One of the main concepts in journalism education is that of framing: the highlighting of particular issues, and the avoidance of others, in order to produce a desired interpretation. We have been reminded of the importance of framing when considering the vast amounts of media coverage of Jeremy Corbyn’s alleged failure to deal with antisemitism inside the Labour party. On Sunday, three national titles led with the story while news bulletins focused on the allegations all last week. Dominant sections of the media have framed the story in such a way as to suggest that antisemitism is a problem mostly to do with Labour and that Corbyn is personally responsible for failing to deal with it. The coverage has relied on a handful of sources such as the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Leadership Council and well-known political opponents of Corbyn himself.
Yet where are the Jewish voices who support Corbyn and who welcome his long-established anti-racist record? Where are the pieces that look at the political motivations of some of Corbyn’s most vocal critics? Where is the fuss in your news columns about the rising tide of antisemitism in Europe, such as in Hungary, where the Fidesz government has used antisemitic tropes to bolster its support, or in Poland, where the government is attempting to criminalise revelations about the country’s antisemitic past? Where are the columns condemning the links between Conservative MEPs and rightwing parties across Europe in the European Conservatives and Reformists Group which trade on antisemitism?
It is not “whataboutery” to suggest that the debate on antisemitism has been framed in such a way as to mystify the real sources of anti-Jewish bigotry and instead to weaponise it against a single political figure just ahead of important elections. We condemn antisemitism wherever it exists. We also condemn journalism that so blatantly lacks context, perspective and a meaningful range of voices in its determination to condemn Jeremy Corbyn.
Live by the sword of identity politics, die by the sword... :)
ReplyDeleteWe're all experts at "motivated reasoning" when we understand our own (group's) motives for doing things. Unfortunately, we're terrible at trying to perform motivated reasoning for other (groups of) people. In fact, it's darn near impossible.
ReplyDelete“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
:)
ReplyDeleteOMG, you've found a silly girl who doesn't consider herself left anymore, well done... pfft. Very boring and I logged off about halfway.
ReplyDeleteAnd smearing and linking doesn't come from the Right, oh no! Except that someone like David Horriblewitz has made a career out of doing just that.
The Zionist Lobby are most prolific in smearing people who just don't luuurrve Israel quite enough.
And trying to 'control the narrative'? That's exclusive to the left? Dear Lord...
ReplyDeleteI think Trumpism is eating your brain.
If you have the right to offend (you DO, to be clear) then I obviously have the right to be offended. Simples, really...
ReplyDeleteNot surprised you are unfamiliar with her case. The Left never makes mistakes, so they have nothing to learn.
ReplyDelete"The Left never makes mistakes, so they have nothing to learn."
DeleteYawn. Another breezing generalisation...
The Left is (like the Right) far from monolithic.
The Left suffers from extreme historicisation syndrome, creating historical social contexts for problems completely unrelated to it. But I suppose THAT is what happens when you believe in "historical destinies".... and a right and wrong side of history. The Left lives Life in a Brechtian grund-gestus.
DeleteIs that now "specific" enough for you?
Delete...descriptive of the "frame" that "framed" Corbyn?
Deletebtw - Remember when Horowitz's website's emphasis on heterodoxy? It's finally making a comeback.
ReplyDeleteI haven't before heard of this case for fairly obvious reasons. But I have now read up on it and this Uni's behaviour was clearly stupid and self-punishing. But contrary what the Right screams, it ain't the end of Western civilisation.
ReplyDeleteAnd WLU appears to have accepted their mistake.
The Uni "system" has been 'systematically' blue-pilled to be susceptible to abuse.
DeleteWho red-pilled Pie??
ReplyDelete