BBC Correspondent James Ingham's Reporting on Chavez's Call For Latin American Military Alliance

[The following post on the Media Lens message  board takes issue with the BBC's Venezuela correspondent James Ingham's reporting on last week's proposal by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega that Latin American countries form a joint military force to defend against outside intervention. For the post's author, the BBC "again refers to Chavez with the now obligatory prefix, the 'vehemently anti-US leader'. The effect is to caricature him and predispose people against taking him seriously." The post also argues that "you'd never hear Bush described as a 'vehemently anti-Venezuelan leader', even though the description is far more appropriate in his case." To read James Ingham's BBC article click here.]  

BBC bias on Chavez

Media Lens Message Board - http://www.medialens.org/board/

Posted by JamieSW   (jsternweiner) on January 28, 2008, 11:58 am

The BBC again refers to Chavez with the now obligatory prefix, the "vehemently anti-US leader". The effect is to caricature him and predispose people against taking him seriously.

I think it is legitimate to mention that Chavez has expressed hostility to the U.S. government in the context of a piece about him forming an alliance in opposition to the U.S., but you'd never hear Bush described as a "vehemently anti-Venezuelan leader", even though the description is far more appropriate in his case.

Further, the tone of the BBC piece implicitly portrays this "anti-U.S. alliance" as an aggressive one. For example, it describes Chavez' "fight against capitalism, globalisation and the US."

The one caveat indicating that the "alliance", such as it is, is a defensive one is the following line:

"Despite constant US denials, Mr Chavez is convinced it poses a serious threat to South and Central America."

But this is inadequate, for the reason explained so often on these boards: it presents a claim from Chavez (who has already been discredited as "vehemently anti-U.S.") and then contrasts it with a claim from the U.S. government. But no attempt is made to bring in relevant facts, like the U.S.-sponsored coup against Chavez or the long history of U.S. intervention in the region, that would help the reader to evaluate the respective claims.

http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/msg/1201521486.html

Comments

[Concerned Citizen]

"...but you'd never hear Bush described as a "vehemently anti-Venezuelan leader", even though the description is far more appropriate in his case. "

Is it, though? When was the last time Bush called Chavez the devil or regaled an audience about Chavez's "stink of sulfur?"

[thakur prasad]

AROUND 40 YEARS AGO A SPEECH WAS GIVEN BY CHE GUEVARE IN THE UNITED NATION WHEN HE WAS MINISTER IN CUBA.SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUSTATION WAS RAISED BY CHE. SO FOR ANSWER IS CONCERN HIS QUESTION HAS NOT BEEN ANSWERED TILL DATE MORE THEN 40 YEARS PASSED. THE SAME QUESTION RAISED BY PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA MR HUGO CHAVEZ AT PRESENT. SEVERAL CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF SPONSERING TERRORISM BY BUSH AND GOVERNMENT OF UNITED STATES.MAIN STEEM MEDIA OF THE WORLD DO NOT KNOW ALL THAT DEVELOPEMENT? ARE BY KNOWING ALL THAT THEY ARE SILENT THAKUR PRASAD

[thakur prasad]

Hugo cgavez is organising latin amrican countries,most regarded human being of this planet Castro is with him. now the latin amrican leaders as well as caribbian are joining the movement of pro people globlasation. the struggling people of mexcio,haiti,honduras,nicaragua,costarica,venzuela,colambia,ecuador,peru,brazil,bolivia,chile are strongly standing behind chavez castro and curriea.a larz no of poor people with in united states are comming to join them in my vew that is the bright future of this planet and this 21st century will be witness. thakur prasad

[poker en ligne]

I think it is legitimate to mention that Chavez has expressed hostility to the U.S. government in the context of a piece about him forming an alliance in opposition to the U.S.

[rencontre celibataire]

There will always be conflicts between the United States and the countries of Latin America. It must be a political will I think. Which is a shame because there are so many beautiful things in Latin America and especially of high-level engineers who could provide much in the United States ...