One thing about the Russia Ukraine war is that the world was able to see the real face of the so-called mainstream. Just look how many of them, if any, call for peace. See how many of them are concerned for the thousands of lives being lost on both sides. It seems the concept of compassionate thinking has been thrown out of the window when it comes to the blatant and inhumane bias and fatal disinformation dumped on this world. Like has been the case in many wars and armed conflicts, for the mainstream media, Ukrainians and Russians have just become just numbers; thousands being killed and thousands more being wounded and so forth. And ours was supposed to be an age of civilization with no bounds; civilization that was supposed to be more considerate, caring, peace-loving than the previous ages.
In the old days since there was nowhere to turn to the world was subjected to one-sided narratives. So no wonder if opinions were wrongly formed as things moved on a one-way stretch when it came to information. However despite all the harm and disgrace of the social media as a whole we can’t deny it has gone a long way in bringing ‘the other side’s’ narrative which deliberately are stifled by the media powers that are. How could the world know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in such hushed atmosphere! When ‘both sides’ of any conflict have the chance to bring the narratives out into the open people can decide for themselves. The mainstream goes a long way to discredit and maul anything everything that doesn’t fit into its perverted inner workings.
Take the Russia-Africa meeting recently held in St. Petersburg which first and foremost was what it says, meeting between the Russian Federation and fifty-plus African countries. Others have been being held previously and the only thing different this time is that the hosts Russia are in the midst of war. However, mops of the narratives in the so-called mainstream media have been shockingly absurd, racist and pure cruelty. They were literally popping the champagne bottles because, according to them, there were only seventeen or so heads of state present. But they fail to emphasize except for a couple of them all countries were represented with high officials. The African leaders and high gov’t officials present have tried to play positive roles in urging for the warring sides to sit for peace. This speaks volumes for itself. The world would gain more if African countries strengthened their relationships with the rest of the world; that’s fact simple as simple can be. Several weeks earlier the African delegation which went to both warring countries tried its best to play a positive role in the effort to stop the virtual mayhem. While much of the midstream media practically ignored it the well-meaning delegation was virtually cannibalized by one official Africans being insulted in words you seldom hear in modern times. But the mainstream media treated in such a way it was there one second and vanished the next.
With the mainstream media up in arms to see the war to continue in the interests of its benefactors how can there be real efforts to peace see the night of day? Of course, once the guns fall silent and the world gets clearer view of the damage done to human life and infrastructures, believe me, the narratives would have new twists. There would certainly be outrages as the international public learns it has been duped for so long with misinformation and the suppression of important stories which would have defined the public’s understanding of the war. Maybe, if much of the world really knew about what was going on there might be pressures on governments to work more for peace. Because, in the final analysis the fallout from this brutal world would affect every country.
Of course, other than the mainstream media’s wishes to see one side going down on its knees the urge for profits and also racism are playing a big part. If there are any doubts for much of the Western mainstream media being racist one should just remember the reporting during the first weeks of the war when tens of thousands of Ukrainians were fleeing their country. The parallels with situations in other parts of the world namely Africa were not only disgusting but also sort of revelations as to what sort of minds run these media giants.
In a story appearing online there is this report of an international panel where one reporter of a big news agency was quoted as saying, “When you look at the reporting from Ukraine you see a lot of journalists, whether they be from Ukraine, the U.S. or from Europe, who are extremely empathetic. They’re embedded with Ukrainian troops. They’re even covering Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian positions with a lot of support and a lot of empathy.” Now reporting what is going on from the actual places despite the overwhelming dangers is a great journalistic plus; the problem comes with the ‘support and empathy’ which spoil the whole game of fair and unbiased reporting. After all whatever opinions those correspondents have could be published in the op-ed pages where they can bare their hearts and there wouldn’t be much noise about ‘bias in reporting.’ The same reporter goes on; “Can you imagine, CNN embedding with Palestinian resistance fighters in Israel, fighting against Israeli occupation? Both of those situations are essentially the same and I think that has raised questions.” Yes that and many more daily examples raise questions.
Of course, we can’t deny the fact that when it comes to mainstream Western media first and foremost it’s all about profits. The urge to make profits and paste the smiles on the faces of the shareholders there is no trick they won’t play; no tactic, however outrageous, they wouldn’t try. Some call this “outrage journalism.” One reporter taking part in the panel discussion mentioned earlier is quoted as saying; “One of the most painful things about covering genocide in Rwanda is being told that maybe there’s fifty seconds on the evening news tonight for it because there are celebrity trials happening in Hollywood that rate better and that advertisers want.”
Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman, so says one report, hit on this point in their book, ‘Manufacturing Consent.’ “Worthy victims will be featured prominently and dramatically. They will be humanized [and] their victimization will receive the detail and context in story construction that will generate reader interest and sympathetic emotion. In contrast, unworthy victims will merit only slight detail, minimal humanization, and little context that will excite and enrage.”
Once again while the world is waiting that magic wand which brings an end to this brutal war one thing is getting clearer by the day; the world would have done much better without the so-called mainstream media.
BY EPHREM Endale
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 6 AUGUST 2023