There have, unfortunately, been two mass murders within the past week that are capturing headlines around the world. Namely the Chicago shooting and the Austrian SUV driver running into crowds. I'm wondering if anyone else is scratching their heads at the huge disparity in reporting approach between the two crimes?
Chicago Shooter
- named within hours
- his friends interviewed within hours
- his history revealed online, hourly stories in most media outlets
- President himself names him and gives opinion and condemnation within hours
- a movie of the week soon? New gun control laws by next month? If you believe the media... yes.
Austrian SUV Driver
- Local news outlets omitting the story completely so far, ie: U.S. Yahoo news
- 100% confirmation in U.S. versions of stories that it was not a hate crime or terrorist act despite him getting out and stabbing people after
- Refusal within the U.S. version of media stories to name the driver at all, or show his image
- Foreign outlets have named him immediately("Alen Rizvanovic, a 26 year old Muslim originally from Bihac")
When U.S. media outlets avoid one story, confirm the person's intentions as 100% not terrorist, but refuse to identify the person it makes you wonder why, and who the person is. When placed in sharp contrast to the hourly stories about the Chicago shooting you can't help but feel the size of the bias in reporting.
