Reporting for Ratings

            

           Working off of the last post, I have decided to compare news coverage of current events surrounding conflict. I will be looking at news media sources that have a variety of the perceived agendas and will review how those agendas vary on the coverage of the story at hand. The three particular news agencies’ I’ll be looking at are BBC World, PBS News, and FOX News. Along with my summaries of the reporting styles I’ll include a video segments released by the news agencies with the story of the attack at the Israeli bus station. 

            Before addressing the particular conflict at hand I would like to talk about a few guidelines of my analysis on the different styles of reporting how to bring the issues to light. News media appeals to different types of thought processes through 3 main methods: ethos (credibility/authenticity/reliability), logos (central argument, structure of argument), and pathos (appeal to emotions).

bbc.com/world

            The topic that I’ll be covering this posting is the attack on an Israeli bus station that occurred on October 18^th, 2015. The conflict itself is based on a long-standing issue between Israel and Palestine is small militant groups from each nation carry out a series of small attacks. The conflict between the two groups has gone on for decades, the causes of the initial conflict simply will not be discussed in this blog posting as it is too politically and historically charged. In the previous posting, I discussed how agency plays a large role the decisions that each group makes. Since there is a great deal of historical significance within this conflict few decisions are truly based upon agency as it is often a never-ending cycle of retaliation attack. When looking at the different reporting styles on the topic the three different news agencies very their approaches to eat those logos and pathos. Despite how objective the news source may seem all them have their own agenda and it is our responsibility to find out exactly how that relates to the issues being presented. 

bbc.com/world

            First let’s take a look at BBC World’sreporting on the issue. Notably, BBC did not release a video clip about the conflict.  When looking at BBC’s article on the attack, the format really appeals to the logos of the issue. The way that the BBC page is formatted adds to a central argument and structure, which is characteristic good of logos. The article first goes over abbreviated facts that paint a picture for the reader, before they begin reading about the incident. While this is quite convenient for the reader, it also allows them to push their own personal agenda as they provide the initial source information on conflict. 

Next, let’s take a look at PBS’sWorld news section to look at the reports on the attack.  

pbs.org

As opposed to the traditional style of reporting, with long background on the history of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, PBS’s approach is more direct. This appeals to the ethos of the story, creating well-rounded and reliable report. Ethos style reporting is authentic and credible in nature, and PBS has a little opinionated reporting on the conflict. PBS has journalists in Israel, reporting on the issue, giving it a much more objective feel. By doing this, they add as much factual information as possible to try to eliminate any overt bias.  Though the majority of news stations tend to exhibit a political stance, PBS does a good job of remaining neutral. 

                   When talking about FOX News, there is an immediate conservative bias that is associated with their reporting. FOX News appeals to the pathos of the viewer and reader as they employ an in-person style of writing when doing their journalism. In their piece, they use first hand accounts of the incident citing policemen, civilians, and the first responders to the scene. Despite their general bias’s, the reporting in this article was largely objective. Though the written piece was largely objective, the interview conducted on air (see video) paints a very different picture, as the news anchor and the reporter talk in very anti Palestinian language.

bbc.com/world

            All in all, the events that happen in Israel were tragic but it speaks to the larger conflict between Palestine and Israel.  The main point of this whole analysis was to look at the different reporting styles of various media outlets and see how each one uses logos and pathos impacted the reporting. When looking at the effectiveness of all these reporting strategies they clearly all have their own base that turn to them for their news.  Though we cannot make a general statement, connecting people to news networks, it is clear that the values of ethos, logos, and pathos lead people to different sources for their information.

Works Cited

"Israel-Palestinian Violence: Israeli Killed in Beersheva Bus Station Attack - BBC News." BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.

"One Dead, Several Hurt after Shooting, Knife Attack on Israeli Bus Station." Fox News. FOX News Network, 18 Oct. 2015. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.

Srinivasan, Hari. "Israel Responds to Deadly Wave of Knife Attacks with New Police Powers." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.

