The US media have long been criticized for taking a myopic view of world events. Reporting became less insular following the events of 9/11. But how and what US media choose to report still leaves foreign news organizations aghast. For the most part, we don’t know what we’re missing; although the Internet does provide inquiring minds access to other news outlets.
I sometimes find it interesting to see how a major news event in the US is presented elsewhere. So I was intrigued by a work I came across during a recent visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
As part of “The Pictures Generation, 1974-1984” special exhibition (April 21-August 2, 2009), artist Sarah Charlesworth reproduced the front page from 45 newspapers across the globe on April 21, 1978. All text other than that on the mast heads has been removed, leaving only the front page photos.
On this particular date, Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro, who was being held in captivity by the Red Brigade, was pictured holding a newspaper in an effort to prove he was still alive following previous reports of his assassination.
Presenting only the front page photos eliminates any language barriers and allows Charlesworth to quickly convey the relative weight given the story around the world. Check it out.
Tags: journalism, newspapers, US media
