The media in this country never ceases to disappoint. Media outlets all over the world make mistakes and lack in their coverage at one point or another, but I wanted to throw a few things at my TV after watching CNN's coverage of the bombing in Jerusalem this morning. And to be fair to CNN, I didn't get a chance to check out how other American media outlets covered the bombing, but I'm sure they didn't veer off too far from CNN's coverage.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing, but Isha Sesay, one of CNN's genius anchors, started off the news hour with, "We begin with a gruesome explosion in Jerusalem." Gruesome huh? How come there was no "breaking news" graphic when eight Palestinians were killed in Gaza yesterday? Palestinian children were killed by Israeli air raids, but I guess that's not gruesome enough for some media outlets. The death of innocent Palestinians is not considered breaking news. These "news" outlets always seem to pick up the story half way through and never from the beginning (when Palestinians are getting killed by Israelis); it's only when an Israeli gets killed or injured that breaking coverage begins.
The era of responsible journalism is long dead; I know that, but tell us the ENTIRE story. There is always a beginning, middle, and an end. Tell us about the Israeli blockade on Gaza that has crippled the Gazan economy and has made living conditions there unbearable for its 1.5 million citizens. The UN described the situation there as "grim", "deteriorating" and a "medieval siege."
Then CNN had the mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, on the phone to discuss the bombing. Barkat began by telling us how "innocent people were hurt" and how they will find the "coward person" who committed this act. Yes, innocent people were hurt and that's always wrong and unfortunate, but "innocence" isn't exclusive to Israelis. And the Israeli military commits acts of cowardice on a daily basis when it drops bombs on defenseless Palestinian civilians.
Carol Costello, with a really sad looking face like she's about to cry, told us about two Israeli pregnant women who went into labor after the explosion. Again, this is unfortunate and no one should have to live through the fear of being blown up into a thousand different pieces, whether it is on a bus or via an Israeli air raid, but there have been countless pregnant Palestinian women who have had to deliver their babies on Israeli checkpoints due to arbitrary restrictions on movement. Not to mention the deaths of Palestinian babies on these checkpoints due to complications and the lack of medical supplies.
Yes, I write this from a Palestinian perspective, but it doesn't mean that I am insensitive to the loss of innocent life on the other side. Yes, I am angry about the Israeli occupation and treatment of Palestinians, but it doesn't mean that I agree with or support bombing a bus full of innocent people. Neither do the majority of Palestinians. But at the same time, I cannot stand how some media organizations in this country jam Israeli propaganda down the throats of their viewers and readers. The Pro-Israeli slant in the media here makes me cringe with disgust. And I KNOW I' m not the only informed viewer who does an eye-roll when it comes to American TV stations' coverage of the region.
The American media's coverage of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the conflict that ensues because of this occupation really infuriates me to say the least. Tell me both sides of the story. Provide me with context. Present me with the facts and explain to me the WHY! Overlooking such basic elements of journalism places a good deal of responsibility on mainstream American media outlets with regard to perpetuating public ignorance about the Middle East.