CNN Controversies 3

On Jan 5th CNN criticized Arab media for airing images of injured Palestinians along with emotional music. It says that it is a one sided way of sending a story. CNN mentions that they are neutral since they bring the damage done on both sides – Israel and Palestine. Yes, it is crucial to bring both sides of a story, but CNN should not air Gaza's damage on the same level as Israeli loss. It is the role of the media to show the lives of those facing the biggest dangers – which are in this case the Palestinians. Priorities must not be switched.

On Jan 7th, the top news was Israel's attack on a school run by UN. Israel claims that there were Hamas fighters hidden inside the school which was the reason for their attack. However, an UN official stated that he is 99.9% sure Hamas was not inside. He continued by saying to bring forward any fact to proof the 0.1%. CNN then aired a video sent by Israel which it claims show Hamas shooting rockets – an image that was not taken on Jan 7th. CNN mentions it is not a Jan 7th video – so the simple question is "why air it?"

Picture of UN school under attack

Medicine for the Society: Robert Fisk

Robert Fisk is the journalist for the Middle East section of The Independent. He's articles are what this current ignorant society needs. When crisis such as in Gaza occurs, and our governments and world leaders as always fails to reach our expectations, the people in the society needs to know what is REALLY going on. Especially issues concerning Palestine, where the war has been going on for the past 60 years, concrete facts are hard to find.

Robert Fisk's articles guide the readers to reach the correct decision and educate the society so people would not fall into the clever trap of the current wrong leaders. Clarity of reality will open people's eyes and this will help them to form correct opinions. It would become their compass for taking the right action – Correct Decision, Correct Action; and this is what our society needs.

Robert Fisk was born in 12 July 1946 (1946-07-12) (age 62) Maidstone, Kent, England

(155words)

Crisis in the Middle East: Media Coverage of Israel's Attack on Gaza

From the 26th of Dec. until today, the news hitting the head lines in every channel around the world is Israel's attack on Gaza. This news has become one of the most effective ways to compare news coverage among major news stations.

CNN for instance, reported the casualties and events with a tone very different from that of Al-Jazeera and BBC. Big part of its news talks about the objectives of Israel and the harm its people are in. It repeatedly brings Israeli officials explaining the situation with news anchor listening without retaliation. While mentioning that 620 Palestinians were killed, there is tone of hidden agenda, giving the impression that Hamas is the cause of war.

CNN also has a very different point of view of on what the world calls Gaza's situation as "occupation." While major channels such as Al-Jazeera and BBC air their news on the basis that Gaza is occupied by Israel, CNN indirectly shows a tone that they do not agree. (Further elaborated on "CNN controversies")

The reason to why many claim that Gaza is still under Israeli occupation is due to Israel's control of water, gas, electricity, food, medical supplies as well as the borders surrounding Gaza. Furthermore, any entering or exiting of Gaza is checked by Israeli officials. Reasons are enough to proof that Israel still continues to siege Gaza, a fact CNN fails to mention.

CNN Controversies

CNN mentions in their reports that:
…The ground push has resulted in mounting casualties on both sides, and the Israeli military on Sunday continued its air assault on the Palestinian territory…<http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/04/israel.gaza/index.html >
CNN writes mounting casualties on both sides when at the time 1 Israeli soldier died compared to the deaths of 507 Palestinians.(Jan. 4th 2009)

…Mustafa Barghouti, a Palestinian parliament member, flatly blamed the violence on the Israeli "occupation" of the Palestinian territories and dismissed Israeli claims that it is targeting only Hamas… <http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/29/gaza.israel.strikes/index.html>
The above article was aired on 29th of December 2008. CNN puts occupation between quotations, which reflects their opinion that Gaza is not occupied by Israel. News anchors in CNN do not mention that Israel occupies Gaza which shows that CNN airs on the basis that Gaza is independent.

Al-Jazeera Media Coverage

Al-Jazeera is commonly criticized for its ways of covering Arab events. For instance, the Arabic Al-Jazeera uses the term "Shahid" for those who died in Palestine –Arabic term for martyr. It is inevitable that sometimes Al-Jazeera's coverage show too much sarcasm towards Israel which leads to a slight loss of neutrality. Furthermore, their wordings during news and interviews clearly show the side they stand. Nevertheless, it is the most watched news channel, and has so far the best coverage of Gaza war. It is one of the few which has a correspondent located inside Gaza.

Another positive factor of Al-Jazeera is that its new anchors reflect the opinions of its viewers. Many of it anchors asks questions the general public wants to ask which is one of the major reasons for its popularity.
The following is an interesting interview on Al-Jazeera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhLw5atT7dg

Every media channel has its own agenda for the way it airs its news. What is expected of us is to always have an objective point of view for every matter. One must never forget the power of media – it can change a person's opinion for good or for worse.

Gaza Attack

Above is a latest map explaining the movement of Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
The Israeli army says it has hit 40 targets, including several tunnels and the homes of a number of Hamas officials. Hospitals say they are overwhelmed by casualties, mostly civilians including women and children. (BBC)




Gaza is currently living without electricity. The blaze from Israeli raid shows clearly in the pitch black city.

















Gaza is suffering from extreme lack of medical supply. If situation continues this way, there is a very high possibility of humanitarian catastrophe.
The baby is taken to the hospital, but there is absolutely no guarantee that she will receive proper treatment.

Palestinian medical officials say at least 90 people, including many civilians and 26 children, have died since Israel's ground assault began.