Media Spotlight I

San Francisco Chronicle
Deadly blasts rock Baghdad
2 women blamed for suicide bombs that killed 64 - worst attacks since U.S. surge peaked (International)

The Washington Post
After Months of Relative Calm, 2 Deadly Blasts Rock Baghdad (International)

The San Francisco Chronicle reports this article as straight news. The first paragraph includes the “what” and “where” immediately. They tell us that bombs tore through two popular pet markets on Friday, and killed at least 64 people.

In comparison, The Washington Post decided to report this story as a feature, so we learn most details about the story from an eye witness. The first paragraph here tells us the “when”, and the “what” is delayed until paragraph four when it was explained that, “the two bombings killed 58 people, according to Iraqi police, and wounded more than 170 others.”

The number of people killed and wounded is only one of many discrepancies found within the two stories. The Chronicle article tells us, “Since November, at least five women have been used to carry explosives that killed themselves and others.” However, the Post tells us, “there have been at least six female suicide bombers in different parts of Iraq.”

Although the sources were different, both newspapers agree that some witnesses and police said the two woman were mentally disabled, but neither had any proof that this was true.

The Chronicle was the only one that listed facts regarding the increased use of suicide vests according to the latest U.S. military statistics. They said, “In October, six were recorded. The number increased to eight in November, 10 in December and 15 in January.”

Other information seems to have been scaled down a bit. This occurs when the Chronicle mentions the Ghazel pet market is a favorite target of insurgents. They tell us, “This was the second bombing there since late November and the fifth since June 2006.” However, the Post tells us that the Ghazel market, “has been attacked at least four times in the past two years.”

The Post even makes things more confusing when it mentions that, “U.S. military officials said seven people were killed and 23 others wounded in the Ghazil market attack, while Iraqi police put the toll much higher: 45 killed and 105 wounded.”

Additionally, the Post said, “Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf, the Interior Ministry spokesman, said he believed the bombings were a coordinated effort by the Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq.” The Chronicle does not make any statement about who may have been behind the attacks.