• geneva_convenience@lemmy.mlOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      12
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      23 days ago

      I’m kind of amazed that we are two years into the Gaza genocide and you still do not know the difference between active and passive media voice.

    • jacksilver@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      23 days ago

      I think they’re point is that a better headline might be something like “Reporter targeted and shot with rubber bullet by police”. That more clearly calls out that it was intentional and not a stray, which most people are probably going to assume.

    • Katana314@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      23 days ago

      I understand you; the point is it’s not just grammatical pedantry. Passive language is deliberately used to reduce feelings of culpability. “The suspect died in custody” is less blame pointing than “Police denied suspect treatment for injuries, leading to his death in custody”.

      Even if people understand that the police would be the ones with the rubber bullets, there’s an emotional response behind “Police shot at reporter” that you don’t get from “reporter was hit by bullet”.