[Previous entry: "Bruce Schneier in Turnrow"] [Next entry: "Don't feel like a statement!"]

07/22/2005: "The media and hate crimes"

A former local aboriginal leader, David Ahenakew, was charged and now found guilty of wilfully promoting hatred (against Jews in this case).

During the proceedings of this incident, starting from the first reporting of the interview until now, nearly every article I have come across has repeated the critical text from the hate propaganda Ahenakew used. Given that the statements themselves are not necessary to each article about the proceedings, could the media outlets doing the repeating themselves be legitimately accused of hate crimes? The only exemption I can see that the media might have is that the reporting would be "in the public interest". While I have no problems with reporting the issues being in the public interest, the nearly endless repetition of the hate propaganda itself is not necessary.