WASHINGTON — The world has been mourning the almost 20 people killed around Paris on Jan. 7 and 9 in some of the most vicious radical Islamic terror attacks in Europe in recent years. The horrific assaults prompted displays of solidarity for France and an international conversation about whether Europe is prepared to confront homegrown extremism.
But far from France — in countries including Mali, Pakistan, Lebanon and Somalia — there were at least 12 other terrorist attacks that week. These atrocities received far less attention, though they left at least 85 people dead and about 186 wounded.
Perhaps most jarring is what’s happening in Nigeria.
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“We’re all examining the soul of our nation when shootings happen in some areas and it’s not even news when shootings happen in the other areas,” she said. “It’s a very similar mentality.”
Studies show journalists do attempt to push media consumers out of their comfort zones, Oates said, but readers are often resistant.
“Westerners have a hard time identifying with people in Africa,” Oates said. “On the upside, it’s not like they’re considered an enemy, but on the downside, they don’t get a lot of attention since they’re neither friends nor enemies — we don’t write about them. They’re not dramatic, [and] that’s not interesting.”
