Close This website uses modern features that are not supported by your browser. Click here for more information.
Please upgrade to a modern browser to view this website properly. Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Opera Safari
your legal news hub
Sub Menu
Search

Search

Filter
Filter
Filter
A A A

Racism clouds coverage of aircraft tragedy

Publish date: 18 March 2019
Issue Number: 815
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Media

Some of the media reporting around the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 have tended to repeat and reflect portrayals of the ‘dark continent’. In a Mail & Guardian analysis, Patrick Gathara notes that while Africans have previously flailed helplessly at the offerings by the Western press, the ‘reflexive insensitivity’ over this tragedy is different. He points out that The New York Times learnt this lesson when it published graphic photographs from the terror attack on the Dusit D2 Hotel complex in Nairobi in January, receiving heavy criticism both within Kenya and from across the continent. As lists of the nationalities of the dead passengers and crew were published online, AP offered up a curated list in a tweet that read: ‘BREAKING: Authorities say Canadians, Chinese, Americans, Italians, Indians, French, British, Egyptians among those killed in Ethiopian plane crash.’ ‘The tweet omitted entirely to acknowledge that 32 Kenyans were amongst the dead, the highest number of fatalities of any country, or the nine Ethiopians that died. Apparently the deaths of Africans are only newsworthy if they die in biblical numbers from some terrible famine or savage civil war. Other media houses and reporters were also keen to rehash the old stereotypes of African incompetence and recklessness. One anchor on Turkey’s TRT World was keen to emphasise that Ethiopian Airlines had a “poor safety record” and a “history of hijackings”, despite the fact that it remains one of the safest airlines in the world. The “history of hijackings” to which she referred amounted to one tragic incident in 1996, in which 125 of the 175 passengers and crew on board were killed. However, as aviation analyst Alex Macheras points out: “Claiming Ethiopian Airlines is an airline with a poor safety record because of hijacking attempts over the past 20 years is irresponsible. By that logic, American Airlines, United & Air France are also airlines with …poor safety records.’

Full analysis in the Mail & Guardian

We use cookies to give you a personalised experience that suits your online behaviour on our websites. Otherwise, you may click here to learn more, or learn how to block or disable cookies. Disabling cookies might cause you to experience difficulties on our website as some functionality relies on cookie information. You can change your mind at any time by visiting “Cookie Preferences”. Any personal data about you will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.