While any act of mass violence is inherently tragic, I propose a theoretical formula that predicts the likelihood of a mass killing making the news in a given country and apply it to compare the media coverage of Hindu deaths in Bangladesh with those of Muslims in Palestine.
Thou shalt not kill. (But pretending to care and not caring are the same).
The Formula:
Newsworthiness = (G + R + P + N + I) * (C + T) - (D + E)
Where:
- G Gender of the perpetrator
- R: Religion or ethnicity of the perpetrator and victims
- P: Political implications or policy relevance
- N: Number of casualties
- I: Ideological motivation
- C: Cultural proximity to the audience
- T: Timing relative to other major news events
- D: Distance from the audience (geographical proximity)
- E: Economic or diplomatic interests of the country in the location where the event occurred
1. Religion and Ethnicity (R):
Religion is a significant factor in both cases. The global media tends to highlight violence against Muslims in Palestine due to the broader political and religious implications, particularly in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This conflict has been central to global politics for decades, drawing consistent media attention.
In contrast, Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, despite facing severe persecution, often receive less coverage.The marginalisation of Hindus in media coverage may also reflect a bias where violence against non-Abrahamic religions receives less global attention.
2. Political Implications (P):
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is deeply entrenched in global politics, with implications for international relations, especially in Western countries with large Muslim populations. This makes violence in Palestine not only a humanitarian issue but also a political one, further increasing its newsworthiness.
On the other hand, the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, while severe, lacks the same geopolitical impact.
3. Cultural Proximity (C):
Cultural proximity plays a crucial role in media coverage. Western media, which dominates global narratives, tends to focus more on regions that are culturally closer or have significant political and economic ties to the West. Palestine, due to its ties with the broader Arab world and its significance in Western religious and historical narratives, receives more attention.
Conversely, Bangladesh, though a populous and strategically located country, does not share the same cultural or historical ties with the West.
4. Geographical Proximity and Economic Interests (D + E):
The geographic and economic interests of Western countries also shape media coverage. Palestine’s location in the Middle East—a region of immense strategic importance—ensures that events there are closely monitored.
So what can you do if the New York Times do not cover the stories you want? Well you have to change the inputs. You might for instance lobby the newspaper, or other groups. Beyond that, the energies might be better spread on thinking what is your end goal? To help the people affected or have Western media talk about it? If it’s help, then funds, lobbying organisations, reaching to other faith groups to help in country might be more effective.
