Facebook comments:
Media only covers news that sells more copies. Poor people who are victims will not buy publications, so therefore they don’t make it to the news.
From Mr Syed Shams
UAE
When non-Muslims die — every one cares but when Muslims die — the whole world ignores...
From Ms Zahra Khan
Dubai
Sadly speaking, African lives and the lives of the third or fourth world are considered of less value and very different from that of a Western life.
From Mr Shahrukh Feroz
Sharjah
Media is definitely biased, there is no doubt about that. What is happening around us, is not worth any attention from the media nor is it worth any programmes or campaigns. When the school children of Peshawar school were killed brutally, no one cared to come to show any sort of humanity or solidarity. However, when 12 people are killed in France — the whole world, including media and various world leaders united against terrorism. It is such a shame. Although killing isn’t acceptable anywhere, this includes these so-called modern liberal Western nations with double standards, which are leading the world into a dark tunnel. It is indeed a shame for humanity.
From Mr Zulkarnain Khoso
UAE
Countries like France are considered more powerful in all manner — so crimes against them, obviously gets more coverage. Each life is equally important and God is here for justice.
From Ms Smita Ojha
UAE
The loss of innocent lives can no longer be ignored. It is just sad that some incidents attract more media coverage than others. In terms of the number of people dead and the damages incurred, the massacre in Nigeria should have been dealt with more seriousness - since more lives, including those of women and children were involved. But because these people were mere civilians, the media is not even sure about the exact number of those killed. On the other hand, the attack in France was highlighted since those killed were media personnel and at the center of a religious controversy. It is extremely sad that media coverage depends upon the stature and political standing of a country than the lives of those lost.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
If a poor person is killed, he or she will receive no justice but if a rich or a famous person is killed — the whole world stands up to voice their opinion on it.
From Mr Nahar Juhuri
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Closed minds and ignorance are what make the news nowadays while real human pain is ignored.
From Ms Giannina Hassoune
Casablanca, Morocco
Some Western media houses are very biased and it was evident in how they supported the 19 dead people by giving them huge coverage all day long and constantly trying to prove that the West is united against terrorism. On the other hand, thousands of Muslims were murdered as a result of terrorism but not a single news were published by these news channels.
From Mr Uzi Z. Khan
Dubai
The Nigerian massacre was very far away from the Paris attacks and this may be due to racism. This is an attitude that could be changed with the help of media...
From Mr Ragavan Krishnamachary
UAE
The leaders of France and those of Nigeria simply value their people differently. The media and the world perceive those with better value in a better light.
From Mr Lakshmi Sunil
UAE
Who is stopping the Nigerians to also go out in the streets and show their unity against terrorism? I’m sorry and by far not racist or something like that, but it makes me tired to feel guilty about the good we are doing while others can’t do the same.
From Mr Jonny Blue
Abu Dhabi
They kill Muslims in the name of terrorism and that is simply not news... When they insulted our Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] and our religion, it did also not make it to the news. However, when Muslims react — the entire world, including the media gets involved.
From Ms Emran Emy
Abu Dhabi
It’s the media who should be held responsible for media bias. People go to Africa mainly to experience adventure and rarely for a humanitarian cause.
From Mr Mohammed Saqib
Dubai
Media bias depends on the country. France is one of the strongest countries in the world while Nigeria is simply a third world country...
From Mr Khurram Khan
Dubai
Speaking as a Westerner, obviously we are more family with France. At least we can relate to their history, which is hard to do with Nigeria, which is a country very different in culture, history, and government. We at least feel like with France, we can understand what they are going through, and feel like we can help. But when there is a tragedy in some place like Nigeria, we feel sad, but more confused on what can be done since we don’t understand the country as much. The West also has a history of making bad problems become even worse when they try to help. So it just leaves us unsure of how to help.
From Mr Chris Reid
UAE
Voxpops:
No matter how advanced our societies have become, bias will always exist and especially when it comes to news. Nowadays, it has come down to whatever news brings the most attention in terms of likes, shares, retweets or reposts - and if it doesn’t achieve that, then it is of no use to cover. The African massacre was not considered newsworthy because it happens on a “daily basis” as opposed to extremists attacking the West, which will definitely bring more clicks. It is a sad but a true reality.
From Mr Hamad Al Marzouqi
Dubai
The African massacre was ignored because the African civilisation have failed to highlight their valuables and comparing them with the West is not accurate because they are still far away from that. It is every nation’s responsibility to set policies for the media to follow. If a government succeeds in governing their country, then the media will succeed in delivering fair coverage. It is time for Africa to go through a radical change... without maligning their own people.
From Ms Sudha Kathuria
Dubai
Media is a communication channel through which many societies express themselves. However media bias has a preference that is observed very frequently while approaching news and information pertaining to various fields and subjects. Some lives are considered more valuable than others as people who have more social influence are often given more preference in the news. While media bias may be for the benefit of the audience, however, it is most often baseless as it varies from person to person. Thus, any issue or massacre is hard to judge because of the variably diverse perception of identities.
From Ms Sruthi R.
Dubai
Media bias refers to the allegedly objective journalists in print and media who intentionally - and sometimes unintentionally - report or cover stories, which may be a favour to democrats and liberals, and a disadvantage to republicans and conservatives. It is important for governments to stand up for their own and that is why the Paris attack gained more coverage, simply because their government is more effective then that of Nigeria.
From Mr Lodhi Azmatullah
Dubai
- Compiled by Donia Jenabzadeh/Community Web Editor
