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As pro-democracy protests in Egypt gained momentum last week an Egyptian blogger and journalist made an appeal to the mainstream media. During an interview on CNN, Mona Eltahawy said the situation was most accurately described as an “uprising” or a revolt”, not as “chaos” and “unrest”. The New York Times reports that soon after the interview CNN’s banner headline was changed, from “Chaos in Egypt” to “Uprising in Egypt.” While most media aim for objective reporting, language is rarely neutral and descriptors easily become inaccurate or biased. When Mubarak supporters began attacking peaceful protesters in Tahrir Square Tuesday night, headlines blared, “protests turn violent” and attacks were called “clashes” between groups. However the violence was coming from one group against another. As events in the country have evolved the organization Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, or FAIR, has been following the mainstream media missteps. Yesterday, veering far from the description of events from other media outlets, USA Today put their own spin on the more violent pro-Mubarak supporters who were widely being identified as plain-clothed police carrying out an orchestrated government crackdown. USA Today reported that pro-Mubarak supporters were mostly civilians concerned that free elections would allow Islamic Extremism to rule Egypt. The newspaper also downplayed the brutality of pro-Mubarak supporters who were whipping protesters while riding through crowds on camel back, calling them pyramid workers protesting economic conditions.

GUEST: Steve Rendall, Senior Analyst, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting

Find out more at www.fair.org.