I wrote the following after reading an obviously biased headline and news story regarding an International group of peace activists who were bringing medicine and medical supplies to Gaza. The mercy ship was seized and the activists abducted and thrown in an Israeli jail, including one former American Congresswoman, Cynthia Mckinley.
Ironically enough, few media outlet were even making note, much less talking and upset about these events. The few media outlets that did speak of this news were obviously biased and spinning the usual dish of Israel is the most moral blah blah bologne.
It is important to note that my letter did make a difference, I know people think they are often powerless but we are not. Ideas and headlines have consequences, this is one example of challenging media bias which later resulted in changing the headline to one that does not set up bias in the reader’s mind.
The original headline was, “McKinney refuses to sign document to win release.”
I wrote the following in response to the above titled article:
sent 10:36 am
Subject: McKinney Article July 4, 2009
Dear Rhonda Cook and Editor,
I am deeply saddened by the bias slant that is evident in the above article.
From the headline that seeks to place blame on Cynthia for wanting to bring medical supplies and medicine to Gaza, one of the poorest areas of the world, a people who live under Israeli control with closed borders, to the following questionable tone “The group says it was attempting to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza”. Further in the article you write that, “Leola McKinney said her daughter did not sign the document because it was in Hebrew”, then why such the damning headline?
My aunt died the same day McKinney’s boat was detained, and I will tell you that my beautiful, vibrant, humorous aunt could have used those much needed medicines and medical supplies. The stories we are hearing from family in Gaza regarding the conditions in the hospital are devastating, surely she would have survived had her doctors had the appropriate medicines and supplies. I will share one story of her suffering due to lack of medicine and medical supplies; while my aunt Samira was in the hospital after a brain stroke in which she suffered paralysis the nurse did not have the medicine or supplies for the IV so instead of an IV the nurse brought my aunt tylenol for pain relief. Obviously my aunt was not able to swallow due to paralysis. I will also clarify that this is happening to people who have money to pay for the best care in Gaza, my family is comfortable, this is not an issue of the poor not receiving health care as is the case in the USA. Innocent civilians are dying in Gaza and Israel is to blame
for refusing to allow basic humanitarian aid to reach them, when your article
spins headlines you are complicit in these acts.
When you write a headline that seeks to discredit a courageous woman for bringing humanitarian relief, medicine and medical supplies to Gaza, a region closed off from the rest of the world you show your paper to be one that seeks to hinder and spin the facts on the ground to favor those who control, oppress and suffocate the poor and suffering innocent civilians of Gaza. I am deeply saddened by the disservice to humanity your paper seeks in such bias reports.
Sincerely,
Rana Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX
I received the following letters from the reporter shortly after:
received 11:18 am
I appreciate the time you took to write. I have forwarded your e-mail to one of the editors so is involved with those decisions.
I am sorry about the loss of your aunt. It must be hard being so far away and know it she could have been saved by something so simple.
Rhonda Cook
The Atlanta Journal Constitution
404-526-2075
rcook@ajc.com
received 11:43 am
I’ve heard from one of the editors so I wanted to let you know what she decided.
First she wanted me to explain that I don’t write headlines. I guess she doesn’t want me to take blame for something I did not do.
That aside (which is not important and not what you questioned) she agreed that we should change the headline. The story mentions many things so there are other options. The story will be tweaked a little to bring up details lower in the story that would make sense with a new headline.
It should be changed on ajc.com within a few minutes. Thanks again for taking the time to write, especially considering you are mourning the death of your aunt.
Rhonda Cook
The Atlanta Journal Constitution
404-526-2075
rcook@ajc.com
Rana, 35, has never lived in Gaza but has visited at least 6 times, and was in Gaza at the beginning of the second intifada. She grew up in Baghdad, Iraq.
