What is the world talking about? Or more specifically, what is the world media dispensing for conversational topics? A quick look at the online equivalent of five random newspapers reporting from five diverse geographic locations shows that Cairo’s citizen revolt and the subsequent pressures on its longtime president is big news.
But that is not an across-the-board common denominator of global reporting. Just three of the five news outlets mention the continuing crisis. Local and regional news carries the day, whether it’s the India Times report on Mumbai mafia, China’s disappointing loss at the Australia Open Tennis championship or the Canadian pizza delivery driver assaulted during her run.
Here is a brief sampling of today’s front page news from China, India, Japan, Canada and the global voice of Al Jazeera.
China – January 29, 2011
Today the Global edition of the Chinese internet voice, Xinhua.net features a running slide show in the center of its three column spread. The photos are teasers for each main article, which leads with Belgian Kim Clijsters, the women’s champion of the Australian Open Tennis tournament, who defeated China’s Li Na. Beneath the photos, and just making the top fold, is a piece which reproduces comments made by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, emphasizing her country’s commitment to the Euro currency. The sidebar begins with a report on the formal resignation of the cabinet of President Mubarak of Pakistan followed by an apology by the Chinese representative of the French retailer Carrefour for overpricing customers in China.
India – January 29, 2011
The World edition of today’s The Times of India carries the bold headline, “Five blasts rock Pakistan” and reports on suicide bombings that killed eight and injured 18 in the Kohat tunnel, which links the country to Afghanistan. The left sidebar blares out, “Tanks at Egypt govt office,” and is set against a zoomed shot of protestors carrying a sign which reads: “NO TO… the POLICE STATE.” The far right box leads with a Mumbai story relating to the adulteration of products by mafia, and the government’s efforts to strengthen laws relating to the illegal activity.
Japan – January 29, 2011
The Asahi Shimbun English version newspaper carries strictly Asian-related content. Its main news for January 30, 2011 (due to time zone differential) is the final segment of a three-part series that deals with China’s economic development and focuses on biological research into stem cells at the Zhongguancun Life Science Park. The publication is part of the Asahi Shimbun Asia Network, described as a think tank to encourage networking and interplay among researchers, scholars and journalists. The network is based in Japan.
Canada – January 29, 2011
The front page of the Edmonton (Canada) Sun contains a mix of local and regional news but no international headlines and no images to lure in the eye. These include a report on the assault of a female pizza delivery driver, a news blurb titled, “Government helps black radio station get to air,” and a story relating to citizen’s arrest rule changes. The far right column is packed with the Latest News Stories, which include a sustainability carnival, the indictment of four in an Alberta drug bust and a notice that the Terwillegar Recreation Centre is open for business.
World Voice – January 29, 2011
Al Jazeera’s online newspaper devoted its entire top fold to sociopolitical events in Cairo and related stories. The publication contains a grainy photo of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak shaking hands with his incoming vice president, Omar Soliman. Mubarak has never had a vice president during his 30-year tenure as Pakistan’s president. This is offset by its article on the embattled president tapping a new prime minister, juxtaposed with an image of a Cairo protestor surrounded by tear gas. The section is titled, “Anger in Cairo.” At the top of its English version news, the paper runs a frequently updated ticker of breaking news. Al Jazeera is located in Doha, Qatar and has no central home base.
Sources
"Al Jazeera." 29 January 2011 2011 . World edition. 29 January 2011 <http://english.aljazeera.net/>.
"Global edition." 29 January 2011. Xinhua News. 29 January 2011 <http://www.xinhuanet.com/english2010/>.
"News - Canada." 29 January 2011. Edmonton Sun. 29 January 2011 <http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/canada/>.
"The Asahi Shimbun." 30 January 2011. Asahi.com. 29 January 2011 <http://www.asahi.com/english/>.
"World." 29 January 2011. The Times of India. 29 January 2011 <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/worldarticlelist/296589292.cms>.
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