GLOBAL EXPRESS

The Rapid Response Information series for Schools on Development issues in the News

THE MEDIA AND DEVELOPMENT

The Power of images

"If you know nothing about a people, you can believe anything".
Dervla Murphy, writer

What images come into your mind when you think about Africa, Asia or Latin America?

Where do you think your images come from?

news reports

films

charity adverts

visiting the places myself

talking to people from the places

the internet

somewhere else

Images of the South (The Third World) in the media

"In general the Third World doesn't have much coverage. We tend to cover it with a single hit .. discover something terrible, cover it, leave it".
Micheal Buerk, news presenter. UK

Look closely at any newspaper article on a news story from the Third world. What key words are used in the text?

rebels	dictator	victims	desert
struggle	drought	famine	kidnap
guerilla	starving	war	aid
refugee	kidnap	suffering	military

any others?

Why are certain kinds of words and images chosen about the South?

to sell newspapers?

to get people to donate money?

to grab people's attention?

to make people feel sorry for others?

"You go where there is trouble; you go where there is a disaster; you go to rep ort on these disasters. Disaster, trouble, fighting, bloodshed, killings. They make good television pictures."
Trevor McDonald, news presenter

How do you think people from the South feel about words and images that don't give the whole story?

Us and them Sometimes very different words are used to describe similar events or actions depending on the writers perspective.

Think about the way a news report might be written about a conflict between your country and another country.

What words might be used about your country, soldiers, actions, leaders etc.?

What words might be used might be used about the opposing country, soldiers, actions, leaders etc.?

When you have thought about the key words which might be used
look at the words which have been used by the British press in the past.

Adapted from Colonialism and It's Legacy " which is book 2 in the
Southern Perspectives on Development series for secondary schools produced by:

Development Education Project, 801 Wilmslow Road,
Didsbury, Manchester M20 2QR.Tel: (44) 161-445-2495. Fax: (44)161-445-2360
depman@gn.apc.org

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This site is under construction. We will update it regularly. GLO is written by Alison Norris from ODEC and Anne Strachan from Manchester DEP. Please send suggestions about the site to Alison.