Least sensitive Madrid bombing headline

[muckefuck]

Madrid Carnage Kills 190, 4 Bulgarians Lightly Injured

(In case you thought only American news sources used headlines like these.)

Comments

[iberianbear.livejournal.com]

Gee!

[kayiwa.livejournal.com]

I have always wondered if this is something that is taught in journalism school or just encouraged by the mass media culture. The need to emphasize on the *local* aspect of the story. I suppose Bulgarians have difficulty feeling sorry for those -not from Bulgaria- people.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Years ago, I read a critique of current journalism that said something like, "Journalists agree that a story on nuclear war would begin, 'Imelda Rogers, 67, of Granite City couldn't find her cat this morning.'" It's "local interest" run amok.

[poohbearjim.livejournal.com]

I've lived in lots of cities, but Orlando seems to be a much worse offender than most in this area. My partner and I take bets on how quickly and how far afield our local stations have to go in order to find the Orlando Connection™. My theory is that Orlando is a medium-sized city desperate to be considered a big city and won't rest until it is mentioned in the same league as Atlanta, Miami, St Louis and Denver. (Note the omission of New York, Washington, Chicago, et al - I consider them in the league of international cities.)

[gopower.livejournal.com]

I disagree. The local angle is often important, both to draw in readers and to put the situation in context. In cases like this, it underscores the fact that terrorism is a global issue. Had the headlines been reversed, "4 Bulgarians bruised, 190 Spaniards dead" that would have been insensitive.