The Commodification of Genocide: Part I. Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) Control of the International Media
Jean-Marie Vianney Higiro, William R. Woodward

Abstract
We did a qualitative content analysis of news reports disseminated by international media about events occurring in Rwanda. We grouped these reports into seven themes: human rights, security, foreign relations, Hutu menace in the Great Lakes, memorializing the victims, economic situation, and democracy, of which we report only the first three here. We argue that news coverage has been de-capitated by the ruling elite and that the Western capitalist states have supported this co-optation. To gain access, Western journalists have had to cooperate with the state rather than with critical Rwandan journalists or even NGOs. Our paper thus exposes alternatives to the dominant view in each thematic area.

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