To twitch a bit at the way the BBC has positioned 'the first westerner has died of Ebola'

[BusyCee]

I understand editorial decisions are based on relevance of events. But it does rather suggest that the Africans who have so far died of Ebola are somehow less meaningful. It just really stood out for me when I heard the news on BBC Radio 4 at about 6 (and then again later on BBC R2 - slightly different script, but making the same point)

And I'm a huge advocate of the BBC.

I missed this. It is and similar to when they say there has been a plane crash/accident or disaster and emphasise the deaths of Westerners or people from particular countries.

its what they always do!
I'm more concerned that they brought him back here!

Yes, I winced when I heard the phrasing on R4. It wasn't comfortable.

Yes, but wasn't she a doctor? That sort of makes it a bigger deal since they died trying to help, when they could have refused the job in the first place.

Saggy Ebola isn't air born. As long as you aren't in contact with bodily liquids, you nor anyone else will catch it.

Hmm...not the best wording maybe.

But they have been reporting it quite regularly before now, I certainly didn't get the sense they are now more interested because a westerner has died. It is a significant event as someone has now died in another part of the world but important to note he contracted the disease in Liberia.

Also, they were trying to use a brand new treatment on him, so that is also very significant....BBC should of focussed on that side of it really rather than the fact he was a Westerner.

I think it's normal practise to show more detail of people from your own country in an international crisis. I am sure other countries focus more on their own losses - it doesn't mean we don't care about victims from other countries or appreciate the enormity of the tragedy for others.

www.theonion.com/articles/experts-ebola-vaccine-at-least-50-white-people-awa,36580/

Are'nt they just emphasising the risk of ebola reaching western countries. Scare mongering...or expressing the need for all of us to be on the ball with this serious deadly illness.

Are'nt they just emphasising the risk of ebola reaching western countries. Scare mongering...or expressing the need for all of us to be on the ball with this serious deadly illness.

Of course they will report it like that. It's much more relevant to us.

Not quite squiggly. He was the director of a hospital in Liberia where several of the staff have contracted the illness as, for a variety of reasons, they'd been looking after Ebola victims without the appropriate protective equipment. He was subsequently airlifted to Spain for treatment

This says nothing about any other Westerner's risk of getting Ebola unless they are planning on going to Liberia. Any report that uses this to emphasise th risk of us getting Ebola here is absolutely scare-mongering.

? Sounds like the emphasis is on "someone who had access to the best health care in the world" has died of this disease. "It can be deadly even with the best care" is the sub-headline to me.

Scaremongering isn't so bad if it means money thrown at it to make it stop. Wish malaria could be taken so seriously.

Actually, it might depend on where you are getting the story from. It might be different on radio and tv but if you look at the BBC website you have to know where to find the story to access it. It's not on the main news homepage, and it isn't currently their main Ebola story. It doesn't look like they are giving it undue prominence on line. For the moment anyway. That could change.