Baghdad as “Fun City”

Analysis:

The ongoing war and occupation in Iraq has been receiving less coverage in the local news than previously seen. This short story about “fun city” was the only Iraq coverage on FOX 17 that day. This story does little to inform the viewer about the reality in Iraq. The story does acknowledge the “car bombs and terror in the streets” but is framed in a way to give the impression that things are improving since the amusement park is now open. This way of framing the story obscures the fact that violence and disorder are increasing in Iraq, not the opposite.

Story:

WXMI Newsreader – Despite the war that has torn its county apart, sounds of fun are returning slowly to the heart of Baghdad, it’s our Freeze Frame tonight. Fun City is an older amusement park built three decades ago in the Eastern side of the city. It closed during the U.S. led invasion and is slowly coming back to life. Families are going there to unwind, laugh, and escape the car bombs and terror in their streets.

Total Time: 23 seconds