Impartiality: Confusing us yet again.

By now, I have recognised the outright impartiality of the media , who are the ones often  covering the most news-worthy stories. Two different outlets covering the same story can lead to two totally different views and opinions on the subject. This creates two conflicting articles that, if read one after the other, would cause ones mind to form a hovering distrust of journalist’s reports and abandon reading them altogether. 

I’m sure by now we have all heard of the shocking incident of an assault of a nine-year-old girl holidaying in Bali. The facts I know so far is that she was sleeping; a man took her away and did something terrible to her. But that is where it ends. This is because, at the moment, when trying to figure out what really happened to her, I have so many inconsistent pieces of media thrown at me, it’s hard to understand what took place.

So when I first decided to look further into this, I was confronted with a shocking headline:

But then reading further, it was detailed as not actually rape but 'Suspecting of Molesting'. 

Although both are terrible experiences and vile in their nature, the word RAPE springs different images into our mind than SUSPECTED OF MOLESTING. To me, the former is a violent, planned, painful, hate filled experience, while the former could be something  less violent, such as a man on a bus sneaking a quick ass grab. 

Upon further research, I discovered another headline which conflicted with my prior feelings towards the case:

The headline 'BALI DRIVER ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING AUSTRALIAN GIRL', does not connjour up images as vile as the last one. To me, this implies he was simply 'accused', almost as though we should sympathize with him for being 'accused' of such an act. Furthermore, the photos in the first headline convince me that he is more guilty than in the above picture, which almost seems as if he is pleading his innocence to the police. 

Who knows, I supposed it isn't as important as what I make it out to be, but I still thought it was interesting... Do journalists plan their headlines and pictures carefully to sway the viewer? 90% certain. 

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One more thing I would like to mention is the coverage of this story in damaging Indonesia's already tarnished reputation. Although this 'attempted rape' of a white, young Australian girl is tragic, it makes me wonder why there are no articles about the amount of nine-year-old Balinese children being sexually exploited by Australian men.  

I won't sit here and pretend it doesn't happen. I've been to Bali, I've been to Manila. I have seen the young twelve year old girl's dressed to look at least seventeen year old sexual beings. I've seen the hunger in the eye of walking white tourists, every pedophiles playground. 

Just something interesting to let the ethical side of your brain to consider.