Most people read only a couple of paragraphs deep into news stories; some only read the lead before moving on. That's why journalists tend to pack so much information into the first paragraph of a breaking story. For example, this is the lead for the tube shooting story at
Just a peaceful man trying to take the tube into work when the British Gestapo murdered him for no reason. In the sixth(!) paragraph it's mentioned that he "ran" onto the train.
This isn't just a matter of style, this is how propaganda is done.
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"Just a peaceful man trying to take the tube into work when the British Gestapo murdered him for no reason."
Just like they've randomly shot passengers for for years now, right?
Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at July 22, 2005 12:21 PM (x+5JB)
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Hey... maybe he was... uh... late... for his mission.
Posted by: Ariya at July 22, 2005 12:53 PM (noCGr)
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It is refreshing to see someone else understand the power a lede has in an article. There aren't many who do.
Posted by: Chad at July 22, 2005 01:34 PM (Ievlo)
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So, you wrote to Al Jazeera and complained, right?
Posted by: Venom at July 22, 2005 01:54 PM (dbxVM)
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One might as well write to Osama bin Laden and complain, Venom.
Posted by: The Dread Pundit Bluto at July 22, 2005 02:18 PM (RHG+K)
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If it was propoganda, they never would have mentioned he ran on. Doesn't make sense, does it?!!!!!
Posted by: Muneeb Ansari at July 22, 2005 06:06 PM (zGNMZ)
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Welcome to the 21st century, Muneeb. Propaganda outlets don't use phrases like "running dog lackeys of the Yankee imperialistic hegemonists" anymore. Propaganda that is obvious is ineffective. As I mentioned in the article (and even helpfully provided the MSNBC story as a counter-example), al-Jazeera didn't mention that he ran until the sixth paragraph. Most people don't read that deeply into breaking news stories. Thus, al-Jazeera can plant the seed of Gestapo running around London summarily executing Muslims as they try to board tube carriages. When called on it they can indignantly point to the sixth paragraph.
Posted by: The Dread Pundit Bluto at July 22, 2005 06:45 PM (RHG+K)
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Muneeb Ansari: Comments from another deadhead raghead. The British police are the most liberal in the world. They had been following him for some time. He was suspicious and his actions brought about his death. When the cops say stop, you stop. Not run. What country are you from? His death before that of innocent people.
Posted by: greyrooster at July 22, 2005 07:24 PM (CBNGy)
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Ooops. Turns out, the report was accurate.
I used to mock Al-Jazeera. Now it is the Official News Source of My Blog.
Posted by: Don Surber at July 24, 2005 04:59 PM (9dzVM)
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Don Surber,
No, the report was not accurate. The man was not simply trying to board a carriage in the tube, he was running away from the police.
Posted by: The Dread Pundit Bluto at July 24, 2005 05:04 PM (RHG+K)
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Journalism ain't brain surgery: Who, what, where, when, why.
"Police (who) have confirmed that they shot dead (what) a man in an underground train station in south London. (where)
"The man was shot apparently while trying to board a train on Friday morning (when) at Stockwell station in south London."
There is no why.
He was Brazillian. Apparently there still is no why.
Looks like al-Jazeera got it right.
Posted by: Don Surber at July 24, 2005 05:46 PM (9dzVM)
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The question of why the police had been issued guns is still begin ignored. British police do not carry guns without receiving prior permission. They were watching this individual for a reason.
Another example were the British have made a terrible mistake by allowing mass immigration to their country. They need to take it back and mass deportations is the only answer. All these unhappy people from foreign countries should return to the homes of origin and attempt to make them better.
Posted by: greyrooster at July 24, 2005 05:55 PM (CBNGy)
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Don,
I'm afraid you haven't understood the post. Are you familiar with other news accounts of the story? I did provide a link to MSNBC to demonstrate how an actual news organization writes a lead.
Posted by: The Dread Pundit Bluto at July 24, 2005 06:28 PM (RHG+K)
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