But Which is the "Top Story?"

Earlier today, I learned via Instapundit about this excellent post on Publius Pundit about the various pro-freedom protests breaking out all over the world. (The post describes or points to other posts that describe a dozen of these in various levels of detail.) But when I was getting ready to check email at myway.com, which is the lone protest I see noted by the news feed? None of the above. The top story of "Top Stories," complete with a photo was the one about the protest organized by Hezbollah in Lebanon! Via Instapundit again, is a blog on said protest. From said entry is this:

One could be overly afraid of the large numbers who attended this demonstration (although it's hard to tell how much of the turnout was coerced, which I bet a lot was). However, the perceived need to demonstrate in this way shows me that these guys are desperate. Think about it; they're protesting against the removal of an occupying force. I wonder how many of these same folks are for the immediate removal of US troops from Iraq?

Here's a hilarious juxtaposition:

Large cranes hoisted two giant red-and-white flags bearing Lebanon's cedar tree. On one, the words, "Thank you Syria," were written in English; on the other, "No to foreign interference."

First of all, having them written in English shows who the intended audience was; not Lebanon or Syria, but the US. And think about it; with one side they thank foreign occupiers while on the other side they call for the removal of foreign occupiers. One sign in the accompanying picture has both "Syria=Yes" and "USA=Out" on it. Go thou and figure.

Yes. My immediate thought was that much of the turnout was coerced, but I have to admit that I was slow to connect the dots on the bit about the intended audience.

Although journalism is not, strictly speaking, an art, it is instructive to think of it in terms of art for a moment. If art is, as Ayn Rand put it, "a selective recreation of reality according to an artist's metaphysical value judgments," what does the decision by a major media outlet such as the Associated Press to trumpet this story, rather than the larger one (or any of its interesting component parts) described by Publius Pundit, say about its editorial priorities? Really. What is, objectively speaking, the bigger story? The millionth government (or terrorist) "sponsored" anti-American protest with signs in English in the Middle East, or the fact that there is a stinking DOZEN pro-freedom protests going on almost simultaneously?

Reynolds asks: "[I]s Hizbollah desperate, and afraid of democracy?" We could also ask what the AP might be afraid of. Irrelevance? Democracy? Having to work to gather news rather than having it predigested and spoon-fed from members of various government press organs? Whatever the answer might be, it is clear that they are not afraid to send their crews to film an event staged by a known terrorist organization.

Interesting.

-- CAV

P.S. Be sure to check out Cox and Forkum's cartoon, commentary, and links on this very story. Also, Tracinski looks at this from another angle. He says that the staged demonstration (instead of, say, a Hezbollah bombing or Syrian clampdown) represents a victory for the good guys: The bad guys now have to play by our rules. Cox, Forkum, and Tracinski show, once again, why they're making money at what I do as a hobby: They unfailingly deliver incisive commentary and make it look easy! Good stuff!

Updates

3-9-05: Added a link to Cox and Forkum's cartoon.