Palestinians see rifts with Israel on peace draft - Reuters

Pakistan has taken precedent in world news for this week. Bravo.

Israeli, Palestinian leaders order work on statement for Mideast meet - AFP

Israel Completes Prisoner Release as It Frees 29 - NYT
Shooting mars Gaza prisoner release - AJ
******I couldn't find this article in Jerusalem Post.

'Summit failure might ignite new intifada' - JP
That's what Rob Malley said yesterday too.

Wanted Palestinians Cross Into Gaza From Egypt - NYT

Palestinians allowed to cross Rafeh - AJ

Palestinians allowed to return to Gaza - JP

AFP - Israel, Palestinians could sign peace deal by May 2008: Abbas

Now, General Eival Gilady thinks that it's not possible with this generation of Israelis and Palestinians. I'm inclined to agree.

Columbia students protest visit - Jerusalem Post
New York Grudgingly Opens Door to Ahmadinejad - New York Times
Students excited about Iran leader's university visit - Gulfnews

Nine Palestinians reported dead as Gaza violence intensifies - JPost
Israelis Kill Up to 9 in Gaza - NY Times
Israeli strikes kill Palestinians - Al Jazeera


Iraq's Prime Minister addresses UN - NY Times
Mugabe hits out at 'Hypocrite Bush' - Al Jazeera

*****Could not find any semblance of this story in Israeli news sources, also could not find Mugabe's statements in NY Times


Blackwater Logs Most Shootings of Firms in Iraq - NY Times
Iraq Makes U-Turn on Blackwater - Al Jazeera
*****Could not find this story in Israeli news sources


Dozens Killed in Iraq Attack - Al Jazeera
Wave of bombings, shootings sweep Iraq, kills at least 50 - JPost
Bombings in Iraq Said to Signal Ramadan Offensive - NY Times

Framing: An introduction

Any news piece will have a frame - the application of an ideology, the way the news provider wants you to experience this story. Part of my class is learning how to identify these frames and to see beyond them. We are told to look for the clues, what's hidden in the words that the writer or editor wants you to take away. Look for the selection context, who gets speaking time, who gets the most speaking time, who doesn't get any speaking time. What do they say? What are the causes, as this frame depicts? On whom do the responsibilities fall? What are possible solutions, resolutions?

Then, we can examine what we learn about the media source, about people, about the world, and about resolving the issues through picking apart that frame.

Articles

Fidel Castro says US fooled world over 9/11
Bush 'to announce Iraq troop cut'
Petraeus grilled over Bush's Iraq strategy
Officials Cite Long-term Need for U.S. in Iraq
Saudis question Middle East talks
White House and Democrats Clash Ahead of Bush’s Speech
Powers to hold Iran nuclear talks
Baghdad residents protest at wall
U.S. tours N. Korean reactor and gets all access sought
Gaza Rockets Wound Israeli Soldiers
Rocket Injures 40 Israeli Soldiers
Olmert 'wont play into Hamas hands'
US Confirms Israeli Strikes Hit Syrian Target Last Week
Bomb Kills Sunni Sheik Working With U.S. in Iraq
Blast Kills Iraqi Tribal Leader


The media really acts counter to peace, becase that's what it does. It's really fascinating. Everyone thinks nothing is happening in the "peace accords" in Israel precisely because it's under so much media scrutiny. If they stopped reporting on them daily, it wouldn't seem so drawn-out and unsuccessful.

You know, this Petraeus guff is absolutely mind-blowing, to me. This whole song and dance about it, supposedly a landmark moment in the course of this unbelievable war, and nothing new gets said or done. A publicity stunt if I've ever seen one, I think. Bush, so fed up with the criticism, so tired of hearing that he'd messed up, finally "promised" to give his opponents what they wanted - on his terms, of course, but hey, it's going to happen eventually, right?

What's going on between the White House and Congress is nothing short of ridiculous, and would be comical if, I don't know, it were happening on a playground and not in the highest offices in our country. It would be funny, I guess, if what they did didn't affect people's lives.

About the links

The links listed as of 9.11.2007 are a reflection of international news sources I knew off the top of my head. Others will be added as I do research. Later, they may be broken into groups reflecting which side of the opinion spectrum they occupy. This is subject to change, as I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this, yet.

I'm not personally endorsing any of these sources as 100% reliable, as nothing is. My professors have asked us to hold The New York Times as the "gold standard" for what should be printed - I'm not sure if I agree, but then again, my true experience examining the differences between media is limited. I'm not looking for truth so much as frame. How is the story presented? Who is important? Who gets to talk? What are the implications? All kinds of good stuff, to be posted about later. I think the "truth" lies in the bare bones, but even the bare bones can be disputed, so even those aren't reliable. I guess we just have create our own frame of what is reality and what isn't.

Post 1: Introduction

I Was Framed: An examination of the frames imposed by the media on world events, looking at three main media sources differing in perspective and media ethics. One medium of the three shall be The New York Times. The following two are yet to be determined. This project is for the History 200/Political Science 209 course at Queens College entitled "Media US and the Middle East." The New York Times is part of our required course documents.

Summary on syllabus:
This course examines the role of the media in the history and current politics of the Middle East, focusing on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Special attention will be given to the media's role in covering and influencing the conflict and efforts to mediate, if not resolve it. The course will also examine key historical events in the Middle East with an eye on American interests, values, and policies in the region. Our historical journey will not be strictly linear. We will begin with the pair of developments this summer: Hamas's military seizure of power in Gaza and the Bush administration's peace initiative (featuring a Middle East peace "meeting"/"conference" scheduled for later this year). We will examine how a broad range of American, Middle Eastern, and other international media framed these two events. The course will then explore a number of selective historical moments and the competing narratives that are associated with them.

Students will be asked to examine their own preconceptions, assumptions, and preferences regarding this conflict in terms of their relation to media sources. This course is one segment of an innovative curriculum on the Middle East, entitled 'America in the Middle East: Clash of Civilizations or Meeting of the Minds,' sponsored in part by grants from the Ford Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative.

In addition to having the opportunity to meet and discuss issues with prominent journalists, policy makers, negotiators, and analysts from the US and the Middle East, students will enjoy delicious Middle Eastern repasts at no extra charge. OUr distinguished guests will include General (Res.) Eival Gilady, Rob Malley, Khalil Shikaki, Shlomo Ben Ami, Omar Dajani, and Ethan Bronner (Deputy Foreign Editor, NY Times).





General Eival Giladi will be speaking in class on September 25, 2o07. Ethan Bronner will be speaking in class on October 9, 2007.


Next posts:

• What framing is, what should be looked for when trying to determine frame
  
• reflections on readings
• determining your own frame
• reflections on meetings with officials
• posts of important news stories
• selection of topic/thesis for project