A High Stakes Shift

Headlines about the refugee crisis in the Middle East seem to be covering news media across the globe, and understandably so. The struggles that the affected individuals, particularly from areas of Iraq and Syria, face are immense. The increasingly powerful and extremely radical Islamic State leaves the people within the affected regions with few options.

ibt.com

            Before going any further, I would like to make clear that the basis on which the Islamic State stands is “…the most medieval interpretations of Sharia ” (Winter). The actions and behaviors of the Islamic State are not typical for those who practice Islam, plain and simple. The Islamic State is a caliphate meaning “… a state governed in accordance with Islamic law, or Sharia, by God's deputy on Earth, or caliph” (What is the “Islamic State”). Their rampant looting, kidnapping, and prostitution of women are not beliefs that are supported by Islam. 

bbc.com

            When looking at those affected by conflict in the Iraq and Syria reigon  (shown in photo), there are 4 prominent groups: those fleeing the invaded areas, those who are forced to join the Islamic State, those fighting the invasion, and those choose to join. Though people are often forced into one of these groups, there are varying presences of agency that exist within each one. Agency, in terms of philosophy and the humanities, is the ability for someone to act as an individual. In addition, agency is known to be a rational decision that is based purely on reason. 

            As over 3.3 million leave Iraq and Syria, due to the Islamic State invasion, those who flee are not able to exhibit proper agency. Their decision to leave is rational, as they do not want to face the invading Islamic State, but the invasion prevents them from making an autonomous decision. Thus, impulse and emotion take over and impedes the ability to express agency. The stakes of their choice are high as they risk loosing everything, including their life, if they do not flee. 

bbc.com

            Famously known for “ultraviolence,” the Islamic State capture or kill those that oppose them - especially when invading a new area. It is this aspect of invasion that creates a lack of agency for the victims, when they are selected by Islamic State members and forced to join. The lack of agency is apparent as they are trained to fight for the Islamic State, and have to be brainwashed to justify their actions. The stakes are high for those forced to join, as any misstep could lead to death (Winter). 

             

            The role of agency starts to shift, when looking at those who decide to fight the Islamic State. Those who stay and fight exhibit agency by choosing to oppose. Though they are pressured to take action by intruding forces, they make the deliberative decision to stay and fight. This decision is make knowing the commitment and risks involved. The stakes are clearly high, for this particular group, but their ability to act demonstrates the use of agency. 

bbc.com

            Various recruitment tactics have caused an influx of civilians to join the Islamic State. The Islamic State puts out various forms of propaganda to entice men and women of all ages to join the Islamic state. Pictures and articles of scenery, charity, and everyday life are juxtaposed by acts of violence. This pattern is in their media campaign. It is through this recruitment that the Islamic State gains the majority of their members. Since there is no external pressure to join the caliphate unwilling, for this particular group, agency is the primary means of their decision. The stakes are low for those who opt into the caliphate, and their decision is based on their beliefs going before hand.

        When looking at the situation as a whole, the ability for the affected people to exhibit agency varies greatly depending on how each group was affected by the Islamic State’s presence. Putting judgment aside, it is important to look at the humanistic perspective on the issue of agency. Though the situation in Iraq and Syria is unfortunate, it is a very high profile example of how people are able or unable to express themselves through choice.  

Works Cited

 Crowcoft, Orlando. "Isis: Worst Refugee Crisis in a Generation as Millions Flee Islamic State in Iraq and Syria." International Business Times RSS. IBT, 17 June 2015. Web. 06 Oct. 2015.

"Free Online Dictionary." Agency (philosophy). N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2015.

"What Is 'Islamic State'? - BBC News." BBC News. N.p., 29 June 2015. Web. 06 Oct. 2015.
 
Winter, Charlie. "Fishing and Ultraviolence." BBC News. BBC, 6 Oct. 2015. Web. 06 Oct. 2015.