Roman
11-10-05, 06:36 AM
I read, in an albeit biased source, that there's a deliberate decision amongst the media to abstain from using 'Muslim' to characterize the French rioters.
Is there a Muslim revolt taking place in France? The New York Times has taken pains to report that this isn’t necessarily the case: “Youths in the neighborhoods say second-generation Portuguese immigrants and even some children of native French have taken part,” one article says. On the other hand, other reports by other news organizations focus on Christian churches being set to the torch, and of gangs of youth bellowing “God is Great,” as they hurl rocks at the police and set automobiles alight. Rioters, a few days into the growing disturbances in France, were quoted as demanding French authorities withdraw from “occupied territories” — heavily Muslim enclaves in the Paris suburbs.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=72904&d=9&m=11&y=2005
A well known phenomena is that of 'framing', where people feel a particular way about an issue depending on how they're told of it.
A news piece about a new law when told from the perspective of increased taxes reults in a negative reaction (no to the law). When the same story is told but stressed is the people it will help, there's a positive reaction (yes to the law).
The more credible the framer, the more likely one will conform to a particular frame. ie, Jerry Springer vs. Colin Powell, Powell carrying more credibility and thus more likely to convince audiences simply by framing.
Is there a Muslim revolt taking place in France? The New York Times has taken pains to report that this isn’t necessarily the case: “Youths in the neighborhoods say second-generation Portuguese immigrants and even some children of native French have taken part,” one article says. On the other hand, other reports by other news organizations focus on Christian churches being set to the torch, and of gangs of youth bellowing “God is Great,” as they hurl rocks at the police and set automobiles alight. Rioters, a few days into the growing disturbances in France, were quoted as demanding French authorities withdraw from “occupied territories” — heavily Muslim enclaves in the Paris suburbs.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=72904&d=9&m=11&y=2005
A well known phenomena is that of 'framing', where people feel a particular way about an issue depending on how they're told of it.
A news piece about a new law when told from the perspective of increased taxes reults in a negative reaction (no to the law). When the same story is told but stressed is the people it will help, there's a positive reaction (yes to the law).
The more credible the framer, the more likely one will conform to a particular frame. ie, Jerry Springer vs. Colin Powell, Powell carrying more credibility and thus more likely to convince audiences simply by framing.