Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Narmada Sahabir
Explication of Differences between Newspapers
Explication of Differences between Newspapers
The assassination of Benazir Bhutto was covered worldwide. She was known as the “daughter of Pakistan”. She was the country’s and the Muslim world’s first female leader. Her assassination was portrayed differently throughout the world. For this project my group collected articles from the New York Times, The New York Post, and an English language Pakistani newspaper. We read all of the articles and came up with our own analysis of the event which each newspaper was trying to project.
Benazir Bhutto returned from London as a candidate for President, an opponent to military dictator President Pervez Musharraf. Her assassination took place while she was campaigning in a rally. The election coverage in Pakistan was broadcasted worldwide because Ms. Bhutto made it clear that she was against Islamic extremism and a tribune of democracy. Even before her assassination she was all over CNN, BBC World News and MSNBC, she was the little glimmer of hope that the Pakistani people had left for a democracy.
After her assassination, she was the cover of the New York Times the next day. The New York Times gave extensive detail about her death and her legacy. It described the aftermath of her death on the Pakistani people and the possibility of a successor for the Populist Peoples Party which she represented. It provided details with the investigation of her death and everything that had to do with the Pakistani government corruption which led to her assassination. Overall the New York Times exceptionally covered all outlooks and facts of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.
I concluded that the articles that were provided in the New York Times seemed to be directed toward high society, scholarly, professional, liberal and multiculturally sensitive people. This quote specifically contributes to my conclusion. “Despite numerous accusations of corruption and an evident predilection for luxury, Ms. Bhutto, the pale-skinned scion of a wealthy landowning family, successfully cast herself as a savior of Pakistan’s millions of poor and disenfranchised. She inspired devotion among her followers, even in exile, and the image of her floating through a frenzied crowd in her gauzy white scarf became iconic”. This quote does not contain vocabulary of the average middle class household.
The New York Post provided insufficient coverage of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. The articles were smaller than a paragraph, I found one that was the length of a paragraph and it all seemed opinion based. There were no real facts and details about the assassination, but there were pages of coverage on Britney Spears and her escape from rehabilitation. I gathered that this being a more local newspaper had a lack of interest in international affairs. The articles didn’t contain vocabulary on a scholarly level because it is a newspaper that is written for the common middle class, conventional and more conservative people. This newspaper assumes that the middle class does not consist of intellectuals.
The articles in the Post consisted of mostly quotes by people who are responsible for the investigation of Bhutto’s assassination. This article consisted of only a quote by C.I.A Director Michael Hayden. “Hayden said Bhutto was killed by fighters allied with Baitullah Mehsud, a tribal leader in northwestern Pakistan, with support from Al-Qaeda’s terrorist network. The Post said Hayden described the killing as “part of an organized campaign” that has included suicide bombings and other attacks on Pakistani leaders. Hayden said the same network was behind a new wave of violence threatening the stability of president Musharraf’s government, a key ally in Washington’s war on terror”. These three sentences were the length of this article and the length of most articles.
The English language Pakistani Newspaper focused on the people affected by Bhutto’s assassination. The articles discussed the political issues in Pakistan and the concerns which the people have regarding their future government. This newspaper revealed information that the New York Times didn’t have, “Pakistan has requested help from the Scotland Yard to probe at the investigation because civilians in Pakistan do not trust there government. President Musharraf blames Al Qaeda, but he has also acknowledged reports stating the scene of Bhutto's death was quickly hosed down destroying any possible evidence. The Pakistani People's Party blames Musharaff. Musharraf, he also did not grant the Scotland Yard permission to question any important politicians that could have had inside information”. I gathered that this information wasn’t disclosed because the American government didn’t want to blame President Musharraf openly because he is still there ally. And the American Government is funding the Pakistani military in the war on terror but there were reports that the money is going toward new weapons which Pakistan plans to use on India which is also the American governments ally. If President Bush does not come up with a safe solution to this problem, it is likely that President Musharraf can use these “new weapons” on the United States.
