Context-Free Headlines

Wednesday's Example of Media Bias   —   Posted on March 12, 2014

Not everybody reads articles. You just see headlines as you quickly skim your news sites and social media feeds.

Which is why this AP headline contains all the info most people will know about yesterday’s incident at the Allenby Bridge border crossing.

You have to read the article to find out that Raed Zueter tried to grab a gun from a soldier.

“The terrorist ran toward soldiers yelling ‘Allahu akbar’ attempting to seize their weapons,” the Israeli military said. “The soldiers felt an immediate threat to their lives and fired toward his lower extremities. The suspect then began to strangle a soldier and the force resorted to firing again.”

AFP’s no better.  The headline reads:

Israeli troops kill Jordanian judge at border crossing

While Zueter’s death has whipped up a predictable firestorm in Jordan, sensationalized headlines like these only inflame tensions [between Israel and Palestinians] even more.

Whether you read your local paper online, a national news organization or online only news, this is the impression a person skimming the headlines would be left with:

TribLive (Pittsburgh Tribune) – AP story:
Israelis kill Jordanian judge at border checkpoint

San Antonio Express-News (mysanantonio) – AP story:
Israelis shoot, kill Jordanian judge at border

Washington state’s Tri-City Herald – AP story:
Israelis shoot, kill Jordanian judge at border

CTPost (Connecticut Post) – AP story:
Israelis shoot, kill Jordanian judge at border

ABC News – AP story:
Israelis Shoot, Kill Jordanian Judge at Border

Google News – AFP story:
Israeli troops kill Jordanian judge at border crossing

YahooNews – AFP story:
Israeli troops kill Jordanian judge at border crossing