The Media vs the Truth?
The media has a strong influence on how we perceive what is happening all around the world. A recent example of this would be the Gaza crisis.
During the three week attack on the Gaza strip, Western journalists were not allowed into Gaza by the Israelis. Israeli's official reasons: it was too dangerous for foreign Western journalists to enter Gaza and Israelis were concerned that if foreign journalists were in Gaza, they won't be able to have an objective view on what was happening since Hamas militants may threaten people to report to the journalists in Pro-Hamas favour.
Pictures and reports of the conflict were coming through by Arab journalists and aid workers who were already in Gaza at the time of the conflict.
A picture can say a thousand words...however if it isn't shown in the right context-the message can be misconstrued and thus misleading the rest of the World.
The Arab channels such as Al-Jazeera were more graphic in their reporting of the devastation compared to Western channels such as the BBC. Does this mean the Arab channels like Al Jazeera was portraying a truer and honest picture compared to the Western channels? I'm not sure whether my opinion of the conflict would change if I saw more gore on the television. I think just seeing the faces of people who had lost their loved ones and home had made me feel very sad of the innocent lives who are caught in this conflict.
The way the conflict is portrayed will affect its audience. Young Muslims watching the devastation may form a feeling of hate and despise towards the Israelis as fellow Muslim brothers and sisters continue to be killed.
This can promote radicalism and extremism amongst these young people if they are influenced into the wrong groups.
I think the UN has the responsibility to try and pursue investigation of possible war crimes which may have been committed to the Palestinian people during this period.
We may never know exactly what really happened during the three week conflict-it will take years to build the Gaza strip from the rubble and destruction.
The media must also take responsibility to be as truthful and factual as possible -government spokesman from Hamas and Israelis have their own propaganda and will pursue their version of events.
During the three week attack on the Gaza strip, Western journalists were not allowed into Gaza by the Israelis. Israeli's official reasons: it was too dangerous for foreign Western journalists to enter Gaza and Israelis were concerned that if foreign journalists were in Gaza, they won't be able to have an objective view on what was happening since Hamas militants may threaten people to report to the journalists in Pro-Hamas favour.
Pictures and reports of the conflict were coming through by Arab journalists and aid workers who were already in Gaza at the time of the conflict.
A picture can say a thousand words...however if it isn't shown in the right context-the message can be misconstrued and thus misleading the rest of the World.
The Arab channels such as Al-Jazeera were more graphic in their reporting of the devastation compared to Western channels such as the BBC. Does this mean the Arab channels like Al Jazeera was portraying a truer and honest picture compared to the Western channels? I'm not sure whether my opinion of the conflict would change if I saw more gore on the television. I think just seeing the faces of people who had lost their loved ones and home had made me feel very sad of the innocent lives who are caught in this conflict.
The way the conflict is portrayed will affect its audience. Young Muslims watching the devastation may form a feeling of hate and despise towards the Israelis as fellow Muslim brothers and sisters continue to be killed.
This can promote radicalism and extremism amongst these young people if they are influenced into the wrong groups.
I think the UN has the responsibility to try and pursue investigation of possible war crimes which may have been committed to the Palestinian people during this period.
We may never know exactly what really happened during the three week conflict-it will take years to build the Gaza strip from the rubble and destruction.
The media must also take responsibility to be as truthful and factual as possible -government spokesman from Hamas and Israelis have their own propaganda and will pursue their version of events.
As per John Pilger's quote : "It is not enough for journalists to see themselves as mere messengers without understanding the hidden agenda of the message and myths that surrounds it"
As Gaza tries to rebuild itself there is a huge humanitarian crisis in the city. BBC's refusal not to broadcast the DEC appeal is disappointing- there is no question that what occurred to the Palestinian people is truly devastating.They need our help-the innocent Palestinian people didn't ask for their homes to be bombed.
It is not a matter of choosing sides i.e.pro Israelis or pro Palestinians but it is about reporting a humanitarian crisis. I wonder if there were more people being killed in Israel would the BBC act any differently?
As Gaza tries to rebuild itself there is a huge humanitarian crisis in the city. BBC's refusal not to broadcast the DEC appeal is disappointing- there is no question that what occurred to the Palestinian people is truly devastating.They need our help-the innocent Palestinian people didn't ask for their homes to be bombed.
It is not a matter of choosing sides i.e.pro Israelis or pro Palestinians but it is about reporting a humanitarian crisis. I wonder if there were more people being killed in Israel would the BBC act any differently?
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