Charges of Media Bias !

Charges of Media Bias !

Instances when the World Media clearly practiced double standards.

· Afula on 19 May 2003. Screams, sirens and blood stained ground. When Hiba Daraghmeh a palestinian teenage girl, detonated the explosives strapped around her just outside a shopping mall, she took the lives of three innocent people in a most brutal fashion. Most of the American public knows about this, as it quickly became headline news across television screens and photographs of the horror graced the front page of most top American newspapers. On the same day, in what seemed like another world, relatives of 13-year old Khaled Naser were in mourning. He had been shot to death earlier that day by Israeli troops. His fate wasn't worth a headline, for it was suicide bombings that the press focused on in recent days as threats to a new Mideast peace proposal.

· May 18, there were five suicide bomb attacks in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. This sudden surge in attacks was pointed to by all major US media as having the potential to derail President George Bush's new Mideast "road map". The Chicago Tribune headlined on May 20 with "'Road Map' In Peril." USA Today declared it "In Tatters", and the Washington Post announced "Peace Plan in Jeopardy." A previous Post headline stated that "Bombings Undercut Peace Plan." In response to a bombing in the Jerusalem suburb French Hill (which is technically in the occupied West Bank) on Sunday, in which seven Israelis lost their lives, Israeli Prime Minister cancelled a planned trip to see President Bush where the two were to discuss the road map plan. Reuter's ran a headline that day declaring, "Suicide Bombing Threatens Peace Plan". Sharon's cancellation was accepted by the American media as a reasonable response to a surge in terrorist attacks and Palestinian factions were seen as attempting to stop what otherwise was an ongoing process. As a result, the American public is being told that Palestinian militants, if not the Palestinian Authority, is the only thing blocking the way to peace.Now in the wake of the much-publicized terror attacks, the American press with front page news and breaking television alerts has potentially led the public to believe that it only the Palestinians who are not only blocking peace efforts, but are the sole perpetuators of violence. Not one major paper tied the spate of Hamas bombings to Israel's continued assassination of Hamas leaders, including the recent killing of Iyad Bek two weeks ago.

· Most Americans have been taught by their captive media to interpret what happens today in the Middle East in terms of what happened yesterday. The clock of history in this region always starts with the most recent "suicide" attack mounted by Palestinians against "peaceful," "innocent" Israeli "civilians.".Which is not always true and this iswhen the media needed to showcase it's objectivity,nuetrality and impartiality in keeping with the reponsiblities that come along with being medium which the people trust and look upto for guidance.And unfortunately it has been shown time and again, that the Gobal media who wield enormous power to influence the people has been found wanting in it's duties and responsiblities either ethically or honestly. Rather choosing selective distortion of the facts and manipulation of the news to suit the taste and likings of the particular media respective audience.

· The latest reflection of the victimisation of the struggle of these two unfortunate countries is the latest stunt trying to be pulled by the media monoploes.They are trying to demonize the newly elected palestine government of the 'Hamas' party and have left no stone unturned to convince the world at large to accept their claims.It has already been branded a terrorist government.The media,primarily the foreigh media who are heading the media monopolies has already prophesised the death of the peace talks and the collapse of the truce.Another wave of imminent suicide attacks and offcourse the now well documented Israeli retaliation.And these prediction are too immature to say the least looking at the changing dynamics of the conflict.This just forces us rethink the purpose of the great institution of the press and the media in general.Is the media meant to bridge or

stretch the divide.

Media bias regarding the Middle East conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has also attracted much media attention in itself. By now it has reached a point that several films have been made regarding the issue of media bias in this conflict.It is now an accepted fact that media are partial and are not only presenting news but are representing sides and particulat parties which suits the particular media And the only loser in this fight for domination are the people of Palestine and Isreal.

And I Truly doubt wheather this scenario would ever change in the near future,no matter how much I would like it to.And it is then that i ask of myself whether my opinion would ever count against the might of the media monopoles.And will I just turn out be just another cog in the wheel.And being a journslist and the pride and esteem that comes along with it truly worth the hype.

The Israeli-Palestine is the perfect case study about how a conflict should not be handled by the media in general.