The BBC is reporting that a suicide bombing in Gaza killed an Israeli and wounded several others. None* of the US media outlets we're monitoring have this story on their front page, although two (CNN, MSNBC) have a story about Palestinian PM Abbas visiting Gaza to work on ceasefire talks.
*CORRECTED AT 3:40PM. The NY Times actually had this headline on their front page at the same time as the BBC story: Bomber Kills Israeli in Gaza on Day New Palestinian Leader Visits. This one is a wash, however, because although this story appeared on the front page of a major US media website, the death was not explicitly attributed to Palestinians in the headline. No photo in the story, so no change there, either.
Headline tally stands at 2-2, and photo tally still 5-2. Tally for Palestinian deaths caused by Israelis reported in other global media but not on the US websites: 1-0.
Don't know what I'm talking about? See the Project Description.
*CORRECTED AT 3:40PM. The NY Times actually had this headline on their front page at the same time as the BBC story: Bomber Kills Israeli in Gaza on Day New Palestinian Leader Visits. This one is a wash, however, because although this story appeared on the front page of a major US media website, the death was not explicitly attributed to Palestinians in the headline. No photo in the story, so no change there, either.
Headline tally stands at 2-2, and photo tally still 5-2. Tally for Palestinian deaths caused by Israelis reported in other global media but not on the US websites: 1-0.
Don't know what I'm talking about? See the Project Description.
Do you think that people think it was some OTHER kind of bomber besides a Palestinian bomber? At some level, having the Palestinian word (as an adjective) in the headline TWICE would be overkill, and it's a good bet that the masses will assume the bomber is Palestinian but have questions about the "new leader".
I'm thinking it's about as close to explicit as you can get without expending the typesetting resources to buy another set of "Palestinian" letters... But I can appreciate you giving the other side a "head start" by being ridiculously stringent on yourself.
Hey, Jason, good to see you on the blog again and we really need to chat and catch up one of these days. Geez.
I agree completely that just about anyone reading that headline would use their existing biased idea that Palestinians are responsibile for most bombings in the conflict to read that headline "Palestinian Bombing Kills One Israeli...."
But you're exactly right in that I'm trying to be extremely conservative here. I'm only counting headlines in my column if they very explicitly attribute Israeli deaths as caused by Palestinians, and vice versa. Otherwise, it's too hairy and no one will pay any attention. This way, I've at least got between two and three people paying attention.
Be sure to keep my on my toes if you see me fudging this compassionate conservatism in the future...
again erik, your methodology sucks. now you're just making rules as you go along. what if they somehow connect al queda? do they get double secret bonus points then?