Review of NPR Reminds Readers of NYT

"The Two Sides of One Wall: NPR Reports on the Mideast"; By Mike Hale; C2

Although the NPR report is called "Israel's Barrier," the title NYT selects for its review of the report uses the word "wall," a term which is mostly inaccurate. Those who are anti-Israel call it a wall in all instances. "Wall" is used once more in the article and in the caption for a photo, but the more accurate word, barrier, is not employed once. 

Beneath the photo of an Israeli patrolman walking along the barrier, the text reads, "the wall that divides Israel from the Palestinian West Bank." This language will confuse readers about the barrier's intent. Its purpose is to protect Israelis from suicide bombers, not to "[divide] Israel from the Palestinian West Bank." In addition, the "West Bank" is neither Israeli nor Palestinian, as it is disputed. 

The fourth paragraph, which operates as the he said-she said component of the article, begins with "vignettes" sympathetic to Palestinians, blithely mentions the 90% reduction in suicide bombing targeting Israelis since the barrier's construction, and then caps off with more pro-Palestinian cant. 

In conclusion, Mike Hale questions the wisdom of the topic NPR has chosen for its new feature, the multimedia report, since more pressing domestic concerns are at hand. Hale might similarly question NYT, which has been covering news in Israel as if its headquarters were in Tel Aviv. 

The decision, Hale suggests, is largely a function of NPR's being "locked in a comfort zone," wherein its listeners gobble up whatever it produces. A similar remark could be made about NYT.