Blood Thirsty Language In The Media

A concerned citizen sent me newspaper clippings on the use of violent language by the media. You may think that this is perfectly reasonable when reporting a violent crime. But, surprise, surprise, they were reporting on sports and it is largely in their headlines that they use words of violence to communicate an advantage or a victory.

Why is this so? Without question, Jamaica is one country where we live with violence every day. We are either actual victims of, related to, or know victims of the violence we learn about and see with the gory details in the media.

Surely, it is enough that we have to deal with violence as a reality in every level of society and in every area of our land. Do we also have to have it when we read reports of sporting events? Sports is defined as an activity which can often take a competitive form pursued for exercise or pleasure by an individual or a group. When one is described as a sportsman, it is understood that such a person shows fairness, observance of rules and is of good humour when losing. One wins or loses with good grace in a sporting event.

Why then, do our sports writers use headlines like “Jamaica draw first blood” and “Jamaica scalp Costa Rica”? Apart from the ungrammatical language, why the drawing of blood and scalping? Surely these writers could have used more sportsmanlike words to communicate their messages to the public.

The writer who used “scalp” in his headline, went even further in his article. He reported that Jamaica “virtually eliminated another team when they stuck a dagger in the heart of the visitors”. He also reported that “the home side all but killed Canada’s hopes…” and “the assassin in both instances was….” Later on he used the words “foe” and “death”. His whole imagery was violent attack, killing and death. This surely is not sports or sporting.

It seems obvious that the first thought of these writers is to entice the reader through violent imagery. This is clear from their lack of attention to grammatical composition. This sort of reporting is negative, harmful and irresponsible. It teaches bad grammar and transmits the message that sports is an activity of violence and not a good humoured test of skills. The message they send is that it is a battle to the death of one side or the other.

Our Sports Writers, in their reports, should emulate sporting standards in the use of language and the imagery created thereby. Let us try to send a message of peaceful coexistence and good humoured competition to our young and easily influenced. Sporting activities are not wars but tests of skills. Like all things in life, you win some and you lose some and you are not elevated or diminished as a result. Let us stop the battles and enjoy the games. There is so much suffering around that we need to be enlightened and uplifted by the reports of events which are supposed to be enjoyable.