This action has failed to make the National headlines, the lack of news action serves to show that the sensationalization of the former can be seen indeed as propaganda targeting Muslims.

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Cranbrook RCMP had issued a warrant for the arrest of Cheyene Learn, 48, after Tammy Lee Ellis was found dead in a home in the 1500-block of 5th Street North at 11:26 p.m. Monday.

When police arrived, they found the dead woman and two witnesses.

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Violence against women is just that

[ 19 December 2007: Message edited by: remind ]

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Originally posted by unionist:
But I think, in fairness, that any story of "parent murders child" would make national headlines, so I'm not sure anything can be proved by the Cranbrook story.

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The man's motive was unusual enough for it to be news in and of itself. The fact that it is relevant to ongoing social tension caused it to generated wider interest, which drove the news media to give it even greater focus.

[ 19 December 2007: Message edited by: Proaxiom ]

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Originally posted by Proaxiom:
It has been used as fodder for propaganda, but what I'm questioning is mainstream media complicity.

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I agree that it's not as clearcut as all that - but what would you call this if not "mainstream media complicity":

Dad charged after daughter killed in clash over hijab

This was the morning after she died, and the hijab aspect was based on nothing resembling "evidence", not even a statement by police.

Actually, the international media have been even worse in this regard. A Google News search discloses far more foreign media highlighting the "hijab" angle than Canadian ones. But it was the Canadian media that started the frenzy.

For all we know right now, her father may have found out that she was pregnant, or using drugs and alcohol, or dating another girl... Girls suffer far more than boys from the strictures laid down by society for "correct" behaviour, which on occasion tragically leads to violence and even death. The greatest crime in the media coverage IMO is not that it targets Islam, but rather that it covers up this underlying social evil which afflicts all women.

[ 19 December 2007: Message edited by: unionist ]

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Originally posted by unionist:
The greatest crime in the media coverage IMO is not that it targets Islam, but rather that it covers up this underlying social evil which afflicts all women.

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I wonder about journalistic ethics sometimes. I don't understand it that well. I certainly have no idea what is taught at journalism school.

They have to attract readers and sell newspapers. At the same time they have a responsibility to be balanced and accurate. To be honest I don't really know what 'balanced and accurate' means.

When media cover topics that I have a good knowledge of (usually science and technology) it is neither balanced nor accurate.

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Originally posted by Proaxiom:
Is there some kind of universal test you can apply to a headline to tell whether the paper is being fair and/or ethical?

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One test that often works is just to check the name of the newspaper.

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Originally posted by Proaxiom:
I see the point.

I wonder about journalistic ethics sometimes. I don't understand it that well. I certainly have no idea what is taught at journalism school.

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As a journalist that went to j-school...

From Journalism 101 -- what makes something newsworthy

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Is it close: The most important consideration is whether the story is of interest to your local readership.

Is it timely: Something that happens today is more newsworthy than follow-up on yesterday's news

Is it "important": A subjective quality, to be sure.

Is someone famous or well known involved: Thus, the obsession with celebrity reporting (and, as a sometimes sports reporter, it pains me to say, sports reporting). If your next door neighbour is arrested for DWI, it's not likely to find itself in the newspaper. If the mayor is...

Is there drama or conflict: Which can lead to the over simplifying of some stories. It's hard to talk about the gray when you only have 500 words. So, black and white it is.

Is it out of the ordinary: As it relates to this forum, sadly, it isn't unusual for a woman to be killed by her partner.The story in question was out of the ordinary.

Human Interest: Disabled child saves kitten from fire; community to hold bake sale to pay for vet bills

Humour: life's absurdities.

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