Throughout substantial research I can conclude that all newspapers don’t completely produce adequate information on particular events. The New York Times gave ample information on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto because it is distributed throughout the country, but it still couldn’t disclose the information that the Pakistani English paper provided because of political uproar that it could have caused. The New York Post relatively neglected the news coverage on Benazir Bhutto because of the fact that it is a local newspaper. The Pakistani English newspaper provided information that none of the others had because after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto Pakistan was in a state of chaos and it wouldn’t have caused any further turmoil. This project has helped me to further understand how politics is manipulated in newspapers and how it surrounds us under daily basis but as New Yorkers we never have the time to notice.
Part 1
THE ASSASSINATION OF BENAZIR BHUTTO
Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister of Pakistan, as well as the daughter of a prime minister of Pakistan, was assassinated on December 27, 2007. Bhutto was “a member of one of the most prominent families in Pakistan,” (NY Times) but unfortunately her family was subject to terror, which led to the deaths of her father and two brothers. Bhutto was the first female, Pakistani prime minister at the age of 35 and ruled for 6 years before moving to London. When she returned, the country was in a chaotic state and it was very hard for her to fulfill her aspirations of change for the local community.
There was a lot of speculation regarding the terrorists and their group affiliation. Initially, Bhutto was blamed by the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf for causing her own death. Musharraf claimed that Bhutto unnecessarily stood outside of her car and that she was ultimately responsible for her own death.
A couple of weeks later, it was revealed that messengers of the government killed Bhutto. Musharraf then blames Islamic extremists for the crime and denies any government involvement in the killing. Following this revelation, it was reported that the CIA blamed Al Qaeda and allies of a Pakistani tribal leader. Bhutto’s death also questions “the stability of Musharraf’s government” (The New York Times).
On January 20,2008, a young Pakistani terrorist admitted that he had participated in killing Bhutto under the authority of Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorist groups. Additionally, he said that he was 1 of 5 terrorists involved in the assassination. The terrorists were given a wide array of explosives and were also responsible for numerous other local, recent, attacks.
Bhutto’s death put Pakistan in an even more precarious position and has caused Pakistan to fall into a worse political situation. The effects of her death included chaos and riots in the streets, and the loss of local trust in the Pakistani government.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Response to Pakistani/International Papers
Pakistani/International Papers:
1.The audience seems to be the local Pakistani community, as well as the European population. The articles seems to be less directed at Americans because the U.S. is being discussed in third person: “The US would respect the people’s verdict and was not wedded to any individual or party.” Alqamar news of Pakistan blames Bhutto, which expresses the sentiment of the local Pakistani community and voices their opinions.
2.Bhutto and Musharaff are both considered the villains in the story. Bhutto is blamed for not participating in an election boycott, while Musharaff is blamed for worsening the political situation in Pakistan during Bhutto’s 8-year absence. The US is also blamed for their Laissez Faire ways and lack of productivity. Boucher, “the assistant secretary to the state for South Asia,” said that: “the US does not support a UN investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.”
3.The heroes in the articles are the citizens of Pakistan. They are portrayed as helpless individuals in need of a new dynasty. “Official sources say around 800 people have died in violence since July.” Similar quotes suggest the same and prove that the Pakistanis want outside help.
4.(Comparing the Daily News to the international papers)
The Daily News attracts the local, New York, blue-collar population, while the international papers attract a more diverse, multi-cultural crowd. The Pakistani paper attracts the citizens but also affects everyone else, because their news is extremely biased because of the proximity to the scene (or unbiased, depending on how you look at it). The moments are captured right after the fact, whereas the US papers would take a few days to obtain all of the information. The cause and effect are more easily seen in the Pakistani papers, while the Daily News has a more distant view of the cause and effect.
