Østlandets Blad - 1 Story
1) Hoppende glad for USA-tur (Karin Hanstensen) 24 February 2007
http://www.oblad.no/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20070224/SPORT/102240058/1007/NYHETER
In this story, the title "Hopping Happy for USA Tour" is not correct. Pål Sørensen is not going to just the USA, but also to the country of Canada, and in fact two of the three Olympic cities he will visit listed in the story are in Canada, not in the USA. From the title the Norwegian journalist used, one would get the impression he is just touring the USA. In the body of the story itself Canada is mentioned, but not in the title. Canada of course, is not located in the USA, but perhaps the Norwegian journalist thinks it is? Or perhaps there is more status to mention going to the USA than to Canada? In an e-mail to the Norwegian journalist about the mistake, she writes: "I know it should said both countries. Unfortunately it was not enough space on the page for both of them in the title. Canada is mentioned in the rest of the story. So it is not forgotten, and I know that it is two different countries." If this is the case, then why doesn't the title read: "Hoppende glad for Canada-tur"? It appears he is going to more Canadian Olympic cities from the content, so why does Canada get cut out, and not the USA? Is it not as prestigious for Norwegians to travel to Canada or Canadian Olympic cities as cities in the USA (especially if from the content of the story more Canadian Olympic cities than US Olympic cities are being visited)? In the Norwegian journalist mindset is the "USA" the only country of the three countries in North America that seems to matter to Norwegians? It seems many Norwegian journalists write in reply to questions from Norwegian Media Watch that they "know Canada and the USA are two different countries"; yet in practice many Norwegian stories Canada is rarely given equal treatment, or is completely removed from the story. When given a choice it seems Canada and the Canadian content seems to get cut out, even in stories where the Canadian content is equal or more to the USA content. Why? It seems many of these journalists don't wish to really highlight or report on the Canadian aspect of the story; is that too boring? Why the less than fair treatment of Canada in Norwegian stories relating to Canada? Norwegian Media Watch has never asked for more treatment for Canada and Canadians in Norwegian reporting, just fair treatment. In Canada, if Canadian news stories constantly placed Norway news as part of Sweden or Germany, Norwegians would not appreciate this, so why should Canadians accept less than equal treatment in the Norwegian press? Norwegian Media Watch asked to have the title corrected to be accurate to read: "Hoppende glad for Canada og USA-tur", but apparently there is not enough space for Canada, just for the USA. Perhaps a slightly smaller heading point size would make enough room? If the Norwegian was for example, touring 10 cities in North America, lets say 7 in Canada, and 3 in the USA would Canada still not be mentioned in the title? How many more Canadian cities than USA cities have to be visited in order to get Canada as part of the title? My guess is that Canada would not be mentioned in the title, as it is not as important to the Norwegian journalists and they would want to make it look as though Norwegians are being successful in the USA. Is it not worth mentioning about "little Canada"? Why is there such double standards and discriminatory treatment of Canada and Canadians in the Norwegian press? Why are so many stories where Canada is excluded, deleted from the content, or even worse - Canadian stories that the content is changed to look American?
In this story, the title "Hopping Happy for USA Tour" is not correct. Pål Sørensen is not going to just the USA, but also to the country of Canada, and in fact two of the three Olympic cities he will visit listed in the story are in Canada, not in the USA. From the title the Norwegian journalist used, one would get the impression he is just touring the USA. In the body of the story itself Canada is mentioned, but not in the title. Canada of course, is not located in the USA, but perhaps the Norwegian journalist thinks it is? Or perhaps there is more status to mention going to the USA than to Canada? In an e-mail to the Norwegian journalist about the mistake, she writes: "I know it should said both countries. Unfortunately it was not enough space on the page for both of them in the title. Canada is mentioned in the rest of the story. So it is not forgotten, and I know that it is two different countries." If this is the case, then why doesn't the title read: "Hoppende glad for Canada-tur"? It appears he is going to more Canadian Olympic cities from the content, so why does Canada get cut out, and not the USA? Is it not as prestigious for Norwegians to travel to Canada or Canadian Olympic cities as cities in the USA (especially if from the content of the story more Canadian Olympic cities than US Olympic cities are being visited)? In the Norwegian journalist mindset is the "USA" the only country of the three countries in North America that seems to matter to Norwegians? It seems many Norwegian journalists write in reply to questions from Norwegian Media Watch that they "know Canada and the USA are two different countries"; yet in practice many Norwegian stories Canada is rarely given equal treatment, or is completely removed from the story. When given a choice it seems Canada and the Canadian content seems to get cut out, even in stories where the Canadian content is equal or more to the USA content. Why? It seems many of these journalists don't wish to really highlight or report on the Canadian aspect of the story; is that too boring? Why the less than fair treatment of Canada in Norwegian stories relating to Canada? Norwegian Media Watch has never asked for more treatment for Canada and Canadians in Norwegian reporting, just fair treatment. In Canada, if Canadian news stories constantly placed Norway news as part of Sweden or Germany, Norwegians would not appreciate this, so why should Canadians accept less than equal treatment in the Norwegian press? Norwegian Media Watch asked to have the title corrected to be accurate to read: "Hoppende glad for Canada og USA-tur", but apparently there is not enough space for Canada, just for the USA. Perhaps a slightly smaller heading point size would make enough room? If the Norwegian was for example, touring 10 cities in North America, lets say 7 in Canada, and 3 in the USA would Canada still not be mentioned in the title? How many more Canadian cities than USA cities have to be visited in order to get Canada as part of the title? My guess is that Canada would not be mentioned in the title, as it is not as important to the Norwegian journalists and they would want to make it look as though Norwegians are being successful in the USA. Is it not worth mentioning about "little Canada"? Why is there such double standards and discriminatory treatment of Canada and Canadians in the Norwegian press? Why are so many stories where Canada is excluded, deleted from the content, or even worse - Canadian stories that the content is changed to look American?
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