Two of the biggest news outlets that are out there right now are CNN and Fox News. When you are reading your daily news, you would expect to read a very similar article about a story on both websites. However, both seem to have a different way of reporting some stories. This might not be the best example of it, but this is a very recent event that I was reading about so it is a bit more relevant. If you have read the news today, you might have heard Israel test fired a missile this morning in the Mediterranean. If you have not read the news today, then you can catch up on it now.
Here is the article from CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/03/world/meast/mediterranean-missile/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
First thing I'd like to point out is the headline. 'Israel: Missile test-fired in the Mediterranean'. Now, no where in the headline does it mention that it was a joint venture with the United States. If you read the article though it mentions that it was in the first couple lines. Headlines are important though. A headline is there to interest the reader, and can set the tone for the article. A headline can be misleading, or sometimes not even completely accurate. In this case, it omitted that the U.S. was part of the missile firing. Instead of me explaining it, and to try and boost communication with readers, why do you think this is? Do you think it just happened like that? Or do you think that CNN did it for a reason? I'd like to know what you think.
Next, let us take a look at the article itself. The article seems to put a lot of emphasis that the U.S. was not involved in this missile test.
Here is the article from Fox News about the same news.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/09/03/russia-foreign-ministry-claims-two-ballistic-objects-fired-in-eastern/
This headline reads 'Israel says it carried out joint missile test with US in Mediterranean'. This headline includes the part about the U.S. being involved. I'll ask the same question here. Why did Fox News choose to include it, but CNN did not? This article seems to stress more U.S. involvement in the missile launch then CNN's article. Then it goes on to talk about the rocky U.S. and Russian relations. The CNN article did not mention this at all.
These articles both do the job of reporting the news, but is it without bias? Why do they choose to report the way they do? It is hinted and I am sure there is statistical data that Fox News' viewer base tends to be more conservative than the CNN viewer base. Is that why we see a difference in reporting? I'd like to think that is a possible explanation. With all the tensions brewing in Syria, there will surely be a lot more stuff to blog about as we draw closer to more conflict.
Hi Brandon,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great comparison of how such subtle differences can have such a great impact on the nature of an article. The simple omission of US involvement is crucial. Without the US mentioned, the impression would be given that Israel is protecting its own interests without consultation from the US; this would in turn signify a rift in US-Israeli relations. Including the US in the headline appeals to FOX's conservative base because it shows the strong Judeo-Christian bond between the two states and how the US will go to any length to protect Israel. One gives the impression that the US is loosing its grip in the region (whatever grip may have been there in the first place) while the other gives the impression that the US is actually as involved as ever in the region. Again, great comparison! I hope you will continue to post them.