-- Critical Media Literacy
in Times of War


-- Introduction to the Site
-- Modules

-- Afghanistan
-- Introduction

-- Background
-- Media Coverage
-- How Many Protested?
-- Crowd Size Sept. '01
-- Crowd Size April '02
-- Was Reporting Fair?
-- Comparing Reports
-- Comparing Reports, con't
-- Why Underreporting?

-- Tones and Headlines, Sept. '01 protests
-- Tones and Headlines, April '02 protests
(you are here)

-- Comparing Positions
-- Civilian Casualties
-- How Many Civilians Died?
-- Tones and Headlines
-- U.S. Raid, Oct 11, 2001
-- U.S. Raid, Oct 11, 2001 con't
-- U.S. Raid, Oct 11, 2001, part 3
-- Was the Media Told?
-- Networks Follow Orders!

THE "WAR ON TERROR"

Tone and Headlines

Different word choice and content within headlines and in article content can create different impressions about an issue and reveal the positions of the authors or the media source. Headlines are particularly important because often that is all a reader may see.

Pay attention to the word choice of the highlighted sections and the content and consider whether these suggest an editorial position sympathetic or contrary to the position of the protesters or that depict the protest as either significant or insignificant.

April 20, 2002 protests

The New York Times"MIDEAST TURMOIL: THE DEMONSTRATORS; Thousands March in Washington in Support of Palestinians"

While this might normally suggest a protest or rally of great size, in this case it greatly minimizes the size of the protest.

The Washington Post" Demonstrators Rally to Palestinian Cause; Arab Americans, Supporters Drown Out Other Issues"

While acknowledging that there were components of the protest besides Palestinian solidarity, by choosing to say "drown out other issues," it makes it appear as if the other aspects were insignificant - perhaps in both the protest and in national politics. Furthermore, no indications was given of the size of the protest. This headline also exploits the generally negative press given to Palestine in the US.

cnn.com"More protests expected on Washington streets"

This headline does not indicate in any way the protest's purpose or size, making the issues invisible. The word choice "expected" reveals the point of view of someone 'threatened" by the protests - definitely not the point of view of protesters or organizers who know the event will occur. Thus the headline reflects a subtle anti-protest point of view.

The Nation "A Peaceful Justice?"

This headline takes the point of view of the protesters, prompting the reader to consider the possibility that a non-violent response to the terrorist attacks will also bring about justice.

"200,000 Protest the "War Without End": "We Are All Palestinians Today"

This estimate (200,000), by police and organizer estimates, is at the extreme end of the range of estimates of the size of the protest, making the protest appear as significant as possible.

The use of quotation marks around "War Without End" calls the legitimacy of the war into question, supporting the position of the protesters.

The New Republic "Protesting Too Much"

This headline indicates that the message or goal of the protest was wrong or based on exaggeration.

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Virginia Tech, All Rights Reserved.
Women's Studies and Science and Technology Studies
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Last updated. July 6, 2003