Language choices by the press
07:00, 3 June 2009
.. Posted in Communication, Outreach and General Mngmt.. Link
In an AP story about a man who shot two people in Arkansas, whose motive was his religious beliefs, there is mention of his religion (Islam) and the story uses the words terrorist and terrorism.
In another AP story, this one about a man who shot a doctor attending church in Kansas just a few days before, the motive was also the shooter's religious beliefs, but that religion (Christianity) is never mentioned, nor are the words terrorist and terrorism.
So, Associated Press -- what's up with that? Why such specific language choices for one story but not another? The stories have oh-so--much in common: a male religious extremist, in the name of his deity, publicly executes someone whose practices are, he believes, so grievous that they warrant religiously-sanctioned murder. He believes that this violent act will garner him a place in heaven. He believes his violent act is righteous. I could be (and am) describing either shooter. But the media -- and not just the AP -- has chosen to describe the shooters and their motivations in strikingly different terms.
The words we use to describe situations often says a lot about our beliefs and prejudices. Each media outlet needs to put their reports on these two stories side-by-side and do some in-depth reflection on the very different words they have used to describe the subjects.
