You focussed on an interesting point, namely media bias. ergotia says above that for her, this is actually a political point, and I can certainly see where she's coming from. But for me, it is simply another example of people (in this case, the people woking for media companies, led both by what they themselves are interested in, and is what they think their readers/viewers will be interested in) making more of news that is closer to home. The major media companies in the world are based largely in the USA, Europe and Australia, and I expect the news sites that the people reading here usually get their information from are similarly based (cnn, bbc etc.)
However, I would expect the press in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv to give more emphasis (than the bbc does, say) to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, for example, including the intifada, suicide bombings in general, arguments about withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the dividing wall etc. Equally, I would expect different editorial on Al-Jazeera and Arab world news media on world issues.
I suppose the point I am trying make is that, although we can feel uncomfortable with the bias in the media we frequent, it is also largely *our* decision which ones we read/watch. Obviously we are limited by what languages we can understand, but this particular barrier is I think becoming less and less important, particularly for those who have a good grasp of English (and of course, one can always learn other languages). We set up our own filters, and become our own editors in a way, by choosing what to read. So I do not think it entirely fair that we hold "the media" responsible for bias. We make our own bias, by neglecting to strike a balance in our own reading.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-07-14 12:59 pm (UTC)However, I would expect the press in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv to give more emphasis (than the bbc does, say) to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, for example, including the intifada, suicide bombings in general, arguments about withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the dividing wall etc. Equally, I would expect different editorial on Al-Jazeera and Arab world news media on world issues.
I suppose the point I am trying make is that, although we can feel uncomfortable with the bias in the media we frequent, it is also largely *our* decision which ones we read/watch. Obviously we are limited by what languages we can understand, but this particular barrier is I think becoming less and less important, particularly for those who have a good grasp of English (and of course, one can always learn other languages). We set up our own filters, and become our own editors in a way, by choosing what to read. So I do not think it entirely fair that we hold "the media" responsible for bias. We make our own bias, by neglecting to strike a balance in our own reading.