The Media's Biased Coverage of Gemayel's Assiassination

I can’t help but notice the sheer bias in CNN’s, as well as other news agencies’ reporting, on the recent assassination in Lebanon. First of all let me clarify that I’m not here to lay blame, or defend a certain party, country, or coalition for that matter. What I have noticed though, is the quick condemnation of the assassination, and the even quicker accusation of Syria’s involvement.

I was surprised to see headline titles on CNN saying “Anti-Syrian Lebanese minister assassinated.” The newscasters always mentioned “anti-Syrian” next to “assassination” in a clear attempt to get the viewers to connect the assassination to Syria. There are many ways the minister could be described other than “anti-Syrian” unless you purposely want that characteristic to stick in peoples minds. As a matter of fact, I learned that Gemayel was an anti-Syrian, before learning that he was the Industry Minister!

In an interview with Rime Allaf on the day of the assassination, CNN’s anchor was not satisfied with Rime’s comment that “it’s too early to start pointing fingers”. In her relentless attempt at condemning Syria, the anchor presented all kinds of arguments all of which lacking depth, and for that matter, fact. It’s as if the anchor was instructed to accuse Syria no matter how logical Rime’s counter argument was. Rime, by the way, is a harsh critic of the Syrian regime, and in my mind, will never go out of her to defend Syria if she didn’t truly believe that it was genuinely too early to tell who to blame. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for other critics of the Syrian regime.

The ignorant, plain biased coverage, reminded me of the days when CNN repeated the “facts” pointing to Iraq’s involvement in the 9/11 attacks, and the obvious, and quire eminent threat that Saddam’s “stockpiles of WMD’s” presented. Weapons that were ready to be used any minute against innocent American civilians. Of course, no weapons were ever found, and the only civilians dying are innocent Iraqis, as a direct consequence of an illegal American occupation.

I honestly feel as if the major networks don’t even care about their journalistic credibility anymore. Anchors ask carefully worded questions, such that their answers fit the pre-determined notion they initially wanted to hear. The way the recent assassination has been covered is a perfect proof of that.

technorati tags: media, bias, coverage, assassination, lebanon, syria, politics, gemayel, cnn