Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, iran president
The Listening Post

Media circus for Ahmadinejad in US

Plus how the media analyses Osama bin Laden’s videos and viral videos on the net.

undefined
Demonstrations outside Columbia University where Ahmadinejad was invited to speak [AFP]
This week on The Listening Post, Richard Gizbert analyses the media circus surrounding Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the US and also takes a look at how the news media analyses Osama Bin Laden’s videos. We also review the latest viral video making waves on the net. One is the shocking footage of an American university student being Tasered and the other is a clip of one of pop star Britney Spears’ most vocal fans.

Top of the show this week, we take a critical look at the news media’s handling of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the US. The Iranian president was reluctantly cleared to enter America to participate in the UN annual General Assembly, but the simple fact of his presence on US soil created bigger media waves than his actual UN address did. It was a clash of media agenda’s – Ahmadinejad’s agenda and the agenda of US news organisations. “The Evil has landed”, “Go to Hell” and “Access of Evil” screamed the headlines.

undefined
 One of Osama bin Laden’s videos
Ahmadinejad’s Q&A session at Columbia University in New York generated more column inches and airtime than his UN address. An antagonistic introduction from the University’s president was broadcast around the world and this time round the holocaust-denying president caused a stir by claiming homosexuality did not exist in Iran.

Our other big story is on Osama Bin Laden’s surprising foray into the world of blogging. As well as posting his own video messages, it seems that Bin Laden is also a keen reader of blogs. We caught up with one blogger who was referenced in Bin Laden’s latest video clip.

undefined
A parent whose child died attempting to reach
the Canary Islands
In Newsbytes, we update you on the other big media stories. The Spanish government has launched a $1.4m television advertising campaign to dissuade West Africans from migrating to Spain.

The advert shows disturbing images of people who have died attempting the 12-day crossing from Senegal to the Canary Islands.

In the US, Hillary Clinton made an impressive appearance on five Sunday morning talk shows reeling off identical facts and soundbites. Less impressive is the footage of a university student being Tasered by campus security for becoming too vocal in his questioning of John Kerry. The video is the latest of many clips of students being attacked by trigger-happy US university police.

undefined
Chris Crocker on Youtube with his sobbing plea to people to ‘leave Britney alone’
We also take a quick look at state run television. This week’s offering is from the Ukraine, where army recruits are lured by images of adoring female fans.

And finally, our video of the week features Chris Crocker, Youtube’s latest shining star. He made it big with his sobbing plea to people to ‘leave Britney alone’. Are those crocodile tears? Decide for yourself.

 
 
 
Watch this episode of The Listening Post here:
 

Part 1:
 
Part 2:
This episode of The Listening Post aired from 28th September 2007
 
Send us your videos
 
If you have a video you would like us to see, click here to send it to us.
 
If you are unsure how to do a video blog here are some hints and tips for video blogging.


To contact us click on ‘Send your feedback’ at the top of the page

 
 
Join our debates on the Your Views page