Barack & Cameron

I choose to cover the story about David Cameron's first visit to the White house and his meeting with Barack Obama. In their meeting the two discussed several political subjects and in particular Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi release and the BP oil spill.

Source static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Politics/Pix/pic
Megrahi is a Libyan intelligence agent who had served eight years of a life sentence for his role in December 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. About a year ago he was released by the Scottish government, which decided to release him “on compassionate grounds after doctors there testified that Mr. Megrahi was likely to die of advanced prostate cancer within three months” (Cooper 2010).

The sources I used were all accessed on line. The BBC, New York Times, USATODAY, and an additional two sources. The first source is News.scotman which I choose because I wanted to portray a Scottish paper view of the story, since Megrahi was a prisoner in Scotland. I also choose an Israeli paper to get the perspective of a country that is not involved in the story.

The New York Times, although classified as a metropolitan paper, is also widespread nationally and one of the most influential papers (Hanson 2008), and thus their reports cover national issues as well as local ones. The report about Barack’s and Cameron’s meeting summaries the subjects that came up in their meeting, followed by a their views on Megrahi release. According to this report Cameron objected the release however, does not see anyplace for further investigation, an investigation which Obama supports. The reporter adds that Mr. Cameron has “no reason to believe that BP had anything to do with the much criticized decision to release Mr. Megrahi from a Scottish prison last year to win oil concessions from Libya” (Cooper 2010).

Compare to the New York Times that opens with an introduction of the meeting, the BBC’s, worldwide British paper, reports Cameron’s claim “BP should not be blamed for the "completely wrong" decision to release the Lockerbie bomber”. The the reporter’s decision to start the report with this claim, perhaps demonstrate the British perspective of the issue and Cameron confidence in BP’s lack of involvement in Megrahi’s release.
releasehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10691609

USATODAY, U.S.'s national paper, which also provides national Web news (Hanson 20008). Covers the leadrs' meeting in an article that also describes the national leaders’ historical discussion and the future of U.S and Britain "special relationship" (Jackson 2010). With regards to Cameron response to the senators’ demand for investigation, the paper reported, “Cameron resisted the idea of a new investigation, but added that his staff is reviewing documents in the case” (Jackson 2010).
Source. mirror.co.uk
The Israeli paper Ynet, ‘Yediot Aharonot’ one of Israel’s national papers and Web news provider, also covered the meeting between Obama and Cameron. The reporter mentions that the recent tension between both nations it due to BP oil spill and Mr. Megrahi release. The paper adds that Cameron is willing to corporate with any investigation initiated by the American congress regarding the oil spill. However, according to this report, Cameron claims that the decision to release Megrahie was done by the Scottish government and weather or not BP had involvement in the decision is an issue that needs to be questioned (Ben Horin 2010). This report of Cameron's response about BP's involvement is more neutral compared with the reports of the New York Times , the BBC and USTODAY, all of which portrays Cameron as not willing to further investigate the issue.

The Scottish paper presented reports from several U.S.’s news providers, such as: New York Daily Post, ABC News, and the New York Times. http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3922684,00.html
The reporter in New.scottman, Howarth, also added that Cameron is willing to view documents about Megrahi release. Howarth (2010) does not mentions the BP apparent involvement. This report of a Scottish paper is meant to inform the public about the U.S media publications regarding the case. Howarth also avoids taking a stand and does not includes the Scottish or the British leanings on the subject.

Overall the reports from different newspaper present the agenda of the paper. U.S's national papers, as well as the New York Times try to provide an introduction first before describing the leaders perspectives, thus maintain the U.S's P.C mode. However, the BBC, British paper, choose to emphasis BP's innocent first before reporting the story, hence illustrating the U.K as blameless. The Israeli’s paper try to maintain an unbiased perspective. Finally, the Scottish paper tried to inform rather than to take a position.

Ben Horin, Yitzhak. Cameron for Obama: "There claims? Ask BP. Ynet News. July 20, 2010. Accessed on line July 22, 2010. http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3922684,00.html

Cooper, Helene. Leaders Take Pains to Stress What’s Still Special in the U.S.-Britain
Relationship. The New York Times. July 20, 2010. Accessed on line July 22, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/21/world/europe/21prexy.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=barak%20obama%20&%20david%20cameron%20lockerbie&st=cse.

Howarth, Angus. Lockerbie bomber: A tabloid Tea Party at Mr Cameron's expense. News.Scotsman. July 22, 2010. Accessed on line July 22, 2010. http://news.scotsman.com/news/Lockerbie-bomber-A-tabloid-Tea.6433214.jp.

Jackson, David. Obama, Cameron, the U.S., and Great Britain -- still special. USATODAY. Accessed on line July 22, 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-07-21-obama21_ST_N.htm

Cameron: Don't blame BP for Lockerbie bomber. BBC. July 21, 2010. Accessed on line July 22, 2010. releasehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10691609