Channel Four's 'Unreported World' displays right-wing bias
New Internationalist | 19.05.2007 01:43 | Analysis | Globalisation | Social Struggles | World
Channel Four has been showing a documentary series for a couple of years about Third World problems. It is broadcast for half an hour on Fridays from 6:30 to 7:00pm. The 'Unreported World' programme may be of interest to some global activists. What is less obvious is the inherent right-wing bias in the reporting of this programme.
In a recent edition of the programme, the American reporter politically attacked the democratically elected left-wing President of Bolivia, Evo Morales.
Insinuations of politically motivated violence were accused, despite that the peasant underclass who voted for him are subservient to the wealthy in the South American state.
This right wing bias in this programme has also manifested itself in reports about Chinese farmers thrown off their land by the capitalist regime there, and in India where Maoist insurgents fight for better living standards for their families during an economic boom for the ruling class.
This documentary series is clearly designed to appeal to Third World activists whilst presenting a distorted and pro-state, pro-capitalist view of these countries and their economic situations.
A similar bias was presented by millionaire TV presenter, Krishnan Guru-Murthy in a recent programme about India's impoverished peoples.
The essence of the distortion is to accuse the impoverished of Third World countries as being terrorists if they fight for food, health and livelihood.
It is clear that "social being determines social consciousness". Or in other words that poverty in the midst of plenty breeds anger and disillusionment with the current world order.
Any activists who watch this programme should bear these things in mind.
Insinuations of politically motivated violence were accused, despite that the peasant underclass who voted for him are subservient to the wealthy in the South American state.
This right wing bias in this programme has also manifested itself in reports about Chinese farmers thrown off their land by the capitalist regime there, and in India where Maoist insurgents fight for better living standards for their families during an economic boom for the ruling class.
This documentary series is clearly designed to appeal to Third World activists whilst presenting a distorted and pro-state, pro-capitalist view of these countries and their economic situations.
A similar bias was presented by millionaire TV presenter, Krishnan Guru-Murthy in a recent programme about India's impoverished peoples.
The essence of the distortion is to accuse the impoverished of Third World countries as being terrorists if they fight for food, health and livelihood.
It is clear that "social being determines social consciousness". Or in other words that poverty in the midst of plenty breeds anger and disillusionment with the current world order.
Any activists who watch this programme should bear these things in mind.
New Internationalist
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