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Burma Cuts the Internet: How Will US Media Respond?

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Friday, 28 September 2007

As you've probably heard, the Burmese dictatorship has begun cutting off communications, especially the internet, so they can go about their brutality with a minimum of fuss. It's not at all unlike the film cliché of a home invader who cuts the phone lines before the mayhem starts. And btw, the fallen photographer at lower right in the photo below has died of his injuries.

The last few days have seen a decent amount of US media coverage of the growing mess. But there's a media truism that "if it bleeds, it leads."

In other words, if a tightrope walker falls in Chicago, does it make the news? It kinda depends on the quality of the footage. If there's none, it's a small item on page 8A in the newspaper. If there's cell-phone footage, it winds up on YouTube, and if somebody got it in HD, it's on every cable news channel within 24 hours. And if he lands on Mike Ditka, it's in the news and the sports.

I have no idea if Burma can really successfully cut off the outside world these days. Let's hope not. But here's the thing: if they do, I wonder how long the repression will remain on America's radar screen. Will CNN and the like continue reporting on the issue, even without the frequent heroin-hits of fresh video violence?

I honestly don't pretend to know the answer. But as long as we, the news consumers, are paying attention to Burma, we might as well notice just how and when the news producers care just as much.