Linguistic Biases in News Media Reporting Within a Transnational Context

Transcription

1 From the SelectedWorks of D'Andre D. Lampkin Spring June, 2016 Linguistic Biases in News Media Reporting Within a Transnational Context D'Andre D Lampkin, National University This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC_BY-NC-ND International License. Available at:

2 Running Head: News Media Reporting Transnational Context 1 Linguistic Biases in News Media Reporting Within a Transnational Context D Andre Lampkin National University

3 News Media Reporting Transnational Context 2 Abstract The purpose of this research project is to compare and contrast the way in which American media reports national incidents and events occurring in other parts of the world. This paper also endeavors to expose readers to how we define major news and apply exceptions to protect national interest and shape how the United States is perceived around the world. Also included is an examination of highly publicized, or Breaking News stories, and how they have had an impact on modern democracy.

4 News Media Reporting Transnational Context 3 Linguistic Biases in News Media Reporting Within a Transnational Context The way in which the media reports national news various from state to state, region to region, and, sometimes, city to city. A lot of discretion is given to American media when deciding which stories will make the final cut on television or print. How they choose each story often is associated with how the media source wants to be perceived by its viewers and readers. Much debate has been had about the purpose of news media in modern day democracy and how our source for news influences our own political views. In fact, it had been proven that our source for news tends to be in alignment with our own beliefs. But do news media sources also account for how our nation is perceived when compared to incidents occurring abroad? Do they knowingly skew headlines in an effort to protect the image or American society? According to Walma van der Molen, Founder and Director of the Research Center for Science Education and Talent Development (SETD) at the University of Twente, violence and world events are the most covered events in local news. In recent years, incidents such as the Oklahoma City bombing, September 11th, civil war in Syria, reports of ethnic cleansing in South Sudan, school shootings, and terrorism in the Middle East appear to be an everyday occurrence in local news. American society easily identifies with most of these incidents in various ways. Either we are directly affected because we have friends or family who were victims of the tragedy or we

5 News Media Reporting Transnational Context 4 see conditions on television that are similar to what we see at home. But the way in which the media reports local incidents is significantly different. Take for example, recent reports of gang violence in Chicago. Research conducted by ABC News reporter Ma ayan Rosenzweig for a piece titled Hidden America: Don t Shoot I Want to Grow Up revealed 419 citizens have been murdered by gangs in The murder rate in Chicago is 2.5 times higher than the murder rate in Los Angeles and near four times higher than that of New York City. These statistics are current as of October 18, During the week of November 15, 2015, a 7 year old named Tyshawn Lee was shot and killed by unknown gang members. According to authorities, Tyshawn was lured into an alleyway and executed because of his fathers alleged ties to a rival gang. The murder of Tyshawn sparked an explosion of violence in the streets of Chicago. His murder followed what was said to be Chicago s second worst violent weekend of 2015 where eight people were killed and 45 were wounded. Perplexing is how the murders are reported when compared to similar violence in other parts of the world. Gang violence is often sparked by disputes over territory. While gang activity is considered criminal activity not associated with political ideology, it is still includes hostility towards another group whose objective is to achieve common goals. Gangs normally share a common name and common identity. It is even apparent in our jail and prison system that segregation is a key component of gang affiliation. In other countries where group violence is

6 News Media Reporting Transnational Context 5 inspired by difference in ideology or territory, the media refers to it as sectarian violence. Sectarian violence is often identified as communal violence that is inspired by difference in ideology and dispute over territory within a nation or community. The definitions are very similar, but the media refrains from suggesting sectarian violence exist in America. Bias has become increasingly apparent in the way we report school and workplace shootings in the United States of America. Richard Turner and Ester Pan, writers of Newsweek, summarize how national media outlets cover school and workplace shootings by noting the following: "They reward us by watching," laments Fox News vice president John Moody, "then complain about what they see." And, media types say, they are ever-vigilant about practicing restraint. CNN says it made sure not to show the children's faces as they left the building hand in hand last week. The Chicago Sun-Times played the Columbine shootings inside the paper the next day, saying it wanted to protect young children and prevent copycat crimes. Since September 11th, national news media outlets try to rule out terrorism as early as possible when initially reporting school or workplace shootings within the nation s borders. They work quickly to reassure citizens, and foreigners, that everything is under control in our territory. In the initial reporting phase of the broadcast, the media outlets automatically discuss the prospects of the violence being committed by a disgruntled employee or someone who is mentally ill. Once

