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The Al Khalifa monarchy's media strategy backfired. Instead of burnishing Bahrain's image, journalists focused more on rage against injustice, blood in the streets, police state violence, security forces and armored vehicles surrounding the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), and clouds of black smoke rising nearby.
Even though the heavily guarded venue let the race come off without incident, Bahraini protesters won on Sunday. Millions watched worldwide. Social media spread the word.
So did journalists courageous enough to explain. Even The New York Times got some of it right. It quoted activists saying they were protesting for democratic change.
It mentioned human rights leader Abdulhadi Alkhawaja's "hunger strike for over two months." It's now two and a half months and counting, but how much longer can he hold on?
It also reported protest leader Salah Abbas Habib's death by "gunshot wounds" without mentioning his name. It cited opposition groups blaming police. It explained that "antigovernment protesters have been demonstrating for democratic reforms" since other "revolts erupted across" the region last year.
The Washington Post , however, relied solely on an April 22 AP largely puff piece. It focused mostly on the event. It said "Bahrain got exactly the type of incident-free Formula One race it wanted...."
Perhaps inside, but not on bloodstained streets where the real action took place the way it's done for months.
A London Independent article headlined, "Bahrain GP limps across finish line as lockdown wins the day," saying:
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