In Their Headlines Should The Daily Mail Have Reported The Victims Colour Or Even Her Killers Religion?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2510542/Britains-white-honour-killing-Teenager-brutally-murdered-Muslim-lover-exposing-relationship-family.html

[mushroom25]

this matter went to court in 2011 and resulted in the perpetrator being sentenced in December of that year. This article is nothing more than an advert for a TV show on a per-to-view channel.

the question therefore should be, what's this doing featuring as a headline?

[jno]

colour: yes, if it really was a first.

Religion: no, I think honour killing is a cultural action rather than a Muslim one. (I'm not even certain this is an honour killing; it partly sounds like what the French call crime passionel.)

[jim360]

Given that this was apparently the first "White honour killing", and that such honour killings tend to occur in devout Muslin families, both seem rather integral to the story really.

[sp1814]

AOG

You asked;

"In Their Headlines Should The Daily Mail Have Reported The Victims Colour Or Even Her Killers Religion?"

Yes, because both are integral to the story.

[boxtops]

Very sad, but he's not the first Muslim lad to have had a load of flings with non-Muslim girls before he settles down to an arranged marriage. That's not, however, a reason for murder.

[sp1814]

Hang on...I've just read mushroom25's response.

I didn't realise this was an advert for a telly programme - I thought it was current news.

Doesn't change my response...although I'd be interested to see how the Daily Mail reported it when the case came to trial two years ago.

AOG - has the Daily Mail reported on this one before?

[mikey4444]

It would seem that the racial identity of both are germane to the story, so I can't see why not.

[FredPuli43]

Yes, why not. All those statements are essential to the story. This case is unusual, probably unique, taking it as an honour killing rather than a crime passionel, because it is not a case of a Muslim killing another Muslim. The victim was not one and the crime could therefore be described as the first white honour killing

Honour killing is not confined to Muslims, of course, but those in Britain have become associated with Muslims.

You don't appear to get the point, AOG. Mentioning someone's country of origin, there religion,their colour or their 'race' is perfectly right if it is relevant to the story. When it is of no relevance, what is the purpose of mentioning it ? One purpose is 'dog whistle'; hinting indirectly at something which appeals to some, a message to them, but which others will not notice. So, if your audience or readership, or part of it, dislikes immigrants, you may appeal to that by saying in your headline, for example, that the person concerned is a Polish suicide when his country of origin is entirely irrelevant.

[naomi24]

Yes. It's entirely appropriate.

[anotheoldgit]

Thank you for your answers and thank you also for your explanations.

I was just asking because some are keen to criticise Daily Mail headlines, and i was wondering if any had a particular criticism to make regarding it's wording over this.

[trt]

YES,
colour and religion is important to the unfortunate story!

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// AOG - has the Daily Mail reported on this one before? ///

Yes they did in March 2012

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2115984/Is-Britains-white-honour-killing-victim-The-happy-headstrong-girl-17-love-racial-divide-tragic-end.html

Here is an excerpt

*** Many believe that the key to preventing honour abuse in the long term lies in education. ***

*** Yet Jasvinder Sanghera approached more than 100 schools before finding one that was prepared to let her talk to pupils about forced marriage and honour-based abuse. ***

*** She says: ‘The schools all say the same old thing — we don’t want to offend communities.’ ***

I think that might be interesting for Andy Hughes to read because he generally states that 'education' is the answer.

[anotheoldgit]

mushroom25

/// This article is nothing more than an advert for a TV show on a per-to-view channel. ///

The BBC also broadcast a programme regarding this case back in 2012.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_9706000/9706773.stm

[jim360]

If education is not the answer, what is?

That said, that schools can sometimes seem closed to various ideas or approaches of this kind is both nothing new and something very troubling.

[sp1814]

Okay AOG - so now do you see the difference between this story and the story about the Pole?

[pixie373]

Not really. It's the murder of one individual by another.

[naomi24]

pixie, but the reason for the murder is crucial, therefore reporting it as it has been reported is absolutely right.

Education is the answer - but when educators are afraid of offending cultural sensibilities their principles have to be questioned.

[pixie373]

There is no reason. It's a,warped mind.

[naomi24]

Of course there's a reason. The murderer thought the victim had brought disgrace upon him.

[pixie373]

That isn't the reason, or we'd all do it. The reason is that he is a psychotic control freak. That is character, not colour or religion.