Truth or Fiction
...eading. Hearing one side of a story is significant but you can never really know the truth until you have understood two sides, as the saying goes “there is always two sides to every story”. However within this article the reporter has decided that there is only one which readers need to hear. They have provided no quotes from Sgrena herself and none from the driver of the vehicle. Could there be something which they don’t want readers to know? The article has no mention that US troops were not informed about the rescue mission, but also nothing stating that Italy had advised US military about the rescue either. By not providing this information readers are to believe that yes the US had no idea of the rescue, however if they had of provided the information about Italy advising the US about the rescue, readers may have been positioned to believe that it was no accident. There is no mention of the distance in which the vehicle was at when shot. If provided could it be said that the US military could see it was an Italian secret service agent or maybe even hear him yelling “we are Italians, we are Italians”. Staging and sequencing allows reporters to choose what information will be put in the first paragraph and in the last. It allows them to either include a photo or a huge headline, depending on the effect they wish to receive. As this article was found on the internet the headline is the same size (24 bold) as the others. However this article was placed in the “Top Articles” section. This suggests to the readers that it is an important article and should be read. In the first two paragraphs the story has been summed up, they have also used strong adjectives which captivate and intrigues readers to read on. It also allows them to first set the scene themselves. The first quote included “Bush called Italian Prime Minister Silvio to express his regrets” immediately positions readers to believe that the shooting was an accident and that US is doing everything they can to overcome the situation. By the end of the article readers have read the line about Sgrena begging for her life as she was kidnapped, this enables readers to feel sympathy for her and allow the readers to finish the story with this emotion, forgetting that the vehicle she was in was speeding and that she could have prevented this accident. Providing a photo of Sgrena wounded with two people helping her make her look weak and helpless. This captures the readers’ attention and instantly positions readers to feel concern and compassion for Sgrena as she is positioned as a victim. Linguistic devices allow reporters to use different language techniques to position readers. By doing so reporters are able to position readers to believe one side of a story, or create emotion towards a certain figure within the article, also making it possible for readers to imagine the scene or incident. The heading “Freed hostage shot dead by US” suggests to readers that the shooting was no accident. Using the words ‘shot dead’ almost implies that it was a cold and blood thirsty killing, however this was not the case. The quote “…supposed to be carrying her to safety…” again implies that the US shot Sgrena intentionally, the word ‘supposed’ positions the audience to believe that US were informed about the rescue, and therefore new that the vehicle they were shooting at was Sgrena’s. “….hail of bullets…” this assists in readers being able to imagine the scene of the shooting, it implies that hundreds of shots were fired, as if to kill the passengers intentionally, however another quote in the article “…several shots hit the car…” suggests that mealy a few shots were fired, positioning readers to think that the US Army were only trying to slow down or stop the vehicle. (False information maybe or do they need to get there facts right?) The words “mortally wounded” create sympathy towards the man whom was shot. It positions readers to feel hatred and disgust towards the US military, and compassion towards the man who was shot, as they earlier on describe as a heroic and brave man, who is willing to loose his own life to save another. EX-HOSTAGE TOLD TO MIND HER LANGUAGE This article contains quotes mainly from the Justice Minister of Italy and Sgrena. However these quotes do not make readers believe Sgrena’s side of the story , but instead position readers to see that Sgrena speaks carelessly and can sometimes over-dramatise situations. They also state that Sgrena has no faith at all in the US and she has repeatedly suggested that the US shot her on purpose. They have included a quote from Sgrena saying that “that had she been more cautious in Baghdad, she perhaps would have not been kidnapped in the first place” this positions readers to see that Sgrena could have prevented this happening and therefore should not blame the US military. She has also stated that she might have over dramatized her kidnappers in her videotape, this has irked many Italians, and positions readers to see that Sgrena can sometimes over exaggerate situations. (Could this mean she has over dramatized this whole incident?) Incorporating quotes such as “Sgrena, I think should perhaps be more careful. She has said a load of nonsense, speaks somewhat carelessly and makes careless comments” and “She has created enough enormous problems for the Government and also caused grief that perhaps was better avoided” positions readers to question any statements in which Sgrena makes and also questions any thought that the US shot her on purpose. Excluded from this article is any evidence that the US was informed about the shooting, excluding this information positions readers to believe that the US had no idea about the rescue, thus had no idea whom was in the vehicle when shooting. They have provided no quotes from the driver of the vehicle, and none from Sgrena about the incident. However they have pro...