Elizabeth John Final Paper part 3
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was a significant oppositional leader to the future of the Pakistani Government. With her death parliamentary elections will be postponed after a huge outburst of violence was triggered by the assassination according to Ki-Media.com. President Pervez Musharraf has set back the general election from January eighth to February eighteenth; he said “the postponement was justified after the assessment of the current situation and that the government is committed to a fair, transparent and free election.” (According to Chinaview.cn). This is some what of good news for Pakistan and the Peoples Party (PPP) for they will have a fair chance to choose a new candidate for election, but nobody can replace the wonderful and charismatic Benazir Bhutto who will be deeply missed by the world and especially her Pakistan’s People Party.
Benazir Bhutto was killed on December 27 2007 in a suicide bomb attack and shooting. The official cause of death was a fractured skull caused by hitting her head on part of her cars sunroof as the bomb had went off through the crowd of supporters according to CNN.com. The news was not taken easily by Pakistan. A lot of demonstrators in Karachi, Sindh providence broke out through violence. A dozen banks were burned; two train stations along with three trains were set on fire. Because of the outbreak of violence parliamentary forces in Sindh were told to “shoot on sight” to anyone who was destroying anything according to CNN.com.
The day after her death on the twenty-eighth of December the funeral service was held, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the streets of Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto was laid to rest in Garhi Khuda Baksh near Larkana, Pakistan. The grieving supporters were crushed up against her coffin, where a few small violent breakouts occurred amongst the crowd. Even before the procession violence erupted throughout Pakistan unfortunately taking the lives of nine people, the violent mourners also torched banks, train stations, and cars. This horrible death did obviously cause a huge upset in Pakistan throughout the angry supporters who hoped to have Bhutto help them from poverty and pain into wealth and prosperity.
On Sunday December thirtieth 2007 a news conference in Naudero near Larkana Pakistan Bhutto’s son Bilawal Zardari was nominated Chairman of Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party in hopes to succeed in his mothers honor.
Memorials were held in numerous places around the world and so many people grieved the death of this amazing woman. A memorial service was held in Bhutto’s home in Dubai on January second 2008 and one a few days after. On Friday December twenty-eighth special memorial service was held in Mississauga Muslim Community Centre in Toronto and it was organized by the Pakistan People’s Party in which hundreds attended according to EON. On January sixth a remembrance service was held. A memorial was built in honor of this courageous woman. According to Pak-times.com the Pakistan Peoples Party created a foundation named Bhutto Memorial trust in the memory of Benazir Bhutto and her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and there contributions to democracy in Pakistan. There efforts will not be forgotten. There were a lot of virtual memorials posted online by individuals, but it was difficult to locate any big newspapers with coverage or a memorial for Benazir Bhutto which is very upsetting because this woman was going to make history in the Islamic community in Pakistan.
Before her death Benazir Bhutto finished her book titled “Reconciliation”. In her book Bhutto explained her vision of Islam as “an open pluralistic and tolerant religion” that she says has been taken over by extremists. Bhutto believed that Islam and the West need not headed on a collision course toward a “clash of civilizations”. Bhutto’s mission was to turn over “years of pain, suffering, sacrifice and separation” into “an all consuming prosperity”.
Benazir Bhutto is the fourth member of her immediate family to die violently against the surroundings of Pakistani Politics. Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged in 1979 on charges of having planned the murder of a minor political opponent. Then in 1985 Benazir’s younger brother Shahhawaz mysteriously died from poison. Bhutto’s other brother Murtaza was gunned down outside his home in 1996. Benazir Bhutto had suffered a great deal of grief through out her life but she did not let this stop her from pursuing her father’s original plans for a more democratic nation in Pakistan.
This woman’s assassination is enormous and will have a great affect on Pakistan and every nation in this world. Since Pakistan does have the development of nuclear weapons they are a threat to this world. Bhutto would have made a great deal of change if this incident had not occurred. America will be involved with Pakistan in some way because Pakistan is enemies with our allies; India. I feel there were not enough press and media of this woman in the United States. This women is a huge factor in history, she was the first woman who attempted to become a leader of an Islamic Pakistan which is almost near impossible. I feel this woman deserves more recognition among the United States because she was going to help turn Pakistan around but instead the United States has almost ignored the existence of this assassination with barely any coverage on the events after the assassination which I feel is unfair to this courageous woman, she will be deeply missed.
