one hand, it does seem that the US media is more sympathetic to the Israelis than the Palestinians. But only to a point. The US news has been pretty unabashed about reporting the civilian deaths in Lebanon.

On the other hand, while the BBC is generally a pretty high-quality news organization, they clearly have had, for a very long time, a bias toward painting Israel and Israeli policy in the worst possible light. The Guardian does the same thing. The Times of London seems more neutral on the subject.

[miked10270 0]

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On the other hand, while the BBC .... clearly have had, for a very long time, a bias toward painting Israel and Israeli policy in the worst possible light.

That's the strange thing. The report claims exactly the opposite, and then goes into the reasons why. BBC reporters & journalists agree and also explain why.

In effect, although I would have thought the BBC was unbiased, they themselves admit to a pro-Israeli bias in their reporting! That shook me since the Beeb is so commonly quoted here as an irrefutable source.

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[Andy9o8 2]

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In effect, although I would have thought the BBC was unbiased, they themselves admit to a pro-Israeli bias in their reporting!

What can I say? I read the Beeb online regularly and that's certainly not how I see it.

[miked10270 0]

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In effect, although I would have thought the BBC was unbiased, they themselves admit to a pro-Israeli bias in their reporting!

What can I say? I read the Beeb online regularly and that's certainly not how I see it.

It's forced me to consider my own personal bias in this matter.

I saw the Beeb as unbiased. Therefore, my own bias is probably as pro-Israeli as the Beeb. Fair enough, I am quite pro-Israeli in that I can understand the justification for some of their actions and agree with same. Historically, Israel has been in the right far more than it has been in the wrong. This time in Lebanon though...

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[bogwarrior 0]

Hi,

Somebody mentioned in an earlier posting about news channels catering for " segments ". This gave me the impression that the american tv stations in particular wouldnt like to be unpopular e.g. making a case for Gay Marraige ( I use that as this is how Bush managed to steal the election if we ignore the fraud ).

Certainly the BBC world which i watch here in Spain cant be described as " way more neutral " in its potrayal " of Middle eastern events but it does question the American stance a lot more with many anchors suggesting that America must surely be " embarressed in private " at Israels actions. American press ( CNN and new york times online for me ) seem more pro their government positions with less awkward questions being asked.

The biggest thing that struck me is the way American people seem to be " fed " the news. I started to feel uncormfortable watching CNN after a while as it felt a bit like watching an American football game. " CNN live from everywhere " ..lots of graphics , plenty of use of sentances like .. " live to the action in Beirut " .. The " gloss " on " live news " was even coreographed with music playing in the background .things like the soundtrack to a " few good men " playing to images of Israelis shelling a hillside on the border etc. Its like a video game or something , if youve seen it you know what i mean.. CNN were great for showing images of a destoyed Beiruit but not showing images that the BBC routinely show outlining the real and " civilian " cost.. Might have been a different story if America was against the war ? This being seperate to the amount of coverage.

Maybe its because politics in America owns / controls the networks which become their puppets ( e.g why Dan Rather got fired ) but their appears to be a lot less opinion against political and government decisions and policies. Its only in hindsight that the policy is clearly examined.. I mean did the US not envisage the civil war unfolding in Iraq ....nope too busy to have debate in the media swallowing / being fed the WMD crap ?? Many didnt know where it was , what the regional issues were but felt in the end we should " squash em " cos their " bad guys ".


If Blair cant answer a question or looks lost a BBC reporter is not afraid to say " he looks lost as to how to answer that question. Not so with Bush, theres nice editing and a token gesture to "critics"..

The BBC like the american networks reports the positions of government and relays the speech some spokesperson gives but goes much further...and questions the validity of whats being said. Its not from a belief that the government are wrong in the UK , just that in the media a much more open " debate " exists.. a reflection perhaps of a much more healthy democracy the health of which is affected / reflected in the nature and imparitiality of its media.

[miked10270 0]

I think that the real advantage enjoyed by the BBC is in the way it's funded. It's not tied to satisfying either commercial sponsors or government (thanks to it's original constitution which no British Government has dared interfere with).

Over the years, it's developed the rather neat tactic that when the Government complains about the BBC's coverage, the BBC then reports the Government complaint as a news story!

Hence, as long as the BBC remains honest and as unbiased as it's best efforts allow, it is unassailable.
Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[skydyvr 0]

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Over the years, it's developed the rather neat tactic that when the Government complains about the BBC's coverage, the BBC then reports the Government complaint as a news story!

How unique!

Here in the U.S., no news agency ever questions or complains about the government.

. . =(_8^(1)

[miked10270 0]

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Over the years, it's developed the rather neat tactic that when the Government complains about the BBC's coverage, the BBC then reports the Government complaint as a news story!

How unique!

Here in the U.S., no news agency ever questions or complains about the government.

Yeah... Then there's BBC Light Entertainment, the most fearsome of which (to the Government or overblown ego) being:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Have_I_Got_News_For_You

If BBC News doesn't get the idiot politician or public figure, then rest assured that these guys will.

Mike.

PS: Best one had to be when Roy Hattersley MP (a Government minister & senior Labour Politician at the time) kept cancelling his appearance, having no doubt realised what was going to be said about the Government, was replaced with a Tub of Lard! The Tub of Lard won.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[rushmc 23]

I use that as this is how Bush managed to steal the election if we ignore the fraud

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No use reading any farther after a line like this

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

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[bogwarrior 0]

Yup, Cheneys tactic was great " politics", dont get me wrong ... but many American friends here in Madrid didnt have their postal votes counted and dont know why, many " African Americans " were not allowed to vote because they had a criminal record. In Europe when the system is geared towards allowing people who would vote for you vote and discounting the vote against you .. well we call that rigging .. which i call fraud.. but in any case.. your right, just keep watching CNN and ask no questions.