7 News Media Reporting Transnational Context 6 it is found that the perpetrated is of American descent, there is a reluctance to discuss whether the perpetrator s actions were the result of radicalized ideology or on behalf of a foreign power. When news media outlets are reporting about similar incidents abroad, it is almost like the news anchors want to demonstrate their knowledge of the region in an effort to add credibility to their reporting. On March 19, 2012, Mohammad Merad was found to have shot and killed a Rabbi, the Rabbi s children, and a Jewish student. Police believed Merad had also killed three paratroopers. Although Merah said he was a member of Al Qaeda who was seeking revenge for the killing of innocent Palestinians, Al Qaeda never claimed responsibility for the attack. Most media outlets tended to side with the idea that Merah was in fact an Al Qaeda operative, although Al Qaeda never took responsibility for the attack. News cycles covering the story paired it with discussion about Muslim radicalization in the region and steps that should be taken to slow the growth and influence of Al Qaeda. Meanwhile, five months later, Wade Michael Page opened fire on a Sikh temple resulting in the death of six worshipers and wounding three. A subsequent investigation by police revealed Page was a neo-nazi who served in the United States Army from 1992 to There were no discussions about neo-nazi radicalization, infiltration or the countries armies by extremist groups, or the resurgence of the neo-nazi party. Perhaps it is to give the appearance that the United States doesn t have a sectarian problem.

8 News Media Reporting Transnational Context 7 Today we are watching a migrant crises unfold in Europe. Media outlets report that as thousands flee Syria, many European nations are being forced to make preparations to house and track incoming migrants. According to the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees, something like 4.2 million UN registered refugees have left Syria to escape the violent civil war taking place in their country. The President, Barack Obama, is encouraging United States leadership to support migration efforts by allowing fear stricken Syrian refugees to migrate to the United States. Immigration of Syrians is almost described in a frantic way as news media outlets focus on Syria at the top of the international news segments. The media outlets even strike a sympathetic cord, appealing to the hearts of American s by sharing stories about the hardships of migrating over water. Meanwhile, to the south of the United States, Mexican and Central American immigrants are also trying to enter the U.S. territory to escape persecution by drug cartels. The way we discuss the issue is by calling it illegal immigration, a term that has been sullied over the years. The term Refugee seems to only be reserved to people migrating to countries other than ours. There are several limitations to insuring all news media outlets report news in a manner that is consistent. However, the fact the media reports the same types of stories locally that are occurring abroad in a different context underscores the need for an examination of the language they use when reporting events. Doing so will enhance our ability to compare and analyze our situations to what is occurring in other countries in an introspective way.

9 News Media Reporting Transnational Context 8 References Blecha, Erin, Behm-Morawitz, Elizabeth, Tukachinsky, Riva, & Mastro, Dana. (2014). News coverage of immigration: The influence of exposure to linguistic bias in the news on consumer's racial/ethnic cognitions. Communication Quarterly, 62(2), 135. Chicago Tribue Staff (September 21, 2015). What We Know About Murder of 9-Year-Old Chicago Boy Killed in Alleged Gang-Related Violence. ABC News. Retrieved from: story.html Tan, A (November 6, 2015). What We Know About Murder of 9-Year-Old Chicago Boy Killed in Alleged Gang-Related Violence. ABC News. Retrieved from: Turner, R. & Pan, E., All Carnage, All The Time: The media say they're just doing their job: The shootings are news, and people want to watch. So why is the public so mad at the messengers? (1999). Newsweek, 134(9), 45. Van der Molen, Juliette H. Walma. (2004). Violence and suffering in television news: Toward a broader conception of harmful television content for children. (Special Articles). Pediatrics, 113(6), 1771.