Benazir Bhutto was killed on December 27 2007 in a suicide bomb attack and shooting. The official cause of death was a fractured skull caused by hitting her head on part of her cars sunroof as the bomb had went off through the crowd of supporters according to CNN.com. The news was not taken easily by Pakistan. A lot of demonstrators in Karachi, Sindh providence broke out through violence. A dozen banks were burned; two train stations along with three trains were set on fire. Because of the outbreak of violence parliamentary forces in Sindh were told to “shoot on sight” to anyone who was destroying anything according to CNN.com.
The day after her death on the twenty-eighth of December the funeral service was held, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the streets of Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto was laid to rest in Garhi Khuda Baksh near Larkana, Pakistan. The grieving supporters were crushed up against her coffin, where a few small violent breakouts occurred amongst the crowd. Even before the procession violence erupted throughout Pakistan unfortunately taking the lives of nine people, the violent mourners also torched banks, train stations, and cars. This horrible death did obviously cause a huge upset in Pakistan throughout the angry supporters who hoped to have Bhutto help them from poverty and pain into wealth and prosperity.
On Sunday December thirtieth 2007 a news conference in Naudero near Larkana Pakistan Bhutto’s son Bilawal Zardari was nominated Chairman of Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party in hopes to succeed in his mothers honor.
Memorials were held in numerous places around the world and so many people grieved the death of this amazing woman. A memorial service was held in Bhutto’s home in Dubai on January second 2008 and one a few days after. On Friday December twenty-eighth special memorial service was held in Mississauga Muslim Community Centre in Toronto and it was organized by the Pakistan People’s Party in which hundreds attended according to EON. On January sixth a remembrance service was held. A memorial was built in honor of this courageous woman. According to Pak-times.com the Pakistan Peoples Party created a foundation named Bhutto Memorial trust in the memory of Benazir Bhutto and her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and there contributions to democracy in Pakistan. There efforts will not be forgotten. There were a lot of virtual memorials posted online by individuals, but it was difficult to locate any big newspapers with coverage or a memorial for Benazir Bhutto which is very upsetting because this woman was going to make history in the Islamic community in Pakistan.
Before her death Benazir Bhutto finished her book titled “Reconciliation”. In her book Bhutto explained her vision of Islam as “an open pluralistic and tolerant religion” that she says has been taken over by extremists. Bhutto believed that Islam and the West need not headed on a collision course toward a “clash of civilizations”. Bhutto’s mission was to turn over “years of pain, suffering, sacrifice and separation” into “an all consuming prosperity”.
Benazir Bhutto is the fourth member of her immediate family to die violently against the surroundings of Pakistani Politics. Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged in 1979 on charges of having planned the murder of a minor political opponent. Then in 1985 Benazir’s younger brother Shahhawaz mysteriously died from poison. Bhutto’s other brother Murtaza was gunned down outside his home in 1996. Benazir Bhutto had suffered a great deal of grief through out her life but she did not let this stop her from pursuing her father’s original plans for a more democratic nation in Pakistan.
This woman’s assassination is enormous and will have a great affect on Pakistan and every nation in this world. Since Pakistan does have the development of nuclear weapons they are a threat to this world. Bhutto would have made a great deal of change if this incident had not occurred. America will be involved with Pakistan in some way because Pakistan is enemies with our allies; India. I feel there were not enough press and media of this woman in the United States. This women is a huge factor in history, she was the first woman who attempted to become a leader of an Islamic Pakistan which is almost near impossible. I feel this woman deserves more recognition among the United States because she was going to help turn Pakistan around but instead the United States has almost ignored the existence of this assassination with barely any coverage on the events after the assassination which I feel is unfair to this courageous woman, she will be deeply missed.
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