[rushmc 23]

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No, your right, just keep watching CNN and all is good in your world

Now that is a first I have now been accused of watching a media I think is very slanted left!!

You must have a strange view of our media and our country as the quoted line indicates. And to say the election was stolen is not supported by the facts. (but the way left love the conspiracy theory)

Wow, CNN, me? Now that is funny

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[skydyvr 0]

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If BBC News doesn't get the idiot politician or public figure, then rest assured that these guys will.

Sounds like fun -- just add that afore-mentioned laugh track and I'm in!

. . =(_8^(1)

[Darius11 12]

The US media has also been extremely biased to say the least.
They do report the civilian deaths but they just say a number and move on. When it comes to the Israelis you get the whole story they make sure they put a face and story behind the death.
To put it simply they always make sure to make the Israelis look humane and the Palestinians juts a number.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[bogwarrior 0]

Hi Rush,

I dont know you or your politics ..so .. CNN / NBC / ABC ..whatever your "flavour" is. When i was in florida I listened a lot to local radio. More often than not the opposition was described as "they", " they want to do this to you ".. balanced journalism right ?? . I mean you have a belief and you will find a station / paper / radio that "pumps" it out without question. Subtly this could be the major networks no ?? I do not believe this is so here in many EU states. Particularily in times of crisis media are less likely to fall into line with " stereotypical views ".. RTE in Ireland , the BBC in the UK , TV1 in Spain look at for / against etc.

Dan Rather it seems to "us in Europe" questioned the " official line " and eventually his station fired him under heavy pressure from the Bush Administration. If anything in Ireland / Spain / UK its a bit of a " sport " questioning politics..

Two films i think youll enjoy are " V is for Vendetta " and "Good night and good luck "

[rushmc 23]

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Hi Rush,

I dont know you or your politics ..so .. CNN / NBC / ABC ..whatever your "flavour" is. When i was in florida I listened a lot to local radio. More often than not the opposition was described as "they", " they want to do this to you ".. balanced journalism right ?? . I mean you have a belief and you will find a station / paper / radio that "pumps" it out without question. Subtly this could be the major networks no ?? I do not believe this is so here in many EU states. Particularily in times of crisis media are less likely to fall into line with " stereotypical views ".. RTE in Ireland , the BBC in the UK , TV1 in Spain look at for / against etc.

Dan Rather it seems to "us in Europe" questioned the " official line " and eventually his station fired him under heavy pressure from the Bush Administration. If anything in Ireland / Spain / UK its a bit of a " sport " questioning politics..

Two films i think youll enjoy are " V is for Vendetta " and "Good night and good luck "

You will find that many news heads quesion the official line but, and this is a big but, how and what they question is determined by the political offiliation. They, the news organizations have major agendas (and that can be from both sides now) so who they question and how they question them depends on wether they agree or disagree based on thier personal and network politics.

So, your responce clarified to me where you were coming from. Thank you. Also, if I seemed snippy or offensive, I am sorry. It was not intended that way.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[skydyvr 0]

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Dan Rather it seems to "us in Europe" questioned the " official line " and eventually his station fired him under heavy pressure from the Bush Administration.

"You in Europe" seem to be misinformed. Dan Rather made up a bunch of shit one too many times and was dismissed due to a lack of credibility under "pressure" from the American public.

Got any sources to back up your statement that the Bush administration had anything to do with his dimissal?

. . =(_8^(1)

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Got any sources that back up your statement that he was dismissed "due to a lack of credibility under "pressure" from the American public"?

[warpedskydiver 0]

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Got any sources that back up your statement that he was dismissed "due to a lack of credibility under "pressure" from the American public"?

Yeah, I talked to an awful lot of people of different affiliations and they were all dsgusted that Dan Rather would be partisan and knowingly use false documents in order to bash the president.

I know that a great many of them wrote and or emailed CBS about it.

If Dan Rather had not been some huge news person there may have been charges brought.

[skydyvr 0]

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Got any sources that back up your statement that he was dismissed "due to a lack of credibility under "pressure" from the American public"?

I'm not the one making wierd assertions about that which is basically common knowledge, even among the left. Just google "Dan Rather" and learn for yourself.

. . =(_8^(1)

[bogwarrior 0]

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Dan Rather it seems to "us in Europe"

Sorry how arrogant of me to speak for europeans, its just me , my opinion. You are correct though i dont know the ins and outs of the Dan Rather case , only what my American friends tell me here and only that a couple of European / Russian politicians poked fun at Bush for it ( so George if your watching im sorry your a stand up guy ).

Anyhow , i think we can agree .. that its harder to have an objective debate in the American media as the networks are galvanised along party lines, which was my point really. And that in the likes of the UK people are fortunate to have a media organisations that are visbily more seperate from the "Agenda".. this has led to a completley different tone / flavour of reporting on middle eastern events.

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[SkyDekker 1,465]

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I'm not the one making wierd assertions about that which is basically common knowledge, even among the left.

You were asking some one to provide a source to back up his opinion. I asked you to do the same thing. "everybody knows it is true" is not really a great sourtce....

[skydyvr 0]

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Anyhow , i think we can agree .. that its harder to have an objective debate in the American media as the networks are galvanised along party lines, which was my point really.

I'll agree that most popular American news media are biased one way or another these days, but the positive note is that it's possible to view lots of sources and filter out the bias for yourself if so inclined. Wish more people were so inclined.

. . =(_8^(1)