Comments on: CNN, You should be ashamed

By: Kawthar

Kawthar — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:24:40 +0000

I just read this at the Washington Post: http://bit.ly/AM3jD

I think it’s even more problematic that CNN’s.

By: Adib

Adib — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:45:11 +0000

*Excellent* analysis – thank you!

By: G Cameron

G Cameron — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 11:11:28 +0000

Thanks for all of your comments.

I think this issue speaks to the responsibility of media to discover and communicate the truth, not just to ’show both sides’. I don’t believe there is such a thing as objectivity, but I do think that media should act without bias. Reporting on the situation of the Baha’is in Iran without bias means writing about what *actually* happens, as verified by innumerable third parties.

As Geron pointed out, it is positive that CNN thought to amend their article. Still, I don’t think it goes far enough. CNN is using the guise of pseudo-objectivity to disguise reporting that is not rigorous. They simply don’t bother to conduct even a superficial level of research.

By: Mona

Mona — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 01:36:10 +0000

No mention is made of the killings. Many, many people have been killed, including my name-sake, Mona and members of her family who were hanged. Her only “crime” was teaching children virtues as is taught in the Baha’i scriptures. Many Baha’is simply disappear after being forceably taken by government officials. There need to be more of a global public outcry so that the leaders of the world can take note when it comes to voting on Human Rights issues at the United Naitons.

By: Geron

Geron — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:53:31 +0000

It appears that the wording in the CNN article is now changed.

From: “Members of Baha’i – who think they are targeted …”

To: “Members of Baha’i — who say they are targeted …”

By: LizKauai

LizKauai — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:04:13 +0000

Good points!
I heard about the Apology a few hours ago from a Facebook post and had not seen the CNN report. Interesting that the CNN coverage calls it the “Baha’i faith”, the “Baha’i movement”, then “members of Baha’i”, then just “Baha’i”.

The appearance of “objective coverage” is consistent with CNN’s earlier reports like-
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/05/16/iran.bahais/index.html?iref=newssearch

It seems the CNN jury is out on whether the Baha’i Faith is a religion or not.

By: Kawthar

Kawthar — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 14:00:22 +0000

I can understand CNN’s need to appear objective when it comes to coverage of Iran, but even I – a non-Baha’i – was greatly disturbed by the above articles.

I was surprise that the claim that Baha’i women are “used as bait” was given credence