Understanding the Violence in Libya Through Two Lenses, One of Objectivity and One of Bias

The violence in Bani Walid is more clearly understood through a U.S. news organization than through an Arab organization, because the former is more impartial and the information it’s relaying is not occurring in its area.

In reading about the violence in Libya, in Bani Walid (which had been Moammar Gadhafi’s stronghold), there are more differences than similarities when comparing this international news item discussed in a FOX News article (titled: Fighting flares anew in western Libyan stronghold of Gadhafi regime backers) [Source: click 'here'], versus how its discussed in an Al Arabiya News article (titled: U.N. chief ‘alarmed’ by Libya fighting, calls on Libyans to resolve Bani Walid standoff peacefully) [source: click 'here']. From these two articles, I trust the U.S. news organization (FOX) more, as it looks at it from an outside, unbiased perspective, whereas the latter organization (Al Arabiya News), which is called “the leading news channel in the Arab world” (Source: click 'here'), looks at it more from the perspective of preserving the old way of power in Libya under Gadhafi; the region is so heavily in need of a more structured leadership at this time, that their feelings are reflected in the news of their region.

Al Arabiya logo (Source- click 'here')

The basic information presented in both articles (FOX News and Al Arabiya News) is still similar in some ways. from who is involved in the conflict to the struggling new regime in Libya.

Both articles begin by describing how there is fighting in Bani Walid, and describe how its occurring as the new government is having a hard time building up its authority. With the end of Gadhafi’s regime has come conflict between those who have been pro-Gadhafi and preserving his stronghold and those who are anti-Gadhafi and want to take it over.

Although there are some similarities between the two articles, there are more differences. The FOX News article looks at the issue more from both sides of those who are fighting (the defenders of the stronghold for Gadhafi versus those pro-government, those against him trying to take over the stronghold). The Al Arabiya News article, however, looks at it primarily from the perspective of the pro-government militias as the ones who are the “troublemakers” and are causing all the problems.

Fox News states the issue, looking at it from an outside perspective, and describes how peace should be something that happens, but is going to be hard to achieve with a new government being constructed. Al Arabiya News looks at it more from the Arab perspective, old-regime perspective, that the whole international community is keeping its eyes out and peace must be happen as quickly as possible. While Fox portrays both sides as contributing to the conflict in Bani Walid, Al Arabiya places all its focus on the problems the pro-government is causing and the protestors speaking up as a result.

These differences between the two articles are extended by describing how some things are mentioned are mentioned in one article, but are not included in the other, from emphasis on the anniversary of Libya’s liberation, to emphasis on the protestors breaking into the parliament of Libya.

The Fox News article stresses how this clash is occurring at the same time that some people are celebrating Libya’s liberation from Gadhafi.  From fireworks to other festivities, it is bizarre to have this happening at the same time of this clash in Bani Walid. How can peace be made when those pro-Gadhafi and anti-Gadhafi are going to be fighting it out? As Fox as emphasizes, the whole reason the government moved forward to take control of Bani Walid was because someone who was anti-Gadhafi was killed. There’ve been reports that the Bani Walid fighters have been firing at those pro-government and using civilians as shields in order to prevent those pro-government from advancing. The Al Arabiya article, however, doesn’t mention how this clash between the two sides is occurring at the same time celebration is occurring. Furthermore, unlike the FOX News article brings up, it also doesn’t talk about the medical problems resulting in the region (hospital not functioning, doctors running away, no supplies to take care of people, etc.). Al Arabiya also doesn’t mention the exact reasoning behind the government’s decision to advance into that territory. Unlike the Fox News article, however, Al Arabiya DOES mention and actually heavily focuses on those protestors stressing that violence end immediately. It repeatedly brings up the protestors throughout the article. It also puts a lot of the blame on the pro-government militias as the primary ones stirring up trouble in the area and killing and wounding all those people.

It is clear that more differences than similarities exist between the two news sources who have covered this same story. FOX seems to take a more impartial approach in this case, while Al Arabiya takes a more one-sided approach (siding with the old-regime and wanting to blame it all on the militias).  It is interesting to compare the two articles and see how two people may understand the same topic of news from two totally different perspectives.