Should the media treat the disasters in both former colonies equally? (America and India)?

Question

New Orleans - 180,000 evacuated.

India - 1,200,000 homeless

BBC coverage on american hurricane extensive.

BBC coverage on flooding in India minimal.

But aren't there more people from India living here in Britain than Americans.

Shouldn't the two stories receive , at least equal coverage.

(and does it make you wonder what news stories get left out completely?)

Answer 1

Its the "them and us" attitude.

As far as newspapers and the rest of the media are concerned, 10 white faces in distress equals 1000 dark faces.

The media and the viewer's interests as well is biased. You might call it racism, or just the tribalistic nature of humanity. We have a concept of "us" and those that fall outside of it generate less interest.

I'm not saying its right. Of course its not. But that is how the world work's I'm afraid.

It also works both ways. Muslim Arabs are more interested in the affairs of other Muslim Arabs, Chinese have more interest in fellow Asian peoples, etc.

Answer 2

there should be a way to 'bump' questions like this up and get more people to see this, i put a question on here earlier (please could you answer it) about this very same thing, i hadnt seen yours until now, but i made the point that im fed up of hearing about the richest country in the world bussing out their citizens, which is an easy job for them, but most 3rd world countries and warzones dont get a mention, im fed up with it

Answer 3

I hate to point out what my mass communication teacher chanted at our very first class - 'All news is business'.

She kept trying to drill it in our head that it was nothing but a business. True, we may try and believe that newspapers and TV channels are reporting out of the goodness of their heart and with a sense of duty - but in reality it's all about the money. It's a business.

BBC doing exclusive coverage on India will attract mainly Indians (me) and a few otherwise concerned people.

BBC doing an exclusive coverage on any American disaster - more viewers- Americans - Britishers and a few Indians.

There may be more people living in India - but most of them prefer Indian news channels because to be honest CNN and BBC barely devote any 'attention' to India. Indians as such watch CNN and BBC for any global calamity.

It's the same here.

Apart from any natural disaster, Indian media houses barely focus on non-Indian news. Say the Georgia crisis - mentioned in passing and in newspapers here but not given the 'HEADLINES PANIC' alert here. It's more like - 'Ah - some crisis but we really won't go into details'. Very few Indian news channels truly do give global news. Newspapers of course do go into more details.

Hence the preference for the good ole newspaper.

Which in reality is just as bad a business as TV channels are.

As to the other comment about Indians being 'almost permanently in some crisis or other'... Well, as an Indian I take insult to that. For a post-colonial country, India has come pretty far and the entire population is not starving and living in some sort of sludge as news channels will have you believe.

Should the media treat the disasters in both former colonies equally (America and India)?

Well - they *should*. But they can't. And won't. It's bad business.

Hence the national news channels devoted to each country.

As to what news stories get left out completely?

If the story doesn't 'sell' - it doesn't run. A lot of things also get left out depending upon which government or political party the news channel or newspaper supports. There are few unbiased media houses and they are always pressurized to support some political party or the other. The editor - the person in charge - he/she decides what you should see or read.

For news - mostly real news - turn to either Reuters or Associated Press.

Which is why also 'Citizen Journalism' is getting so popular. News by the people for the people, eh?

:)

Answer 4

Not equally no, India seems the much more important issue.

Answer 5

I guess if you're in the west/America you have more value!

Answer 6

well the 'media' are not one big group all reporting the same stories. different papers cater for different audiences for example the sun reports about paedophiles becuase they know it is sensationalist and sells papers, the indy reports in depth analysis, the nation reports stories which are relevant to the black community etc ... so as you move across the media you will see different stories and different editorials - papers after all are businesses

i dont really think it is fair to comment on numbers - which parts of india are you talking about, lots of india is extremely poor and overpopulated so they are almost permanently in some crisis or other, but i suppose you have a point to a degree that europeans feel a greater affiliation to americans than indians - they are part of our gang