Migrant Tales’2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism will be updated separately. To see other examples of opinionated journalism in Finland about cultural diversity, please go to this link.
Feb. 17
Suomi pelkää terroristeja vähemmän kuin naapurimaat (Helsingin Sanomat)
What’s wrong with this news story? Today’s front page of Helsingin Sanomat’s online edition has a picture of three black young men with the following headline: Finland fears terrorists less than its neighboring countries. For those interested in semiotics, the study of meaning-making, the philosophical theory of signs and symbols, today’s front page of Finland’s leading daily is a case in point in how the media reinforces stereotypes and prejudices. Did Helsingin Sanomat alert those in the picture that their faces could be connected to terrorism and that the story reinforces suspicion that black people could be involved in terrorism? Is Helsingin Sanomat suggesting that the next terrorist act will be carried out by black and Muslims? Had they forgotten that the biggest terrorist act in the Nordic region was committed in 2011 by a white Norwegian anti-jihadist crusader called Anders Breivik? Why didn’t the paper put a picture of Breivik? A lot of questions and few answers from the national media.
You obviously see what you want to see. Your usual complaint is how finnish media is white and minorities don’t get voice. Here minorities too have been asked about the article topic, but seems its once again all wrong in your opinion. Maybe you want opionated journalism where migrants get to be poster boys only for positive things and never in negative light?
This shouldnt surprise you Enrique, this is how journalism do in Usa to black people and Finland follows exactly the way US media does to black people. Now think about for a second, there\re many hard working black people living in Finland who does honest work and pay taxes and this is how we\re represented by the media. depicting us as a terrorist. Images are strong and they have a lasting effects on people, thats why it\s so important for the media. Luckily we have blogs like Migrant Tales and more should be created to challenge mainstream medias dishonesty about certain groups like us. Thank you Enrique and the Folks for this one. Keep up the good work.
Hi D4R, great to hear from you. What you mention is exactly the situation. Not only do black people and other migrants work hard and struggle to get by, they are disenfranchised by our white society. Migrants and minorities don’t have a say on education that is being taught to their children. Ignorance still reaches a notorious fever pitch in Finland on this front.